All oil pumps in Manipur went dry from Saturday morning on the flimsy pretext of blockades along the two national highways which are lifelines of the state.
The Consumer Affairs and Food Distribution Minister Okendra Moirangthem who used to say that there is always fuel stock for more than 21 days in Manipur was not available for his comments. In the face of the artificial shortage of fuel he used to say that the oil pump owners shall be pulled up. However, it is on record that although oil pumps go dry during the numerous highway blockades, Manipur is facing not a single owner had been booked.
The people at Kanglatongbi blockaded highway 39 from Friday night in protest against the failure of the police to arrest one 65 years old man who had allegedly raped a 13 years old girl in Imphal. The Nepali girl hailing from Kanglatongbi was staying in Imphal with her parents for study. People at Jiribam bordering Assam blockaded highway 37 linking Assam with Imphal by a 222 km long mountain road from Saturday morning as part of the 24 hour general strike. This is in protest against the beating up of five persons by the police officer there.
People there have been restive since they are internally displaced as a result of the turf war between some groups in Tamenglong and Imphal East district; Jiribam is a sub division of Imphal East district.
Perhaps the police officer felt that the five persons were stoking trouble which may cause communal tension.
Soon after hearing the news of the blockades, the oil pumps stopped selling fuel saying that there is no stock. No government official was seen checking the oil pumps. However, reports say that the ubiquitous roadside vendors selling petrol and diesel were supplied enough fuel by some employees of the oil pumps at huge profit. One litre of petrol was sold at Rs 100 to the drivers. There was no interference from the police and fire service. There have been serious major fire accidents as a result of such illegal sales. In fact, one person who sold fuel on the black market died when a devastating fire engulfed the shop cum house in Imphal a couple days back.
