IMPHAL, April 7 � Life has come to a grinding halt in Manipur due to the prolonged indefinite economic blockade on highways and subsequent 48 hour general strike and also the stand-off arising out of the NSCN-IM leader Th Muivah�s proposed trip to Ukhrul in the State.
The All Manipur United Clubs Organisation sponsored general strike since last evening affected the normal life besides disturbing business establishments in the State for the day.
Though there is no report of unwanted incidents during the general strike in the valley areas, 10 government offices including two in Ukhrul and eight in Chandel district were reduced to ashes by unknown miscreants last night. Meanwhile the general strike which is scheduled to continue till May 8 evening has been reduced by 12 hours due to public inconveniences.
However, the prolonged blockade and stand-off at Mao Gate have also affected functioning of Manipur hospitals. With oxygen stock running out, authority in Imphal has decided to cancel all routine operations at the premier Regional Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital (except the emergencies) from coming Monday.
Demanding review of District Council Act, All Naga Students Association Manipur had been imposing the blockade since mid-April last.
The recent torching of six Manipur bound goods trucks in Nagaland�s border village forced the disappointed truckers refused to take the wheels.
The blockade also forced suspension of transportation of essential commodities and petroleum products from outside since the past two weeks.
Petrol which was selling at rate of Rs 60 in the black market in the past three days jumped to a whopping Rs 110 per litre on Friday evening.
Heading the scarcity list is LPG cooking gas. A filled LPG cylinder which actually costs Rs 320 is being sold at the rate of Rs 650 to Rs 700 at present and it is not easily available.
The prices of edible items have also gone up overnight. Interestingly, no transaction facility is available in most of the nationalised banks here since May 3 pull out of armed security men for deployment at strategic locations in the State.