Manipur seeks Mizoram’s help to carry goods
By IANSThursday, May 13, 2010
AIZAWL - The Manipur government Thursday sought the help of Mizoram to transport essential commodities through its territory following a blockade of a key highway by Naga students.
“The Manipur government will made arrangements to import goods and essential commodities from other parts of India using the Silchar-Aizawl-Sinzawl-Churachandpur-Imphal surface route until the current situation is contained,” a Mizoram government official told reporters.
The official said that senior officials of two states earlier talked over phone to finalise the arrangement.
Landlocked Manipur continues to reel under an acute shortage of food and other essentials following the indefinite economic blockade enforced by Naga tribal groups since May 6.
The Nagas are protesting against the Manipur government’s decision not to allow National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) leader T. Muivah to visit his birthplace in Manipur.
The Manipur government has banned the entry of Muivah, saying the visit could lead to ethnic unrest in the state.
The 75-year-old Muivah, a Tangkhul Naga from Manipur, was born in Somdal village in Ukhrul district, 100 km north of Imphal, and last visited his birthplace in 1960.
Hundreds of trucks carrying essentials and medicines have been stranded in Nagaland with protestors laying siege on National Highway 39, the lifeline of Manipur.
