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Kiran Mahal in Imphal
Even as the economic blockade forcibly enforced by the Naga Youth Front is creating chaos on the National Highway-39, the woes of Manipur were being further compounded by a massive transporters strike that has paralysed life in the state over the past two days.
All movement of vehicles has come to a total halt in a section of the NH-39, since Saturday morning.
This suspension of all transport services is a direct result of a strike, which has been called by desperate transporters due to the non-availability of high-speed diesel in the state.
Livid transporters in Manipur are blaming the government for their woes and are refusing to ply transport on the highways, without the easy availability of high-speed diesel.
Nobody is ready to back down on the strike and buy diesel at triple rate from the black market.
The strike has caused havoc in Imphal.
Women vendors, who supply farm products into Imphal, have not been coming to the city for the past two days and market places in the city were wearing an extremely deserted look.
Security forces in Imphal have been on high alert since Sunday because of the proposed jail bharo programme by the United Committee of Manipur.
The current agitation has been undertaken by the UCM to secure the release of 12 leaders of the All Manipur Students Union among others, who were imprisoned by the government during the recent anti-ceasefire agitation.
The organisation has desperately been trying to whip up the same fervour that marked the anti-ceasefire agitation in June.
However, the response from people has been not as overwhelming as earlier.
However, the UCM has been more successful in whipping up sentiments in the rural areas.
Massive three-day sit-in-protests were organised in many parts of Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts by the United Committee last week.
Meanwhile, several Naga organisations, including the powerful Naga Youth Front, have organised a massive economic blockade of the state for the past couple of days to protest against the Centre's decision to revoke the Naga truce extension.
More then 250 trucks bound for Imphal have been stranded at several points along the NH-39 unable to enter Manipur.
Meitei fears in the Imphal valley seem to have come alive with the Naga-imposed economic blockade, a means traditionally resorted to by Naga miscreants to hold the Meiteis of the Imphal valley at bay.
However, several students' organisations, especially within Assam and Manipur, have warned Naga organisations, including the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak Muviah) not to call blockades or bandhs on national highways 39 and 53, else face counter-blockades.
The students' organisations include the Asom Jatiyotabadi Yuba-Chatra Parishad, Karbi Students' Association, All Dimasa Students' Union, All Bodo Students' Union, All Assam Manipuri Students Union and All Manipur Students' Union.
Complete coverage of the Naga truce issue
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