Manipur tense, cut off for 3rd day

The United Committee of Manipur (UCM), which heads a movement to prevent the state from being carved up if the Centre signs an agreement with the NSCN-IM, today blamed Delhi for failing to respond to the sentiments of Meiteis.

‘‘New Delhi is to be squarely blamed for inciting the Nagas to continue their move to slice away the hill districts of Manipur and merge them with the proposed Greater Nagalim of the NSCN-IM. Otherwise New Delhi, which has been talking to the NSCN-IM leaders, could have easily prevailed upon them to withdraw the highway blockade,’’ said Gour Shyam, a UCM spokesman.

ANSAM’s highway blockade of Manipur’s hill districts adjoining Nagaland has affected the supply of essential commodities in the Meitei-dominated Imphal valley.

The government has deployed escorts to allow vehicles to enter the state through Naga-inhabited hill districts — about 100 trucks reached Imphal under heavy security today.

Many passenger buses were also escorted from Mao, the entry gate between Nagaland and Manipur last night. However, more than 300 passengers are still stranded at Mao, reports from Imphal said.

Ibobi Singh today dispatched four Deputy Inspectors-General of Police to the four hill districts to control the situation. Nagas burnt down many government offices, including that of the deputy commissioner of Chandel district, on Saturday after two civilians were killed by security forces earlier that day.

Centre seeks report from Manipur government

NEW DELHI: Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal has asked for a report on the situation in the state from Manipur Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh. Chief Minister of Manipur Ibobi Singh has separately sent a letter to Home Minister Shivraj Patil giving details of the developments in the state.

Meanwhile, Lok Sabha MP Mani Charenamei today sought Central intervention to protect the interests of Nagas. Charenamei met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and requested the Centre to intervene “by making immediate alternative arrangements for the Naga areas as it has become practically impossible to live under the government of Manipur which has turned communal”. With a few weeks to go before the ceasefire between the Centre and NSCN (IM) comes up for review, senior officials at Union Home Ministry are worried about the possible fall-out of the agitation on talks with the Nagas. The NSCN (IM) is seeking “integration of Naga inhabited areas’’ which is strongly opposed by Manipur and Assam.