Imphal, Nov 1 (IANS) The 92-day economic blockade in Manipur was partially lifted Tuesday with one tribal group signing a pact following a written assurance by the state government on creating a new hill district but another continuing its protest.
The agreement between the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) and the state government was signed around midnight in capital Imphal with leaders of the Committee and senior officials present at the meeting.
The SHDCC had launched the economic blockade Aug 1 on two national highways – Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati (NH39) and Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar (NH53) – to press their demand for conversion of Kuki tribal majority Sadar Hills area into a full fledged district.
‘We have decided to withdraw the blockade following assurance from the government to create a new district,’ a SHDCC leader told IANS.
The government side at the marathon two-hour meeting was represented by state Chief Secretary D.S. Poonia, an official said.
SHDDC leaders also held a separate meeting with the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.
However, tribal Nagas inhabiting the area are opposed to creation of a Sadar Hills district. The Nagas have since Aug 1 also launched a counter-blockade on the two highways opposing the demand by the Kuki tribal people for a separate district.
The Naga counter-blockade is being spearheaded by the United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of Nagas in Manipur.
‘Though the SHDDC has decided to lift the road blockade, the UNC is still continuing their blockade. I hope good sense would prevail on everybody as the people of the state have been suffering a lot,’ deputy commissioner of Senapati district Pradip Kumar Jha told IANS by phone.
Several civil society groups Tuesday urged the UNC to call of the economic blockade as it was greatly inconveniencing the local population.
The 92-day old blockade had led to shortage of essentials, petroleum products and cooking gas cylinders, besides medicines.
A cooking gas cylinder was sold at the black market for as high as Rs.2,000, while a litre of petrol sold at Rs.200.
‘We are beginning discussions with the UNC to convince them and lift the blockade so that trucks carrying essentials and other items are able to reach Manipur,’ a government spokesperson said.
The two highways are the lifeline to Manipur as supplies of all essentials are brought to the state from adjoining Assam and other parts of India.
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had Monday urged groups demanding a separate district in Manipur to suspend their economic blockade, which has led to prices of various commodities skyrocketing.
‘I appeal to the Kuki and other tribal groups to suspend the agitation,’ Chidambaram had told reporters in New Delhi while releasing the monthly report of his ministry.
