Truck Drivers Halt Assam-Manipur Movement after Driver’s Death, demand Compensation

Truck drivers have announced a 24-hour halt to the movement of vehicles from Assam to Manipur following the death of a stranded truck driver in Cachar district.

The deceased has been identified as Nagina Kumar Mahato, a resident of Narayanpur in Bihar. He was found unresponsive inside his truck, bearing registration number NL01A F4661, near Labankhal along National Highway 37 in the Jiribam police station area on Wednesday morning (August 12).

Fellow truck drivers took Mahato to the Jiribam Primary Hospital after finding him unresponsive. Doctors declared him dead. Police sent his body to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Speaking to the media, a fellow driver said Mahato had already been unwell. He alleged that Mahato may have survived if he had been in a place where he could receive timely medical treatment, instead of remaining stranded on the highway.

According to the drivers, hundreds of goods vehicles have remained stranded along the Lakhipur-Jiribam stretch for weeks amid road blockades and landslides affecting movement towards Manipur. They have also raised concerns over shortages of food, drinking water, medical facilities and sanitation.

The drivers said that from 12 August for the following 24 hours, they would not allow vehicles to travel from Assam towards Manipur. They also said they would not allow the deceased driver’s post-mortem to proceed unless the government provides compensation to his family.

The allegations made by the drivers regarding the circumstances of Mahato’s death and the role of the road blockade have not been independently established. Police are investigating the death, and the post-mortem examination is expected to help establish the cause of death.

The drivers have warned that their protest could continue beyond 24 hours if their demand for compensation is not addressed.