Imphal: Manipur government has decided to
deploy `foolproof security` along portions of national
highways (NH) passing through the state to ensure normal
traffic from August 16 or 17, government spokesman and
Irrigation and Flood Control minister N. Biren said today.
The decision to deploy adequate forces was taken during a
cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh
yesterday, Biren told media persons, pointing out that
frequent economic blockade on NH 39 (Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati)
and NH 53 (Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar) by some organisations
caused extreme inconvenience to the people.
The spokesman said the government has instructed all
concerned departments and agencies to take up necessary steps
for providing adequate and foolproof security along the
arterial highways in the landlocked state.
While the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) had
launched economic blockade on NH 39 to press for conversion of
Kuki-populated area of Sadar Hills in Naga-majority Senapati
district into a full-fledged revenue disrict, another
committee-Jiribam District Demand Committee (JDDC)
said it would launch economic blockade on NH 53 from August 14
to 30 to press for conversion of Jiribam sub-division into a
full fledged revenue district.
Reports said prices of essential items have gone up in
Manipur in the past few days because of the `economic
blockade,` but several social organisations including All
Manipur Students Union, warned the traders against what they
called selling essential items at `artificial prices.`
Meanwhile, several Naga organisations including United Naga
Council, strongly opposed the creation of Sadar Hills district
out of present Senapati district. Kuki civil organisations
including SHDDC, said they would continue their agitation till
Sadar Hills area was converted into a revenue district.
Over 1000 people were killed during the protracted ethnic
clashes over the issue of land between Kukis and Nagas in
different parts of Manipur hill districts in early 1990s,
officials said.
Granting of full-fledged revenue district to Jiribam, about
222 Kms west of here, has been delayed because of the Sadar
Hills issue, sources added.
PTI
