Imphal, April 23: Supporters of Zeliangrong organisations set a truck on fire in Senapati today during a “highway bandh” called to demand the release of Alice Kamei, a student from the community, allegedly abducted by the Revolutionary People’s Front.

The All Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Zeliangrong Youth Front and Zeliangrong Students’ Union had imposed the blockade from the midnight of April 21 along Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Jiribam highways, demanding the safe release of the girl.

The unions alleged the Class IX student from Bishnupur district was being held captive by the outfit since March 10. The RPF said Kamei and another girl had approached the party voluntarily for joining it.

The outfit also said it would not hand over the girl, since she came of her own accord.

Police said some suspected strike supporters set the truck loaded with edible oil on fire at Khongnem village, about 100km from here, around 9.30 this morning, when the vehicle was coming from Dimapur.

Pamei Tingenlung, president of All Zeliangrong Students’ Union (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland), did not rule out the involvement of strike supporters in the incident. He said the strike would continue till the girl was released.

The supply of essential commodities has been suspended since yesterday as the transporters have stopped their services. The incident came at a time when the state is facing fuel scarcity after oil tanker drivers went on a “steering down” strike yesterday to protest against the abduction of a driver from Manipur by armed persons from Kohima on Sunday. The driver was reportedly released today but he is yet to reach Imphal.

With tanker drivers refusing to distribute fuel at fuel outlets in Manipur, many pumps had to be shut down as stocks ran out. A litre of petrol was allegedly sold at Rs 100 in the black market today.

Suspected militants had torched two trucks and shot dead a driver at Charoi Pandongba, about 50km from here, along the Imphal-Jiribam highway on April 17.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh yesterday assured a delegation of transporters and drivers’ council that he would provide financial assistance to the next of kin of the victim and promised a government job to the driver’s wife.

The president of the council, Hijam Ranjit, said the chief minister had assured the delegation that highway security would be beefed up for the safety of the drivers.