Under instructions from the Union Home Ministry, the Manipur government arranged for 368 trucks to leave Imphal on Saturday for Silchar in Assam to fetch various consumer items, cooking gas and fuel. Police and additional forces rushed to Manipur escorted the trucks. There was no obstruction along the Highway 37.
The Manipur government had made it known that if the Nagas along the highway obstruct the movement of the trucks prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC will be clamped.
However, so far there is no arrangement by the Manipur government to escort the trucks along Imphal- Dimapur Highway 2 which snakes through Nagaland. Several Imphal bound trucks and buses are stranded at various places in Assam along the Nagaland border. The drivers and passengers are facing problems including shortage of money and food.
Official sources said that nearly 100 trucks carrying consumer items and fuel had reached Imphal on Friday. Under instructions from the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh there has to be free flow of trucks. If need be more security forces will be rushed to Manipur.
Though the United Naga Council which is quarterbacking the indefinite economic blockade says that it will suspend the blockade if invited for talks, it is fairly certain that the centre will not hold talks as long as the blockade is not called off.
