Petrol pumps shut in Manipur over ‘donation demands’ by miscreants

Imphal: A cloud of fear is hovering over Manipur with concerns among citizens about an artificial shortage of petroleum products due to the closure of petrol pumps across the state on Thursday.

The agitation – “Operation Cease Work’ started on Thursday as petrol pumps and retail outlet dealers under the aegis of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Essar and Nayara Energy are on a three-day cease work strike that would end on February 18.

“Operation Cease Work” is being launched owing to myriad problems including substantial monetary demands from miscreants, abduction of their staff, intimidation by the armed men to close the outlets, inability to purchase fresh stock of fuel and repay debt and EMI to oil companies and banks.

The state’s fuel market has shrunk dramatically due to the violent conflict that erupted on May 3, 2023, declining daily sales.

The prices of petrol and diesel have risen to Rs. 101 and Rs. 87 respectively at present market. It was Rs. 60 per litre and Rs. 55 per litre in 2017.