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Manipur to Revamp NH-37 Fuel Convoy SOP Amid Extortion Allegations

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Imphal
  • Aug 02, 2026
  • 102

The Manipur government has initiated a major review of security arrangements for fuel and LPG transportation along National Highway-37 (Imphal–Silchar Road) by constituting a high-level Coordination Committee to revise the existing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The move comes in response to persistent allegations of extortion, growing security concerns and repeated demands from petroleum transporters for stronger government intervention.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh, where officials assessed challenges affecting the movement of fuel convoys on the state's most critical supply corridor.

 

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According to an official statement, the newly formed committee will be headed by the Commissioner (Home) and include representatives from the Manipur Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department (CAF&PD), petroleum transport associations, fuel retail dealers, LPG distributors and tanker drivers' organisations.

Committee to Submit Fresh SOP Within One Month

The panel has been assigned the responsibility of thoroughly reviewing the existing convoy guidelines and submitting recommendations within 30 days. After approval, the revised SOP will be officially published through the Manipur Gazette, making it the governing framework for fuel convoy operations across National Highway-37.

Pending implementation of the revised protocol, the Home Department and Police Headquarters (PHQ) have been instructed to strictly enforce the existing security procedures.

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Nodal Officer to Monitor Convoys

To improve supervision, the state government will appoint a dedicated nodal officer responsible for monitoring convoy movements. The officer will conduct monthly security reviews and additional inspections whenever the law-and-order situation demands.

Meanwhile, Superintendents of Police across districts have been directed to intensify operations against criminal elements allegedly collecting illegal money from fuel transport vehicles travelling along the highway.

Transporters Raised Alarm Over Illegal Collections

The government's decision follows strong protests by petroleum and LPG transporters, who recently accused armed miscreants of operating an extensive extortion network on NH-37. The associations had warned that transportation of petroleum products would be suspended from July 31 unless immediate corrective measures were introduced.

Since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023, fuel, LPG and petroleum tankers travelling between Imphal and Jiribam have been moving only under armed security escort to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities.

Transport operators claim that almost 100 fuel tankers in every convoy are allegedly forced to pay illegal levies while passing through vulnerable stretches of the highway. They allege that the amount demanded has surged dramatically—from nearly ₹200 per tanker during the early phase of the conflict to approximately ₹7,000 per vehicle—significantly increasing transportation costs and disrupting the movement of essential supplies across Manipur.

 

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