The All-Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) on Friday temporarily suspended its blockade of National Highways 39 and 53, the lifelines of Manipur, bringing the curtain down on the 67-day long siege of the landlocked State.
The ANSAM decision was announced through a joint statement by the Naga Hoho, United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Students' Federation (NSF), ANSAM, Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (South), and the Naga Women's Union (NWUM) after a meeting of the organisations in Kohima.
“In deference to the request of the Prime Minister and Home Minister of India and Leader of the Opposition of the Indian Parliament, the student communities of the neighbouring States, and the Indian civil societies at large for the lifting of the economic blockade, which was conveyed through the Naga Students Federation, it was decided that the present economic blockade being enforced by the ANSAM will be suspended temporarily w.e.f. 4 p.m. on June 18,” the statement said.
