Oil stations in Manipur to close on Friday

Imphal: Marking of solidarity and support to the ongoing strike of petrol pumps in Manipur ‘Dealers of Retail outlets (Petrol Pumps) in Manipur’ announced to close all retail petrol pumps on Friday.

In a press note issued by petrol dealers body mentioned that a meeting held on Wednesday at Hotel Nirmala discussed issues of the extortion, physical assaults and life threatening attacks by firing faced by the drivers of the Petroleum Product Transporters on the Imphal Silchar Highway.

As a mark of solidarity and support to their ongoing protest, all the petrol pumps in the state shall remain closed on Friday, the petrol dealers body said.

Members in the meeting presented their difficulties in running of petrol pumps due to various monetory demands, donations and several negative factors prevailing in the state. Sale of petrol and diesel by the pumps has reduced to less than a half of the sales before the May 3 due to bandhs, curfews imposed by the government, blockades, and non-movement of vehicles between Churachandpur, Moreh, Kangpokpi and other places in the hills. The expenses of the pumps are also increasing due to the present negative circumstances in the state, it added.

The dealers appealed to the state government to take steps to bring peace and harmony in the state to enable them to serve the people of the state in the best possible manner.

Panic buyers thronged at oil stations in Imphal following the announcement of pump closure.

The All Manipur Petroleum Product Drivers Association on Wednesday decided to halt operations a Malom Oil Depot. The depot was shut down.

The move came in response to an attack by unknown miscreants on a convoy of loaded oil tankers along National Highway-37 in the Nungba area on Monday night.

The unidentified assailants opened fire on two oil tankers with registration numbers AS01-GC-3847 and AS25-BC-5299 as they were moving to Imphal.

Several other vehicles in the convoy were vandalised, and some drivers were assaulted during the attack.

The driver’s association said the shutdown of the oil depot will persist until a responsible caretaker comes forward with a comprehensive plan.