Buying spree on festivals in Manipur

Imphal, Oct 21 (UNI) Diwali, Ningol Chakkouba and Id have led a bustling scene in all the markets of Manipur.

The shopkeepers attracted buyers announcing discounts. The entire city of Imphal looked like a market place as makeshift shops have come up in all the streets.

Most of the shops were decorated for the Diwali festival tomorrow and all Manipuris were preparing for Ningol Chakkouba on Oct 24 where every married woman goes to their parental house for a grand feast and their parents and brothers bestow gifts to them.

The Muslim communities, who constitute the second largest community in Manipur, were also preparing for Id on Oct 25. Due to an economic blockade on the two national highways of Manipur by All Manipur Died in Harness Appointment Demand Committee and sudden increase of illegal and legal taxes from all transport vehicles passing through Nagaland all trucks carrying oil, cooking gases were stranded at Khatkhati, Assam which had led to scarcity of petroleum products and cooking gas.

The All Manipur Petroleum Tanker Drivers' Union has also appealed to all to temporarily lift the stir and the illegal taxation by suspected militants at Nagaland so that the drivers of more than 150 trucks stranded at Assam could participate in the festivals.

The committee said the economic blockade which began on Oct 5 last will continue and its supporters attacked vehicles at Tadubi, Karong, Kangpokpi and other places on national highways for allegedly transporting goods on the national highways.

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