Trucks stranded at Mao, NH-37 unaffected
Source: Chronicle News Service / NNN

Senapati/Imphal, November 22 2021: The economic blockade imposed by tribal student bodies including the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur, All Manipur Students' Association, Manipur; Kuki Students' Organisation -GHQ and ATSUM federating units came into effect from midnight of Sunday.

The economic blockade has been imposed after a 24-hour total shutdown in all hill districts of the state.

The blockade was called against the inaction of the state government to table the Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill, 2021 recommended by the HAC.

The tribal student bodies have been demanding the government to call a special assembly session to table the Bill.

More than 100 goods laden trucks have been stranded at Mao Gate in Senapati district following the imposition of blockade.

However, there was no impact of the economic blockade in Tamenglong and Noney districts as goods carrier trucks were seen plying normally along NH-37 (Imphal-Jiri Road) .

Reports said that more than 100 Imphal bound loaded trucks were stranded along National Highway-2 at Mao Gate bordering the state of Nagaland with the commencement of the blockade.

The economic blockade also disrupted normal movement of commercial vehicles along the Imphal-Moreh section of NH-102 .

Supporting the strike, members of KSO (Moreh block) came out along the highway at Chikim village and imposed the blockade, according to reports received.

The blockade supporters stopped vehicles of all kinds to check whether the vehicles carry goods violating the economic blockade, reports further said.

There were no untoward incidents related to the blockade on its first day.

The tribal based students' bodies imposed the indefinite blockade after their demand was not fulfilled by the state government despite a 24-hour total shutdown-call given in hill districts of the state on November 20.The student bodies went ahead with the stir after a talk with government officials at the chief minister's level on November 19 failed to break the deadlock.

On the other hand, various local based women organisations (Meira Paibi) have threatened to impose counter economic blockade.

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