Drivers now asked to pay Rs 10,000 each
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 19: Close on the heels of an ultimatum served by oil tankers and LPG bullet tank trucks that they will stop operation on Imphal-Jiribam highway from July 31 if the exorbitant and rampant extortion on the highway is not stopped by July 30, POL drivers have been asked to cough up Rs 10,000 each as ‘annual tax’.
According to petroleum and petroleum product transporters, Ministry of Kilo Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim operating at Reng-pang between Awangkhul and Nungba have asked POL TT drivers to pay an annual tax of Rs 10,000 each.
Members of the militant outfit gave cards printed with the words “Work Permit” to drivers who came to Imphal from Jiribam along with the last escort team on July 18 and told the drivers that they must pay an ‘annual tax’ of Rs 10,000 each, the transporters said.
The militants asked the drivers to fill in the cards with their personal details, affix their photographs, and also to always carry along the cards issued by the Ministry of Kilo Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim.
The transporters said that they have already been paying annual tax of Rs 8000 annually for each tanker with six wheels and Rs 15,000 for each tanker with 10 wheels or more.
It was in addition to these annual taxes that the militants asked the POL TT drivers to pay Rs 10,000 annually in the name of the so-called work permit, they said.
The militants said that the POL TT drivers must pay Rs 10,000 annually or Rs 1000 per trip.
They (militants) also made it clear that no driver will be allowed to operate on the highway if they do not pay the “work permit fee”.
A few drivers started paying Rs 1000 each to the militants yesterday.
The transporters said if the extortion on Imphal-Jiri highway continues, things could take an ugly turn.
IMPHAL, Jul 19: Close on the heels of an ultimatum served by oil tankers and LPG bullet tank trucks that they will stop operation on Imphal-Jiribam highway from July 31 if the exorbitant and rampant extortion on the highway is not stopped by July 30, POL drivers have been asked to cough up Rs 10,000 each as ‘annual tax’.
According to petroleum and petroleum product transporters, Ministry of Kilo Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim operating at Reng-pang between Awangkhul and Nungba have asked POL TT drivers to pay an annual tax of Rs 10,000 each.
Members of the militant outfit gave cards printed with the words “Work Permit” to drivers who came to Imphal from Jiribam along with the last escort team on July 18 and told the drivers that they must pay an ‘annual tax’ of Rs 10,000 each, the transporters said.
The militants asked the drivers to fill in the cards with their personal details, affix their photographs, and also to always carry along the cards issued by the Ministry of Kilo Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim.
The transporters said that they have already been paying annual tax of Rs 8000 annually for each tanker with six wheels and Rs 15,000 for each tanker with 10 wheels or more.
It was in addition to these annual taxes that the militants asked the POL TT drivers to pay Rs 10,000 annually in the name of the so-called work permit, they said.
The militants said that the POL TT drivers must pay Rs 10,000 annually or Rs 1000 per trip.
They (militants) also made it clear that no driver will be allowed to operate on the highway if they do not pay the “work permit fee”.
A few drivers started paying Rs 1000 each to the militants yesterday.
The transporters said if the extortion on Imphal-Jiri highway continues, things could take an ugly turn.