IMPHAL: Home Ministry Secretary V.K. Duggal, Joint Secretary (Northeast) Rajiv Agarwal and National Security Guard Director-General A.K. Mitra will arrive here on Wednesday to discuss the widening and improving NH 53, which will serve as an alternative to NH 39.

The team's visit follows assurances given by Home Minister Shivraj Patil in Parliament about improving NH 53 in the wake of the recent economic blockade organised by Naga students.

The team will hold talks with Border Road Task Force (BRTF) Chief Engineer Mahindra Kaur and 35 Battalion BRTF Commanding Officer Mahesh Prasad Singh.

There are many weak bridges on NH 53, which is in a bad shape, and about half the length of the road is double lane.

It has been reported that over 100 trucks are not being allowed to cross Nagaland by a militant organisation, which is reportedly demanding Rs. 1 lakh from each truck. The trucks are stranded in the yard of the Manipur State Road Transport Corporation at Dimapur, Nagaland.Most of them carry fertilizers, which is in short supply in Manipur.

Agriculture Minister Pheiroijam Parijat said that fertilizer-laden trucks were stranded at Dimapur, but did not comment on it further.

Reports said that Rs. 4,000 had been collected from each truck as against the Rs. 2,000 collected before the blockade. Ten trucks have been forced to return to Nahorijan in Assam. And documents have been seized from the drivers.

UCM plea

In a press release, the United Committee, Manipur (UCM) demanded that no Nagaland non-governmental organisation be permitted to attend the meeting of Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh with the All-Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) since the impasse was a matter concerning Manipur.

The ANSAM had suspended the 43-day-old economic blockade, saying that it was for the Chief Minister to find a lasting solution.

The UCM said that initially people thought that ANSAM had called off the blockade in view of the hardships caused to the people.

But reports that an armed outfit in Nagaland had been extorting tax from vehicles and imposing fine for plying during the blockade indicated that it was called off for the benefit of the outfit.

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