93-day economic blockade of Manipur ends
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The 93-day economic blockade of Manipur has now been lifted.
A written asurance was handed out by the state government to upgrade Sadar Hills as a full-fledged district.
The blockade, which had crippled daily life in the state, was lifted after mid night.
No word has emerged on the counter blockade plan by the United Naga Council who were opposed to the upgrade.
The SHDDC (Sadar Hills District Demand Committee) had demanded conversion of Kuki-majority Sadar hills area in Naga-majority Senapati district into a full fledged revenue district. It had been blockading the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati (NH 39) and Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar (NH 53) since August 1.
Opposing this, the United Naga Council, blockaded the two national highways since August 21. The efforts to ferry in supplies from outside the state by security forces were being disturbed by volunteers picketting on the national highways.
The blockade resulted in suffering for a population of 27 lakh in the state which is spread over 22,327 square kilometres. The cabinet met seven times on the issue of Sadar Hills in the past two months, but could not take a decision fearing an ethnic clash between Nagas and Kukis, they said.
Over 1,000 people were killed in the early 1990s in Kuki-Naga clashes in hill districts because the Nagas wanted to drive out Kukis from Naga-settled areas, they added.
Prior to the blockades, over 300 trucks brought in essential supplies one or twice a week on the two national highways with security escort. The price of cooking gas which cost about Rs 400 has gone upto Rs 1,650 per cylinder, petrol which costs Rs 50 per litre had gone upto Rs 120 or more in the black market. Prices of onions, potatoes, and other essentials also shot up considerably.
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