Manipur blockade cripples supplies of essentials

Imphal, August 19 (IANS) The supply of essential commodities has been badly hit in Manipur and prices of items available in markets have soared after police job aspirants enforced an economic blockade, protesting the delay in declaration of results of a recruitment test held in 2013.   The economic blockade along the highways in Manipur began on Tuesday night and will continue till August 23, the protesters said. They got agitated after the state government recently conducted tests for fresh appointments of police constables even as results of the recruitment drive conduceted three years ago are still awaited.   The candidates after passing the written test also appeared for interviews. They are still awaiting their selection results.  

The protesters said Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and Home Minister Gaikhangam had assured them that the results would be declared soon. But brushing aside their appeal, the government went ahead with the fresh recruitment process, they said.   A truck was torched and many other vehicles were damaged by the blockade supporters in the last two days.   All petrol vends have gone dry although the government claimed that fuel stock available in the state will last for over a month.   In addition to the blockade, a 48-hour general strike was launched from Thursday midnight to protest the arrest of Khomdram Ratan, a former convener of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System.