In the wake of the crisis that has gripped Manipur owing to the blockade of highways imposed by Naga students, Union Home Secretary G. K. Pillai has invited the Chief Secretaries of Nagaland and Manipur for an emergency meeting here on Wednesday to discuss the steps taken by the two States to keep the national highway 39 open.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram had spoken to the two Chief Ministers, asking them to take necessary steps to have the blockade withdrawn. At the request of the Manipur government, the Home Ministry has decided to deploy additional para-military forces on NH-39 to remove the blockade and keep it open for unhindered movement of traffic and goods.
Since the blockade began two months ago, the Centre has airlifted supplies of fuel, food grain and medicines to Manipur but the crisis has assumed larger proportions. A delegation of Naga leaders met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday and indicated that they would temporarily lift the blockade.
However, Home Ministry officials said the blockade had not yet been called off and Central forces were expected to reach there by Friday to break the blockade.
