The crippling blockade imposed from Monday at Sadar Hills demanding creation of a new district has gathered momentum with more violent incidents reported. The talks Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had on Thursday with some leaders of the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee with the assistance of Kuki tribal Ministers were not fruitful.
The representatives had stuck to their long-standing demand. Mr. Singh's appeal to suspend the blockade as the government is giving a serious attention to the demand fell on deaf ears.
The Kuki tribals in Chandel district have started demanding bifurcation of the district to create a separate one for them. As a result of the blockade, which had been converted into a general strike following the mowing down of three women by an oil tanker on Tuesday, many buses and trucks are stranded in Senapati district beyond Sadar Hills. More than 500 passengers, including women, children and sick persons, have been there for more than two days. The passengers said that on Thursday the security personnel distributed some food packets. They said that the government should rush additional paramilitary personnel to escort them to Imphal.
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