Imphal, May 9 (IANS): Thousands of people were left high and dry in Manipur's capital Imphal on Monday as drivers of light passenger vehicles declared an indefinite strike over higher taxes.
Activists armed with stones and bamboo staff were massed at all important crossings to ensure that no driver plies his vehicle in violation of the decision to go on strike. Activists armed with wooden clubs and bamboo staff forced passengers to disembark from the light vehicles. People were seen searching for alternative sources of transport.
The indefinite strike is in protest against the government policy of tax payment and increased tax rates, enforced by the Joint Administrative Council of Under 5 Tonne Passenger Services Association, from Sunday.
Several auto-rickshaws and other light vehicles were damaged for plying in defiance of the association's resolution.
Association convener L. Somorendra said: "The Transport Department issued an order on April 22 notifying that all taxes for light passenger vehicles should be paid at one go. Besides, the rate of taxes had been increased.
"The government was requested to review the order by May 5, failing which we threatened to go on strike."
He said the agitation would be intensified as the government had turned a deaf ear to their demands.
Protest against missing Muslims hits trade in Moreh:The cross-border trade between India and Myanmar at Moreh in Manipur has come to a grinding halt due to a 24-hour general strike called to protest "government apathy" in solving the case of two missing Muslims.
There was no vehicular movement due to the strike. Hundreds of tourists and traders were stranded at Moreh, and cross-border trade with Namphalong in Myanmar was severely hit.
However, schools and the college at Moreh functioned normally and there was no obstruction to essential services.
The communities of the Meiteis, Kukis, Tamils, Muslims and others called for the general strike protesting against government apathy in solving the case of the two missing Muslims from Moreh ward No.5 since May 2.
The two, identified as Mohammad Jalanuddin (30) and Mohammad Kheiruddin (24), had left Moreh on May 2 morning ostensibly for fishing in Myanmar where trouts are abundant in the mountain streams. But they never returned.
