Imphal, July 21 2009: Manipur continued disconnecting with other parts of the country through land routes owing to the 48-hour bandh imposed by the tribal bodies in Manipur to register strong protest against the government decision to deploy IRB and police commandos in the hill districts of the state.

The 48-hour bandh called jointly by the United Naga Council (UNC), All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Women Union, Manipur (NWUM), and the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) commenced from July 20 midnight and will be concluded today midnight.

The bandh has cut off Manipur's connection with other parts of the country through NH-39 (Imphal-Mao) and NH-53 (Imphal-Jiribam) as services of all kinds of vehicles on both highways remained suspended from yesterday.

Over 135 goods carrying trucks including six inter-state buses were stranded at Moa gate since yesterday owing to the bandh, a report received here from Mao gate said.

Goods carrying trucks have been stranded there since the commencement of the indefinite economic blockade imposed on the highways by All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM).

The six passenger buses have been stranded there since yesterday due to fear of attacking on the route by the bandh supporters, the report said.

At Jiribam border with Assam also many goods carrying trucks reportedly stranded as they could not proceed further owning to the twin strikes, police report here said.

They however could not confirm the numbers of vehicles stranded as they were not remained confined at a particular place.

The bandh continued hitting life in the five hill districts, Tamenglong, Senapati, Ukhrul, Churachandpur and Chandel as shops and other business establishments remained closed today on the second of the bandh, reports said.

Our Chandel correspondent, Tongsing Winnergift add: With the support of the various district based civil and students organizations, the bandh went on successfully.

District units of CNPO, Naga Women Union, Chandel, Naga Students' Union, Chandel, Anal Naga Taangpi extended support to the 48-hour bandh which will be concluded by 5 am tomorrow.

Around 300 volunteers of the organizations took on the streets on Indo-Myanmar section of the NH-39, at Chandel headquarters, Chakpikarong, Sugnu, Pallel and closed the roads from all kinds of traffic.

The KSO, Gunpi block also sent volunteers to participate in the road blockade at Sugunu bazar.

They also forced to close down shops and other establishments there.

Police rounded up seven strike supporters and later released them at around 11.30 am after the SP, Thoubal intervened on the matter.

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