Economic blockade hits normal life in Manipur - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Manipur is continue to suffer from the after effects of an economic blockade called by the United Naga Council (UNC). Though paramilitary forces have started bringing in essential commodities and petroleum products into the region, locals are still concerned about the high prices of food items. "There is so much suffering in our student's life by this economic blockade. We cannot buy books, which are exported from other foreign countries; there are other minor problems like food supplies and other civil supplies," said Benjami Singh, a local youth. Anjali Devi, a school student described the conditions arising out of the blockade as sad. "The ealier blockade is going on for a long time and it is a sad situation. It has affected common people adversely. Students are also facing the brunt," said Devi. Meanwhile, frequent incidents of landslide on the National Highway-39 at Mao, Maram, Tadubi of Senapati District and at different places of Nagaland has also become a big hindrance in the free flow of the essential commodities and petroleum products in the region. Petrol prices had doubled twice, while food prices soared have to new heights and medicines are scarce. However, to prevent gross irregularity in the supply of essential commodities, trucks carrying basic goods and petroleum products are being ferried in from neighbouring Nagaland state under high security. With the announcement of the blockade, security personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF) and the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) have been deployed on both highways. The 20-day economic blockade will end on August 23. The UNC had presented a four-point charter to the central government, which included issues of alleged suppression of their rights by the Manipur government, the killing of a Naga student during the protests, the withdrawal of Section 144 from Naga areas and revoking the 'Wanted' tag on their leaders.