The crippling 'economic blockade,' imposed by the All Naga Students Association of Manipur on June 22 protesting against a Manipur government's decision to declare June 18 a holiday every year to observe 'state integrity day,' on national highways in Manipur was lifted on Thursday noon.

However, there was no movement of trucks along the Imphal-Guwahati national highway 39 in Senapati district, official sources said. No official reason was given, but sources close to transporters said trucks carrying essential commodities to the state, which had faced shortages because of the 50-day blockade, were apprehensive of extortion demands by militant outfits.

Official sources said 178 trucks, loaded with essential items, left the border town of Jiribam on Thursday morning and were expected to arrive here this evening via the Silchar-Imphal national highway 53. The trucks crossed all weak bridges along NH 53 and so far no problem had been reported, sources added.

Meanwhile, welcoming the decision of ANSAM and other organisations to voluntarily lift the blockade in Manipur, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] appealed to all groups and parties to settle their grievances through a process of dialogue in a spirit of mutual understanding.

Nagas to lift highway blockade

An official statement here said Singh "appreciated" and "welcomed" ANSAM's gesture and others to end the blockade keeping in view the difficulties being faced by the ordinary citizens of the state and the sentiments expressed by him and Home Miniser Shivraj Patil.

"The prime minister appealed to all groups and parties to settle the grievances, perceived and real, through a process of dialogue and discussion, in a peaceful manner and in a spirit of mutual understandiang and accomodation," it said.

The ANSAM had announced the economic blockade since June 22 in protest against a Manipur government's decision to declare June 18 a holiday every year to observe 'state integrity day.' It had said that the government decision was against the plan for unification of Nagas.

However, ANSAM said on Wednesday that the blockade was being suspended after consultation with the apex 'Naga Hoho' and NGOs. It also said that the Ibobi Singh government should create a conducive atmosphere for a dialogue. In the event of failure of the Manipur government to resolve the issue, the Naga students would be compelled to take appropriate action for which the Ibobi Singh government would be held responsible, the ANSAM added.