No signs of let-up in Manipur blockade

Manipur continued to suffer from the indefinite blockade called by Naga students on Tuesday despite one of the outfits, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), calling off the agitation for the time being. On Tuesday evening, the All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur (Ansam), which had first called the indefinite blockade on April 12, made it clear that their blockade on National Highway-39 (Imphal-Dimapur Road) would continue.
In a statement, Ansam said it would not allow functioning of the Autonomous District Council in the Naga-dominated hill districts unless police forces deployed at Liyai Kkhunou, Jessami, Mao Gate and other Naga areas were withdrawn. Its statement comes despite the Centre’s decision to send forces to Manipur to clear the blockade. According to the Centre, CRPF and BSF troops are set to guard NH-39 from Wednesday and drive away blockade supporters to ensure smooth movement of vehicles carrying essential commodities to Manipur.
Ansam had imposed the economic blockade on NH-39 and NH-53 in Manipur in protest against the Okram Ibobi Singh government’s decision to hold elections to the Autonomous District Councils (ADC) in hills districts. It is alleged that the ADC Act “suppresses the rights of tribals”.
Later, NSF joined the agitation and banned entry of Manipur vehicles into Nagaland and Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur (along NH-39) from May 4 in protest against Manipur police’s action of preventing its leaders from visiting Senapati district the previous day. The situation worsened after Manipur prevented NSCN(I-M) general secretary Th Muivah from visiting his ancestral Somdal village in Ukhrul district. On Tuesday, more than 400 empty trucks left Imphal to bring essential commodities to Manipur through NH-53.