Vehicles stop plying on Indo-Burma road

Moreh-Imphal Jeep and Tata Sumo Taxi Service Welfare Association imposed the chakka bandh agitation along the Indo-Burma road since July 10 in protest against the torching of a passenger van by unidentified persons suspected to be rebels.

The association in its emergency meeting held at Iboyaima Shumang Leela complex in Imphal, condemned the hijacking of the Tata Sumo from Singjamei in Imphal west district and subsequently setting it on fire in Tarahei Naral Konjil village near Imphal at about 8.25 p.m. on July 8.

In a press release issued here, the association appealed to all concerned to explain at the earliest as to why the vehicle was set on fire. The association said they will suspend normal services until and unless the culprits gave a clarification. The Transporters' and Drivers' Council has also joined the stir.

The Council said that since no organisation has claimed responsibility for the act of arson or given any reason, the Council also decided to suspend all transport services along Imphal-Moreh from July 11. The burnt Sumo plied on this route. The vehicles not plying include, trucks, buses, Tata Sumos, Van DIs. There will be relaxation even for medical emergencies.

"The suspension of the passenger services directly affects our day to day business. The authorities should do something to restore normalcy," said Inaomacha, a small time Imphal bound trader.

Moreh town wears a deserted look today even though a couple of shops are open," Lalmani, a resident of Moreh town told Mizzima. He added that the arrival of Burmese traders and businessmen in Nanpharlone market across the border was minimal today.

The Indo-Burma Border Traders' Union in the recent past had urged the Manipur Governor Dr Shivinder Singh Sidhu to intervene in the alleged move by the central government in New Delhi to divert the trade route from Manipur to Mizoram due to frequent bandhs and blockades along the Imphal-Moreh route which have disturbing the 11 year old border trade.

With 22 agricultural items in their trade list, Indo-Burma border trade was signed India and Burma in 1994 but it was made operational since April 1995.