Dimapur, June 21 (MExN): Two buses plying between Imphal and Mao Gate were attacked this morning in two separate locations in Imphal area. Both the buses bearing registration number MN01-1167 and MN01-0341 are reportedly owned by Nagas.
According to information received, two persons were seriously injured. They have been identified as Mr Shekho, one of the bus driver aged around 40 years belonging to Poumai Naga tribe from Tungjoy village under Senapati district. The other injured was identified as Mrs N. Jamini Devi, a passenger aged around 40 years and belonging to the Meitei community haling from Airport Road Imphal. The miscreants who had their faces covered allegedly told the drivers and passengers that Nagas have no right to ply or park their vehicles in Imphal since Nagas have resolved to “severe all ties with Manipur.”
Meanwhile informing of today’s incident, the Senapati District Transport Operators Co-operative Society Ltd (SDTOCSL) has written to the President of the Naga People’s Organization requesting that necessary action be taken against the culprits. This was stated in a letter written by Ram Timothy, Secretary of the SDTOCSL. In another separate statement, the Senapati District Students Association (SDSA) has strongly condemned the incident and termed it as very unfortunate and uncalled for pointing out that this will only escalate problems rather than brining the present situation under control. A press note from the SDSA President A. Pfokrehrii Khrasi demanded immediate investigation and punishment to the culprits.
Stating that today’s incident had created a deep sense of insecurity in the minds of the travelers, the SDSA pointed out that insecurity and apprehensions continues.
In another separate note, one Lolly LD. Pou, Member, Journalist s’ Association Senapati District (JASD) termed today’s attack as ‘ANIMALISTIC VANDALISM’ and that the buses were “brutally attacked by unidentified but suspicious persons at Imphal”. The note also informed that the Senapati District Transport Operators’ Association had strongly expressed its vehement resentment over the inhuman incident. Refering to a reliable source, the note also reported that the Association had decided that all passenger vehicles plying along the NH-39 shall be stopped from plying indefinitely till the “problem is amicably solved with immediate effect”.
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