Truckers lay siege to NH–40

A Correspondent

Shillong, February 7: Angry truckers today once again created mayhem at Umsamlem, Ri–Bhoi district on tiol Highway–40 demanding the release of five of their colleagues who were arrested on Friday for arson. The action of the truckers resulted in a huge traffic jam along the Shillong–Guwahati road this afternoon. Thousands of vehicles going to Guwahati and those coming into Shillong were left stranded causing much inconvenience to travelers. On Saturday, hundreds of truckers physically laid siege to the tiol Highway. It was only after the district authorities called in the paramilitary, the highway was cleared. According to reports, the CRPF personnel had to resort to lathi charge to clear the highway of the protestors. Even after the highway was cleared, vehicles are still moving at a slow pace. On Friday, Nedarapsuk Syntem, Marleki Suchiang, Damonmei Bang, Leaderson Dkhar and Bon Rymbai, all hailing from rtiang village in West Jaintia Hills District were arrested after irate truckers bound for Guwahati blocked the highway using boulders and rocks. The truckers were protesting against the delay by the Directorate of Mineral Resources (DMR) officials manning the Umling weighbridge to clear the long queue of coal trucks waiting to get their loads weighed.