Normal life in three hills districts of Manipur was affected on Monday because of counter-economic blockade launched by United Naga Council(UNC) from last midnight in protest against the demand of creation of a district by Kuki tribes, official reports said.
Normal life was affected in Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong districts where Nagas are in majority with UNC activists blocking the two important national highways – Imphal – Dimapur - Guwahati (NH 39) and Imphal –Jiribam-Silchar (NH53), reports said.
A hill-based committee, Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC), imposed economic blockade on the two national highways since August 1 last to press their demand for conversion of Kuki-settled Sadar Hills area into a full fledged district in Naga-majority Senapati district.
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But it was strongly opposed by the Naga civil societies saying Nagas’ areas could not be bifurcated, said UNC and some other Naga organisations.
But SHDDC said their demand was genuine and launched since 1971 saying for convenience of the administration, Sadar Hills should be converted into a full fledged district.
Official sources said the government was seriously considering conversion of the Sadar Hills into a district and all previous governments wanted it to be a district.
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Sources said to avoid any communal clash, the decision was withheld.
Reports from the markets said prices of all essential items have gone up manifold with petrol selling at Rs 120 per litre at black market because all vehicles carrying essential items were stuck at many places.
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is now in Delhi to meet Union Home minister P Chidambaram to discuss the Manipur situation.