Sunday, August 7 2005 18:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Imphal: Altogether 144 trucks loaded with essential items have entered Manipur via Guwahati-Imphal National Highways (NH) 39 and Silchar-Imphal NH 53 with security escort today (August 7, 2005), official sources said here.

These vehicles, 124 along NH 53 and 22 along NH 39, would arrive in the state capital this evening (August 7, 2005), sources said.

There was no disruption by supporters of the economic blockade on National Highways, sources said adding that personnel of India Reserve Battalion (IRB) were escorting the trucks.

Some 40 tonnes of essential items including life-saving drugs had been airlifted to Imphal by defence and other civil aircraft from Guwahati yesterday (August 6, 2005) in view of the economic blockade.

All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) had launched the economic blockade in the NHs since June 22 last to protest the State Government's decision declaring June 18 as a holiday to observe "State Integrity Day". ANSAM had said it was against plan for unification of Nagas.

Official sources said the Government had been declaring holiday on June 18 every year since 2002 in commemoration of 18 persons killed during the agitation against extension of Centre-NSCN (IM) ceasefire to Manipur in June 2001.

ANSAM has decided to oppose the Government decision of declaring holiday on June 18 from this year (2005).