Manipur tightens road vigil

IMPHAL, March 12: The top brass of Manipur police is drawing up an elaborate national highway security plan following the torching of 25 oil tankers by militants on National Highway 39 over the past three months. Director-general of state police D.S. Grewal told The Telegraph today that police officials will meet Army commanders on March 15 to discuss the situation arising out of the March 8 incident in which militants set ablaze 15 oil tankers in Senapati district. One handyman was killed and 13 truckers injured in the attack. The police will seek the Army's help in maintaining security on the highways till an "effective" policy was drawn up. Grewal said the number of Manipur Rifles personnel escorting oil tankers would also be increased. The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) has denied involvement in the March 8 attack on the oil tankers. In a signed statement, deputy secretary of NSCN(IM)'s information and publicity department Wabang termed the incident as "unfortunate" and said the outfit had nothing to do with it. The NSCN(IM) said Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam and the director-general of police have blamed the outfit without "substantiating any evidence." Sources said the owners of the 15 oil tankers have demanded compensation of Rs 2 lakh for every vehicle. The state government had earlier paid compensation to the owners of the 10 oil tankers torched by militants on December 31 last year and January 23 this year. An acute oil scarcity has hit the state with petroleum product transporters refusing to ply on along highway. Though there is enough stock at the Indian Oil depot here, the tankers have refused to ferry oil from the depot to various pumps in the city. Almost all the petrol pumps in the state have exhausted their stock and petrol prices have reached Rs 50 per litre in the black market. Most long-distance buses are off the road because of the non-availability of petrol and diesel. Chief minister Radhabinod Koijam was summoned to New Delhi yesterday to discuss the prevailing law and order situation following the attack on oil tankers. Koijam is expected to return tomorrow, sources said.