All India Trade Union Congress, Manipur State Committee (AITUC-MSC) on Saturday decried the alleged failure of the central and state government to ensure highway protection force despite repeated appeals till date.
A release issued by AITUC-MSC general secretary L Sotinkumar Singh highlighted the issues of extortion, looting, abduction frequently occurring along the national highways.
It asserted that the committee along with driver unions and CSOs have been urging the authorities concerned, raised several demands and carried out protests to set up a highway protection force but to no avail till date.
It noted the plights facing the drivers of goods-laden trucks, oil and gas tankers moving along the two lifelines of the state namely Imphal-Jiribam road and Imphal-Dimapur road due to such issue, not to mention the challenges of driving in the deplorable road condition especially during rainy season. It demanded necessary actions to establish a highway protection force instead of deploying securities every now and then.
It further mentioned the recent attack along National Highway 37 by armed miscreants and lamented the alleged failure of the authorities concerned to resolve the issue till now.
AITUC-MSC warned that drivers along NH 2 will also launch a steering down strike and asserted that the state government must bear responsibility for any unwanted incidents, it stated.
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