The Hindu : National : Ball is in government's court: Naga students

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 14, 2005

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Ball is in government's court: Naga students

Iboyaima Laithangbam

A Nagaland-based insurgent group told the drivers that they could not cross Nagaland if they did not pay up.

IMPHAL: The All-Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM), has said the Manipur Government cannot remain "complacent", now that it suspended the economic blockade against the State. The government should bring about a lasting and acceptable solution, it said.

ANSAM is demanding that the government revoke the declaration of June 18 as a State integration day holiday.

Meanwhile, over 80 loaded trucks are stranded in Golaghat district of Assam, having been prevented from entering Nagaland through National Highway 39. Drivers are unable to pay Rs 1,00,000 each as backlog in road and goods tax for the period of the blockade, which began on June 20 and was suspended on Thursday.

According to reports, a Nagaland-based insurgent group told the drivers that they could not cross Nagaland if they did not pay up. NH 39 passes through Nagaland.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has been in touch with his Nagaland counterpart Nipheiu Rio on this issue.

Over 124 other trucks reached Imphal before the insurgents could stop them.

On the other Manipur lifeline, NH 53, Assam Rifles personnel have been turning back hundreds of trucks. The highway was just cleared after a massive landslide. A top police officer told The Hindu that the road was not good and bridges along NH 53 were weak.

Though essential commodities have been brought to Manipur, the prices are still high. All petrol pumps remain closed and fuel rationing continues.

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