Rumours of impending shortage of petrol and diesel owing to the spate of bandhs called in Assam over statehood demands, which spread like wildfire Tuesday, caused panic buying when hundreds of vehicles jammed almost every Retail Pump Outlets (RPOs) in Kohima and Dimapur.
Assam is likely to witness several hundred hours of shutdown in the coming days as several organisations demanding separate states called for separate bandhs totaling 1,500 hours.
The bandhs will hit the entire North East, with organisations like the All Bodo Students Union, the Koch Rajbonshi organisations and organisation from Karbi-anglong districts calling bandhs, road blockades, rail blockades in protest.
All Bodo Students Union 48-hour Assam strike and the United Democratic Peoples Front’s (UDPF) 1,500- hour shutdown started Monday.
The All Koch Rajbongshi Students Union (AKRSU), demanding a separate Kamatapur state, called for a 36-hour Assam strike from Monday.
The banned Karbi Peoples Liberation Tigers (KPLT) has called for 300-hour ‘bandh’ demanding a separate state for Karbi Anglong district.
The only entrance to North East is through Kokrajhar district, which falls under Bodoland Territorial Area District, and both Railways and Roadways cross through Kokrahjar, which have been affected by Bandh called by the All Bodo Students Union.
KSDC, IPFT jump on to statehood bandwagon
Kukis in Manipur have become the latest ethnic group to join the statehood demand bandwagon. Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC), a conglomerate of several Kuki organizations and village chiefs in Manipur, announced to launch its next phase of agitation. KSDC said its stir programme would be announced either on Tuesday or Wednesday.
In Tripura, Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) has renewed the demand for a separate state by recognizing Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council as a separate state. IPFT has called for a march to Raj Bhavan on August 23.
While newspapers carried reports of Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger 300-hour bandh in KA and Dima Hasao effective from August 6 till August 17, rumors of a month long bandh by an unknown organization sent public on a frenzy of panic buying of not only petroleum but also food items.
KOHIMA: DC Kohima W. Honje Konyak Tuesday informed public against panic buying of POL and assured there was no shortage. He said petrol and diesel was being transported by railway which was unaffected by the bandhs.
Kohima Municipal Council, chief executive officer (CEO) Elizabeth Ngullie informed that there was sufficient stocks of essential commodities in the market and would not be affected by the Karbi Anglong bandh.
The CEO appealed to public against panic buying as unscrupulous traders could resort to hoarding of commodities. She also asked all stockists and traders to maintain rates fixed by KMC or else face action.
The CEO also said that stocks of LPG and petroleum products were available as per information of Department of Food and Civil Supplies.
DIMAPUR: With almost all RPOs in Dimapur clogged with vehicles on panic buying spree, many sped towards Khatkhati to fill up tanks despite bandh in Karbi Anglong.
What pressed the panic button was rumour that the IOC depot in Dimapur was running out of stock.
DC Dimapur Hushili Sema also appealed to public not to resort to panic buying of commodities since it could only lead to artificial scarcity.
SP Dimapur VZ Angami told this Reporter that vehicles from Nagaland passing through Karbi Anglong would be provided escort.
Angami said he was in touch with his counterparts in KA and police of both the states were ready to escort vehicles in need.
DCCI president Hokivi informed said panic buying was based on rumours and maintained that there was no shortage of essential commodities.
No petrol shortage, says IOC official
Meanwhile, Deputy Manager (Operations) of the IOC depot in Signal Basti, DSM Maring when contacted assured that there would be no shortage of petroleum products since sufficient stocks were available.
He said in addition, more quantities were arriving with a few hours in Dimapur. He said there was enough stocks in Dimapur and Kohima, with 21,000 liters already dispatched to Kohima and an additional 9000 liters for Kohima Police.
He said current stocks in Dimapur would last for several days and that 1 lakh litres of petroleum would arrive Dimapur by late Tuesday or Wednesday morning. He said the quantity was sufficient for Nagaland for ten days.
In case of any need, Maring said oil tankers could be filled with petroleum from Tinsukia, Assam and would reach Dimapur in a matter of few hours.
He also maintained that at least one rail rack (around 50 wagons) carrying 70, 000 litres petroleum each arrived Dimapur every week.
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