Road blockade call: Rajnath reviews situation in Manipur

New Delhi, Sep 3: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday reviewed the situation in Manipur in the wake of a road blockade call issued by a Naga outfit and assured full assistance to the state government to ensure normal life.

At a meeting here with outgoing Manipur Governor VK Duggal and Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Singh took stock of the situation in the state where the call for an indefinite blockade from tomorrow of national and state highways in Naga- dominated areas threatens to disrupt traffic movement.

"The Home Minister asked Manipur government to take all preventive measures to ensure that highways are kept free and law and order maintained. This should be done in order to protect common people from inconvenience," said a home ministry spokesperson.

Singh also assured the state government of all possible help from the Centre. The Centre is making efforts to ensure that normal life is not affected in the northeastern state due to the blockade. Official sources said that home ministry officials are in constant touch with Manipur government officials in this regard.

The Centre is keen to ensure that the supply of essential commodities is not affected due to the road blockade. United Naga Council (UNC), the apex political organisation of Nagas, has declared an indefinite ban on all vehicular traffic on national and state highways in Naga-dominated areas of Manipur from Sept. 4.

The blockade, if it goes ahead, is likely to hit the supply of essential commodities to the state as the ban will prevent trucks from making their way to Manipur's capital, Imphal. UNC called for the blockade after two people were killed in Ukhrul district, nearly 85km from Imphal, when police allegedly opened fire on protesters.

PTI