Trucks stranded on Highway due to economic blockade

Imphal, Nov 21 (UNI) About 100 trucks were stranded on the National Highway No 39 at the Manipur-Nagaland border areas due to an economic blockade called by the Senapati District Students Association (SDSA).

The students had imposed the economic blockade on November 19 to protest the failure of the government to repair the highway. The SDSA relaxed the blockade for six days after State Works Minister K Ranjit Singh appealed to the students to withdraw the blockade in view of the hardship faced by the people.

The Works Minister had assured to repair the Highway but the SDSA was not satisfied with the steps taken up and hence the blockade was re-imposed.

Due to the blockade, the prices of all goods increased manifold and petroleum products were not available freely.

According to the truck drivers, they were facing hardship as they were compelled to eat and live on the National Highway and could not leave their trucks for security reasons. They were also unhappy with the trend of kidnappings of drivers by miscreants at Nagaland for financial reasons.

The truck owners said three drivers were kidnapped on November 19 last near Kohima and two were reportedly released but the whereabouts of the other driver was still not known.

UNI NS DBY RJ RK1838