IMPHAL, Aug 24 � The United Naga Council (UNC) of Manipur has extended the 20 day economic blockade on Manipur which was to end on Tuesday morning by another 25 days after New Delhi allegedly failed to intervene into their demands.
A spokesman of UNC told the local press that they are extending their agitation since their demands are not fulfilled. A meeting of the Council was also held in Senapati district headquarter, 60 km north of here on Saturday.
The demand included institution of a judicial enquiry into the May 6 firing at Mao Gate on the Manipur-Nagaland border, killing two Naga students, demilitarisation of Naga areas, removal of the �wanted� tags on Naga leaders and dissolution of the autonomous district councils.
UNC�s blockade extension move came after Union Home Minister P Chidambaram made his statement in Parliament on August 19 that there is no question of breaking up the territory of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to accomodate the Greater Nagaland demand.
The blockade extension announcement has come at a time when Manipur is gradually recovering from shortage of essential commodities due to the earlier 69 day economic blockade on Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati Highway (NH 39) and Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar Highway (NH 53) which came to an end on June 18.
The extension of the blockade on National Highway 39 and 53, the life-lines of the State, forced Central para-military forces to intensify their routine road opening patrol (ROP) along the 65 km Mao-Kangpokpi sector of NH 39 on Tuesday.
Speaking to The Assam Tribune, SP Nishit Ujjwal of Senapati district, said that the ROP has been intensified by six companies of CRPF and two companies of BSF along the route. �We have also alerted the police�, he added.
The police official also confirmed the arrival of around 190 goods trucks from outside the State along the NH 39. A CRPF team also escorted around 32 empty trucks from Imphal to Nagaland sector of the Highway on Tuesday.
When contacted over telephone, Nagaland police at Khuzama check gate bordering Manipur�s Mao Gate confirmed the movement of empty trucks with CRPF escorts.
Meanwhile, sources here said that another fleet of around 300 goods trucks are on their way to Imphal through the Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar Highway (NH 53).
