The memorandum stated that tanker operators moving fuel between Imphal and Jiribam have been subjected to illegal collections despite travelling under escort by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). It noted that petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) and LPG tankers have been plying the Imphal–Jiribam stretch of NH-37 under security escort since ethnic violence began in May 2023.
The associations alleged that nearly 100 tankers in every convoy are being compelled to pay illegal taxes to armed groups or looters along the highway and that the amount extracted per truck had risen substantially, with collections that started at Rs 200 per truck increasing to Rs 7,000 per truck. They added that they had repeatedly raised the matter with the authorities but had observed no effective remedial action to date and were no longer in a position to bear these expenses.
The memorandum requested that the chief minister take necessary steps to eliminate extortion on the highway before July 30 and warned that failure to do so would force the suspension of petroleum and LPG tanker movements from July 31. Transport representatives emphasised that continued unofficial levies were undermining logistics and warned that an extended halt would affect household and commercial fuel availability across the Imphal region if unresolved.