Imphal economic blockade affects transportation of goods

Imphal, February 11 (IANS) A five-day economic blockade imposed along National Highway 37 from Wednesday midnight has adversely affected transportation of essential supplies from other states to Manipur, an official said on Thursday  

The blockade has been imposed by the Jiribam Districthood Demand Committee (JDDC) to press its long-standing demand for the upgradation of the Jiribam sub-division of Imphal East district to a full-fledged district.   If the government remains unconcerned at the end of the five-day blockade, there will be an indefinite total blockade of the highway, the protestors said.   There had been numerous economic blockades and general strikes in the past relating to this demand.   However, the Manipur government has always managed to buy time with promises to look into the matter.   As a result of the economic blockade, hundreds of trucks and oil tankers were on Thursday stranded along the highway and at Jiribam town.