Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, August 04:
With interstate traffic on national highways 39 and 53 having come to a standstill on account of the series of bandhs and highways blockades called by various Naga groups in the wake of the Central government�s decision to roll back the extension of the ceasefire of NSCN (IM) to Manipur, large numbers of Manipur bound vehicles and passengers have been stranded at various places outside the state.
According to sources in the state truck owners� association, over 150 vehicles, including tankers and trucks carrying essential commodities are believed to be stranded at Guwahati, Dimapur and along NH 39 in Nagaland.
As many as 100 trucks are currently stranded at Zakhama, on the Manipur-Nagaland border, parked along NH-39, according to reliable sources.
The sources also stressed the need for the government to provide adequate security to bring these stranded trucks out to Imphal.
On the other hand large numbers of passengers are also stranded at Guwahati and Silchar.
Reports reaching here from Guwahati said that with surface transportation to Imphal at a standstill, there was a great rush for flight tickets.
A report from Silchar added that around 300 Manipuris, including students coming from Delhi, Guwahati, Shillong and other places were currently stranded at Silchar and Jiribam, including many from hill areas.
The AMSU Jiribam district committee has in this regard opened a relief camp at Jiribam inspection bungalow.
The additional DC, Jiribam has provided one bag of rice for the camp, while the 12 IRB has provided water tanks and drinking water.
Reliable sources in the meantime add that the additional director general of police, C Peter was dispatched to Senapati by the Governor Ved Marwah to meet with representatives of various agitating Naga organizations and attempt to reach a settlement, but he has returned empty-handed.