Imphal, June 10 (IANS): Several tribal groups began a 10-day economic blockade of Manipur from Thursday midnight. This caused fuel shortage and a spike in prices of several consumables, affecting normal life across the state.
Hundreds of vehicles, including passenger buses and private cars, were left stranded at various places in and around the state.
Police were escorting the stranded vehicles to ensure the safety of passengers, a senior police officer said.
"Arrangements have been made to escort fuel and liquefied petroleum gas tankers from Nagaland and Assam to Imphal. Police is also escorting stranded buses and trucks along the national highways," the officer told IANS. In order to check hoarding and avoid hardships to the common man, the Manipur government has directed stockists, dealers and retailers of essential commodities to publicly display on boards their stocks and prices of each commodity.
Highly placed sources told IANS that the measure is also intended to check deliberate hike in prices of consumer items by unscrupulous traders.
Officials said there was no need for panic buying of fuel since there were enough stocks. However, the prices of several consumables have risen despite government assurances, with potatoes and onions costing Rs 35 a kg.
The officials also said stocks of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG in the state could last from 20 to 27 days. But most of the petrol pumps have shut down, claiming to have 'nil' stocks. Interestingly, there is no fuel shortage as far as roadside illegal vendors are concerned.
Earlier, a 24-hour strike called by tribal activists in Manipur to protest alleged police "excesses" on slogan-shouting supporters in Delhi ended on Thursday midnight, which was followed by the start of the 10-day economic blockade. Besides, the Kangleipak Students Association too has called for a general strike in Manipur from 5 p.m. on Saturday till Monday evening.
5 hurt as van runs into protesters
Newmai News Network
Imphal | June 10
Five women were injured, two of them critically, when a speeding school van ran into a group of protesters who were staging a sit-in here in Imphal West this afternoon demanding introduction of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in Manipur.
Angry locals torched the vehicle which was completely destroyed following the incident which happened at Kakwa Boroi Makhong along National Highway 102 Imphal-Moreh road around 2:30 pm. Van driver Thokchom Thembi Singh was manhandled by the locals who handed him to Singjamei Police Station.
The injured were rushed to Iboyaima Hospital and Research Centre, Singjamei. Two of them, who were seriously injured, were referred to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) for better treatment. According to witnesses, three students were inside the vehicle when the mishap took place. None of them were injured in the incident. A group of protesters were blocking the highway section as another group was staging a sit-in protest nearby the roadside when the incident occurred.
Witnesses said the driver was told to turn back his vehicle by the protesters but he tried to speed away and ran into the group of women, injuring five of them. Last May, a man died in a road accident here when pro-ILP activists reportedly chased him for defying a shutdown.
