Tura, Nov 1: The highly lucrative export of boulders from the Kingdom of Bhutan to Bangladesh via the Garo Hills corridor is looming under a serious threat of closure as dozens of village bodies and social organizations demand an end to the plying of the trucks through their region due to the high number of accidents and killing of innocent pedestrians and riders.

A large public meeting is being at called at Ampati field on November 3rd which will see the participation of the Garo Students Union, its allies, the FKJGP, AHAM, AYC, AYWO, GSMC, AAYF, ADE, which will demand a complete closure of the export route through State highway 12 (SH-12) that begins from Ampati inSouth West Garo Hills district and up to Dalu border town in West Garo Hills district.

Each day dozens of trucks carrying the high demand boulders from Bhutan pass through the SH-12.

But the recent events in which three innocent lives have been lost have cast a dark cloud on the export route.

First, a young biker was killed after he collided with one of the trucks. This was followed by a little boy, who had just started his school life, being run over and killed on the same highway in Purakhasia by another truck.

The most recent was the bleeding to death of an 80 year old woman who was walking along the highway in Purakhasia when one of the trucks went over her and mangled her legs. She bled to death before health could reach her. Angry villagers burnt the truck and the driver was taken into custody by police the same night.

Since then, there has been widespread anger and locals have been blocking the route each night by keeping vigil and burning tyres to make their presence felt.