The Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Drivers Association (MCTODA) has decided to stop ferrying coke from Nongjri area in South West Khasi Hills district after one of its members was assaulted by members of some pressure groups.
Without naming the group, the truck owners and drivers said the incident happened on April 30.
MCTODA president Mosklander Marngar said though the leaders of these pressure groups had met with them, the association wants those who are actually involved in the assault to come out and resolve the issue amicably.
Marngar alleged that there are certain people who want truck owners from outside the state as those having coke factories to engage in carrying coke to Assam. “We are opposed to this and went for a strike, after which they relented and we were also allowed to engage in the business,” he added.
He stated that the attack on the members of the association is a way to frighten them so that those groups can do whatever they want.
According to Philander Thongni, on April 30 at around 12:00 pm -1:00 pm a truck carrying coke from Nongjri was stopped since the association did not want it to ply during the day because it may cause traffic jams.
“When we checked the vehicle’s registration number it was not in our records for us to allow its movement,” Thongni said.
According to him the association is trying to streamline the flow of trucks carrying coke so that all the stakeholders are able to earn equitably.
Thongni said while he was trying to explain to the truck driver the situation some pressure group members then assaulted him.
