Imphal, August 04 2010: The 20-day economic blockade imposed by UNC on the national highways in the state commenced from 6 am today after a gap of 47 day since the suspension of indefinite economic blockade temporarily on June 18 .

Meanwhile, two officials of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), AK Roy (Executive Director-NE, Zonal Office FCI, Guwahati) and MK Gogoi (General Manager, FCI, Regional Office Dimapur) today conducted check at the FCI godowns in Imphal.

Even as the blockade started, oil tankers with some freight truck entered into Manipur from Nagaland side on the Imphal-Dimapur section of the NH-39 while around 500 loaded trucks were proceeded towards Imphal from Jiribam on NH-53 with security escort.

Security has also been beefed up with the deployment of CRPF, BSF and state IRB personnel on the stretch of the NH-39 from Mao to Motbung with the government move to thwart any untoward incidents to the freight trucks cover by the economic blockade.

Heavy patrolling of security personnel on the stretch were seen, said truckers who proceeded on his route today.

A total of 48 empty oil tankers escorted by CRPF personnel crossed Mao gate for onward journey to procure petroleum products from Khatkati in Assam.

Mention may be made that Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has started procuring petroleum products in Manipur on the NH-39 .

Some trucks loaded with grocery and other items also included among the escorting oil tankers, report said.

On Tuesday, over 80 oil tankers arrived at Imphal while another around 100 tankers was brought by the CRPF personnel from Khatkati on Monday.

With the arrival of oil tankers, state Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department started distribution of petrol and diesel on rationing system from today.

Around 500 loaded trucks including 40 oil tankers and 19 LPG laden trucks have left Jiribam on NH-53 today morning for Imphal with security escorts.

Convoys of 2nd Manipur Rifles are escorting the vehicles.

However, officials here do not expect arrival of the vehicles in the next two or three days as the road improvement works is yet to be completed and they have to cross various unclear mudslide and badly deteriorated portions of road while reaching Imphal.

On the other hand, two officials of the FCI from Guwahati and Dimapur (Nagaland) arrived at Imphal by air today inspected godowns of FCI at Sangaiporou and Koirengei in Imphal for necessary replenishment of the stock with the initiative of the corporation.

The inspection of the godowns was the follow up action to the recent visit of a high level team of the Central government who took stoke position of the essential items, particularly food and petroleum situation in the state which was sharply depleted due to prolonged uncertainty on the national highways.

The high level official team of the Centre comprising joints secretaries of various ministries and top officials of Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), had visited the state on July 31 and assessed state's situation created by artificial scarcity of essential goods due to uncertainty on the highways in the state, agreed to release funds for improving the NH-53 .

Meanwhile, suspected volunteers of NPO imposing ban on Imphal bound taxi service on Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39 has caused damages to a newly purchased Tata Magic vehicle near Kuku Hotel, Tadubi in Senapati district on last Monday, a delay report said today.

Police came to know the matter only the driver of the vehicle, Laishram Birendra of Khangabok in Thoubal district lodged a complaint with the police today.

In the complaint, he reported that some miscreants stopped the vehicle forcibly near the hotel and with hammers and heavy sticks broken the windshield and headlights and backlight.

They also caused damages to the body part of the vehicle.

Police points attackers to be the volunteers of the NPO, the body imposing ban of the movement of Imphal-bound taxi service vehicles on the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39 in protest against the attack at some Imphal to Mao taxi service vehicles in Imphal in the last part of July.

NPO is demanding booking of the culprits behind the attacks at the taxi service vehicles in Imphal area.

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