Silchar: Truck drivers in the Barak Valley called off their indefinite “steering-down” strike at around 11 pm on Tuesday, after 53 hours, following assurances from the Mizoram administration that it would address the alleged harassment of Assam drivers and restrictions on sand-laden trucks. The decision paved the way for the resumption of goods traffic along NH-306.The breakthrough came after a prolonged meeting at Dholai police station involving senior administrative officials from Assam and Mizoram, representatives of the relevant departments and leaders of truckers’ unions.Union representatives said the Mizoram administration had assured them that their demands would be addressed. Following the assurance, the drivers called off the agitation and began allowing stranded vehicles to proceed.Hundreds of goods vehicles stranded on both sides of NH-306 were gradually released after 11 pm, bringing an end to the disruption on the key route connecting Assam and Mizoram.The truckers said they would not resume the agitation as long as the assurances were implemented. However, the unions warned that they would decide their future course of action if drivers faced similar problems again.The strike began at 6 pm on Sunday in protest against the alleged harassment of Assam truck drivers in Mizoram and restrictions on vehicles carrying sand from Assam. The agitation was initially staged at Channighat before shifting to the Lailapur border area.The suspension of Mizoram-bound goods traffic left a large number of trucks stranded along the highway. More than 100 drivers later blocked the road as part of the protest.The protesters alleged that sand-laden trucks from Assam were being stopped at various places in Mizoram, forced to unload their consignments and sent back. They also accused unidentified persons of intimidating drivers and demanded a permanent mechanism to ensure their safety and the unhindered movement of legally transported goods.Tension flared briefly when administrative officials attempted to clear the stranded vehicles and restore traffic. The situation was eventually defused through talks, leading to Tuesday night’s agreement.
