Thursday, November 06, 2008

Inter-State buses to resume service

IMPHAL, Nov 5: Following the written assurance by the State Government to payment ex-gratia/compensation to the victims of the Lahorijan incident and to institute a judicial inquiry into the incident, the inter-State bus services which remained suspended in protest since October 24 will resume from tomorrow.

A decision to this effect was arrived at during a meeting of the All Manipur Inter-State Bus Association held at its office at North AOC here today.

It may be recalled here that in connection with monetary demand, armed cadres of the KLA which is a party to the Suspension of Operation with the Government poured petrol and set aflame a passenger bus coming from Imphal leaving two passengers charred to death and several others with burnt injuries at Lahorijan in Assam on the night of October 23.

In protest against the incident, All Manipur Inter-State Bus Association suspended its service from the following day along with raising various demands like payment of ex-gratia/compensation to the victims and their family members, institution of a judicial inquiry and deployment of Highway Protection Force.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting today, Association president A Budha Luwang informed that the decision to resume the suspended Inter-State bus service has been taken after considering the written assurance given by the Government.

The written assurance signed by Director of Transport Department Norbert Disinang and handed over to the Association yesterday made it clear that clear that ex-gratia/compensation would be given to all the victims and a judicial inquiry would be instituted, Budha told mediapersons.

As to providing security which is one of the main demands of the Association, Budha informed that as per the assurance, the State Government would be providing security coverage to all the passenger buses from Imphal to Mao and inside Nagaland and Assam it would be the responsibility of the GOC 3 Corps.

Yesterday, the Association had expressed resentment over skipping the demand of highway protection in the written assurance given to it by the Government.

Budha further said that apart from the deplorable condition of the National Highway 39 particularly from Imphal to Mao, collection of various taxes illegally caused lot of difficulties in carrying out service along the said route.

The Sangai Express

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