100-day economic blockade launched by United Naga Council (UNC) on Manipur was called off on Monday. The UNC had first launched economic blockades on the two national highways in protest against the signing of an agreement between Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) which has been demanding conversion of Kuki-majority Sadar hills area in Naga-majority Senapati district now said they would continue their agitation till an \'alternative arrangement\' was made for Nagas. UNC sources said Nagas in Manipur want to severe all ties with the Manipur government and want an alternative arrangement for Nagas in the state adding that they had submitted a memorandum in this regard to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram. UNC representatives have already met Chidamabaram to air their concerns. The Manipur government had signed an agreement with the SHDDC after they launched economic blockades on same two national highways of Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar and Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati and said it would make Sadar Hills into a full-fledged revenue district after getting reports from the district reorganisation committee. Prices of all essential items have skyrocketed following the blockades and the items were not freely available,market reports said adding that petrol was available at Rs 200 per litre,diesel Rs 90 per litre and cooking gas at around Rs 1650 per cylinder. Prices of onions,and other eatable items have gone up,reports said adding that they were not readily available in the markets also.
