DIMAPUR, APR 4 (NPN)NSCN (K) has allegedly detained at least 70 trucks of Manipur carrying essential commodities such as rice and sugar at Dimapur on a demand for Rs 50 lakh.
The trucks were engaged in lifting the essential commodities from the FCS godown of Dimapur to the FCS godown at Sangaiprou in Imphal.
According to Manipur news portal E-Pao.net which sourced the report from Hueiyen News Service and The Sangai Express, the Manipur minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (CAF&PD), Y Irabot has informed the central government about the forcible detention of the trucks by the NSCN (K) and urged the Centre to take appropriate action.
Reliable sources said that the group had demanded the CAF&PD to pay an amount of Rs 50 lakh. But the CAF&PD did not pay the money.
Reacting to the non-payment of the money, the NSCN (K) stopped 70 trucks from lifting the essential commodities from the FCS godown located at Dimapur in Nagaland, it was reported.
However, according to transport contractors, the monetary demand was served not to FCI but FCS Department.
But Erabot maintained that the inability to lift rice and sugar from Dimapur FCI godown since March 31 has been due to the demand served to the FCI.
The outfit declared prohibition on transportation of PDS items to Manipur following failure to pay ‘annual taxes’ for these items.
According to the transport contractors, some districts refused to pay ‘annual tax’ for rice, sugar and wheat transported to Manipur.
All the trucks have remained parked on the campus of the FCS godown at Dimapur and the rebel group is not allowing the trucks to move out of the campus, the sources said.
It may be noted that lifting of rice and sugar from the FCS godown, Dimapur in Nagaland to FCS godown, Sangaiprou in Manipur is done by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Among the trucks forced to remain parked on the campus of FCS godown, Dimapur, 30 are laden with rice and 20 with sugar.
Minister Y Irabot has reportedly urged the union home minister, P. Chidambaram to influence the Naga rebel group to release the trucks.
Stating that the emerging situation was studied in a meeting with FCS officials and the chief secretary, the minister said that union home secretary G. K. Pillai has also been informed about the outfit’s demand, with an appeal to take up the matter with the ceasefire monitoring cell.
Erabot expressed hope that New Delhi would take up necessary actions without any delay against the extortion notice served by the group in total violation of the ceasefire ground rules.
Meanwhile, when contacted, sources within the MIP of the outfit told Nagaland Post that they have not received any such report. However, the sources said they would inquire into the allegation.