SAPO bandh: fuel outlets in Manipur go dry

NESO urges Shah to intervene in deadlock

Correspondent

Supply of fuel has been adversely affected in most retail outlets across Manipur as stocks of petroleum products depleted fast owing to non-arrival of oil tankers from outside the State as a result of the indefinite bandh called by Southern Angami Peoples’ Organisation (SAPO). The bandh entered its ninth day on Tuesday.
Most fuel stations opened as usual on Tuesday, but with the notice “Petrol stock nil” and provided only diesel. Long queues were seen at the few fuel stations that still had petrol in stock during the day.
According to some staff of the fuel stations, petrol stocks dried up due to non-arrival of oil tankers from outside. However, they added that diesel was still available.
It has been almost a week since the oil tankers reached the State Capital. Normal arrival of petroleum products in the State was severely hit owing to the indefinite bandh call given by Southern Angami Public Organization (SAPO), which led to suspension of plying of all kinds of Imphal-bound vehicles. The Manipur government had already made arrangements for procurement of petroleum products from Assam through Imphal-Jiribam section of NH-37.
Sources said loaded oil tankers and bullet tankers (bulk LPG carriers) escorted by security forces had left Khatkhati (Assam) and were on the way. They were likely to reach Imphal in the next one or two days.
Hundreds of empty oil tankers had also left Imphal along NH-37 for Assam a few days ago.
NESO: The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) on Tuesday urged the Centre to intervene in the prevailing situation along the Nagaland-Manipur border.
In a letter to Union Home minister Amit Shah, NESO chairman Samuel B. Jyrwa and secretary general Sinam Prakash Singh, said that the NH-2 bandh imposed by Southern Angami Peoples’ Organisation has not only cut off the life line of Manipur but has also affected the lives and livelihood of innocent people also the situation in adjoining areas of Manipur was deteriorating.
While stating that people-to-people dialogue should be encouraged so that people on the ground do not suffer, NESO said authorities concerned should take proactive initiative to ways to resolve the issue.
NESO therefore urged the Government of India to take proactive steps to control the situation from further deterioration and also to intervene by taking the initiative to solve the issue and to bring all the parties involved to the negotiating table so that the issue can be resolved amicably.
NESO comprises the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF), All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU).