Manipur and Nagaland, the two border States whose lifeline passes through the Karbi Along district of Assam, remained cut off from the rest of the country from 5 am on Monday as a result of the 1000-hour district blockade.
Due to this, vehicles of the two states have to pass through the district along the lifeline NH 39 at a stretch of 32 km from Lahorijaan to Garam Pani. Thousands of trucks transporting various commodities including consumer items, inter-state buses and private vehicles were caught unawares since there was no proper announcement of the blockade and were stranded along the highway.
The 1000-hour blockade was imposed by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) on autonomous state. The JAC has been demanding the creation of the autonomous state to be carved out of Assam. A bill under Article 244(A) in this regard should be passed during the winter session of the Parliament.
The Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang wrote a letter to the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to take up necessary steps to ensure free flow of traffic. The ruling Naga People's Front is a coalition partner of the BJP.
The Home Minister is understood to have asked the Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to do the needful. However there was no formal request from the Manipur Chief Minister.
Since there was no positive response from the Assam government, the JAC asked the people, including the people of Nagaland and Manipur to get prepared for the prolonged blockade. In a panic reaction, people purchased essential items at Karbi Along on Sunday.
Most of the oil pumps in Manipur were shut down from Monday morning citing lack of stock.
Despite the Assam government’s initiative to step security to ensure free movement of vehicles, drivers and passengers are apprehensive of violence.
