The United Naga Council (UNC) began its 96-hour economic blockade on the Manipur portion of Imphal-Dimapur-Guawahati National Highway 39 from August 19 midnight to press its demand for ‘alternative arrangement’ for Nagas in the state.
Official sources said security along the highway was tightened and trucks loaded with essential items would be brought into the state capital with security personnel escorting them during the period of the blockade.
A spokesman of the transporters association said transport services between Manipur and neighbouring states were being operated as usual on Monday. However, buses would not ply along the national highway from Tuesday till the blockade was over as it was not safe for passenger buses to travel along the highway during the period, he said.
UNC has called the economic blockade to press for an ’alternative arrangement’ for Nagas’ as they, it claimed, wanted to dissociate with the Manipur government. UNC sources said they would not disturb passenger buses or those coming from southern states during the blockade.
