New Delhi, October 07: United Committee Manipur (UCM) today charged the Centre with following a "Naga appeasement" policy in pursuance of its peace talks with NSCN(I-M) saying New Delhi was turning a blind eye towards the spate of insurgent attacks on innocents along the National Highways connecting the landlocked North-Eastern State.

Demanding immediate creation of a National Highway Protection Force, the UCM, which recently met Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani here, said the Centre was not taking cognizance of regular instances of extortion, looting and even molestation allegedly by NSCN (I-M) cadres on the NH-39 and NH-53, which connect the State with the rest of the country.

The UCM has already launched an agitation to stop plying of vehicles on NH-39 from September eight and boycotted the visit of President APJ Abdul Kalam to Imphal on October five, UCM spokesman RK Ranendrajit told reporters here.

He said the UCM leaders were seeking another appointment with the DPM in the next few days to "sort out the loose ends" regarding provision of additional security measures, besides upgradation of NH-53 and extension of railway link between Jiribam and Imphal.

Ranendrajit, who was accompanied by UCM President S Jadumani and other UCM leaders, claimed that Manipur and Nagaland Governments "were being kept in the dark" on the parleys between the Centre and NSCN(I-M), which was "wilfully flouting the ceasefire ground rules in Manipur" leading to the "alienation" of the Manipuri people.