Manipur blockade: 1,900 vehicles to bring essentials from Assam

CENTRE SLEEPS AS MANIPUR SUFFERS: Protracted blockades by different groups on the national highways leading to Manipur have caused untold suffering to the people. Starved of essentials, these residents of Imphal, part of a 4-km-long queue, patiently wait for their quota of petrol on Monday, the 99th day of the blockade. The blockade was launched by the United Naga Council to protest against the demand of the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee to upgrade the Kuki-majority Sadar Hills area in Naga-minority Senapati district into a full-fledged revenue district. Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

The Manipur government on Monday sent around 1,900 vehicles with police escort to Silchar in Assam to bring foodgrains and petrol with the State facing shortage of essential commodities due to the economic blockades, since August 21, called by United Naga Council, officials said.

All the vehicles which left Imphal for Silchar would arrive with essential items and petroleum products in the next two days, they said.

Manipur has been facing acute shortage of foodgrains, petrol and life saving drugs due to the economic blockades imposed by UNC on Imphal—Jiribam—Silchar and Imphal—Dimapur— Guwahati national highways to protest the demand of Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) to upgrade Kuki— majority Sadar Hills area into Naga—majority Senapati district into a full—fledged revenue district.

Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh had also appealed to the UNC to withdraw the blockade.

“We are having patience but the government may take stern action if the situation does not improve,” Mr. Singh had said on Sunday.

The SHDDC had ended its 93-day old economic blockades on the Manipur portions of the two national highways on October 31 after an agreement with the state government which agreed to convert the area into a revenue district.

There was a four—km—long queue on Sunday at a petrol pump. Today only one pump was selling petrol.

Petrol is being sold in the black market for Rs 200 per litre and cooking gas at Rs 1,650 per cylinder.

During his recent visit to the state, Home Minister P. Chidambaram had appealed to the people to settle all disputes through dialogue.