IMPHAL: All shops in Imphal city remained closed on Tuesday in protest against the "failure" of the Manipur Government to get the 50-day old economic blockade clamped on this State by the All-Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM), lifted.

At a meeting with leaders of the three Manipur student organisations here on Monday night, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi assured them that meaningful steps would be taken to end the ANSAM protest, against the declaration of June 18 as a State integration day holiday.

Meanwhile, Governor S.S. Sidhu has sent a report to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil after inspecting the 225-km National Highway 53.

M.P. Singh, commanding officer of 36 Border Road Task Force who is in charge of NH 53, told him that at least 13 bridges would be repaired for trucks carrying 15 tonnes of goods to cross bridges on the highway. The Chief Minister also assured the students that trucks carrying 15 tonnes would be allowed from August 11.

For the time being vehicles are not allowed to carry more than three tonnes on the weak bridges.

This correspondent saw planks missing on several bridges. The others are brittle due to exposure to rain. The BRTF personnel are trying to strengthen the bridges with logs and bamboos and trucks have to cross the bridges at snail's pace.

Trucks cannot be operated on the other lifeline, NH 39, which passes through Nagaland. For, the Naga Students Federation and other organisations have extended support for the blockade, which began on June 20.

Molotov cocktail attack

On Monday night, 47 trucks carrying goods reached Imphal. But almost all the vehicles were damaged by ANSAM protesters. At Noney, they threw Molotov cocktails and a truck carrying LPG cylinders caught fire. Security personnel nearby fled fearing a major fire, but drivers put out the flames.

The Union Home Ministry has directed the Chief Secretaries and the Directors-General Police of Manipur, Nagaland and Assam to ensure that at least 120 trucks reach Imphal daily.

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