IT News
Imphal, April 16:
The Youth’s Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR) strongly condemned the attack and firing on trucks transporting essential commodities, including inflammable goods, along National Highway-37. According to reports received, armed militants targeted escorted trucks, resulting in the injury of an LPG truck driver near Tollen, close to Kaimei. Such incidents, the YFPHR emphasized, are not isolated occurrences but rather frequent along the National Highway. Truck drivers, they noted, are subjected to looting, torture, assault, abduction, murder, and harassment for non-payment of illegal taxes.
The YFPHR stressed that attacking truck drivers and workers transporting essential goods constitutes a violation of civilians’ right to life.
They pointed out the failure of the state to protect its citizens’ right to life, highlighting the continuous attacks and killings of civilians, especially frontline workers like truck drivers and handymen who risk their lives on the dangerous highways of Manipur amidst ongoing armed conflicts.
In a warning to the attackers, the YFPHR highlighted the severe consequences of obstructing essential services along the highway. They cited numerous incidents of attacks and killings of unarmed civilians, as well as contamination of water sources by armed militants during the conflict.
Furthermore, the YFPHR called upon both the State and Central governments to prioritize the protection of frontline workers, particularly truck drivers and handymen, and to ensure the unhindered flow of traffic along the National Highway for the public’s benefit. They urged for the prompt arrest and prosecution of the attackers in accordance with the rule of law.
