Imphal, June 9 : As the indefinite economic blockade on Manipur enforced by Nagas reached the eve of completing two months on Wednesday, the state faced acute shortage of food and live-saving medicines, with a threat of public violent unrest looming large.
“The food crisis is simply acute and also there is a severe shortage of life saving medicines with the blockade on and still no chance of breaking the deadlock,” N Biren Singh, Manipur government spokesperson, said.
The indefinite economic blockade on National Highway 39 (Imphal-Dimapur) and 53 (Imphal-Jiribam) was launched by the All Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM) since April 12 against the Manipur government’s ban on entry of Naga rebel leader Th. Muivah.
Muivah’s proposed visit to his birthplace Somdal, in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, was banned by the Manipur government on the plea that his visit could create communal tension.
Police-public clashes on May 6, the day Muivah was scheduled to visit Somdal, had claimed three lives and left about 50 others injured.
Muivah’s Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) has been demanding a greater ‘Nagalim’, which includes Naga-dominated areas of Manipur – a demand to which Manipur government is opposed to.
As the economic blockade stood on the eve of completing two months, this landlocked state has been left to dire consequences.
“Hungry people can get angry fast. We cannot rule out violent protests against short-supply of essential commodities by the people,” Biren Singh said.
Trucks carrying essential goods have been stranded on the way, even as the government opened a small trickle of supply of food materials and medicines though an alternate route, which is, however, to less to meet the demand-supply gap.
Some commodities were also airlifted to the state, but the people of the state do not view this as permanent solution.
A kilogram of rice comes for Rs 70, compared to the Rs 20-Rs 24 elsewhere, a litre of petrol is priced at Rs 200, while a cooking gas cylinder is priced at Rs 1,000-Rs 1,200.
Medicines are in such short supply that barring the emergency operations, hospitals have long ago stopped all other surgeries.
The Manipur Government had issued arrest warrant against ANSAM acting president Davud Choro and United Naga Council (UNC) acting president Samson Remei.
The UNC also supports the indefinite economic blockade.
Imphal, June 9 : As the indefinite economic blockade on Manipur enforced by Nagas reached the eve of completing two months on Wednesday, the state faced acute shortage of food and live-saving medicines, with a threat of public violent unrest looming large.
“The food crisis is simply acute and also there is a severe shortage of life saving medicines with the blockade on and still no chance of breaking the deadlock,” N Biren Singh, Manipur government spokesperson, said.
The indefinite economic blockade on National Highway 39 (Imphal-Dimapur) and 53 (Imphal-Jiribam) was launched by the All Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM) since April 12 against the Manipur government’s ban on entry of Naga rebel leader Th. Muivah.
Muivah’s proposed visit to his birthplace Somdal, in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, was banned by the Manipur government on the plea that his visit could create communal tension.
Police-public clashes on May 6, the day Muivah was scheduled to visit Somdal, had claimed three lives and left about 50 others injured.
Muivah’s Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) has been demanding a greater ‘Nagalim’, which includes Naga-dominated areas of Manipur – a demand to which Manipur government is opposed to.
As the economic blockade stood on the eve of completing two months, this landlocked state has been left to dire consequences.
“Hungry people can get angry fast. We cannot rule out violent protests against short-supply of essential commodities by the people,” Biren Singh said.
Trucks carrying essential goods have been stranded on the way, even as the government opened a small trickle of supply of food materials and medicines though an alternate route, which is, however, to less to meet the demand-supply gap.
Some commodities were also airlifted to the state, but the people of the state do not view this as permanent solution.
A kilogram of rice comes for Rs 70, compared to the Rs 20-Rs 24 elsewhere, a litre of petrol is priced at Rs 200, while a cooking gas cylinder is priced at Rs 1,000-Rs 1,200.
Medicines are in such short supply that barring the emergency operations, hospitals have long ago stopped all other surgeries.
The Manipur Government had issued arrest warrant against ANSAM acting president Davud Choro and United Naga Council (UNC) acting president Samson Remei.
The UNC also supports the indefinite economic blockade.
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