Monday, August 8 2005 14:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Imphal: Essential items loaded in 158 trucks entered Manipur today (Aug 8, 2005) via the Silchar-Imphal NH 53 even as a 12-hour bandh is on in some hill areas by All Naga Student's Association Manipur (ANSAM), spearheading the over one and half months old indefinite blockade in National Highways of the states, to protest against the assault of a tribal woman.

Official sources said the trucks, including 74, which were stranded at Maku river area yesterday due to a weak bridge, would arrive here in the evening hours with security escort in view of the blockade.

The trucks were part of the 122, which took NH 53 yesterday (Aug 7, 2005).

The bridge has been repaired and vehicles have began plying on it, the sources said adding security escorts are being provided to the loaded trucks from Jiribam in Manipur near the Assam border.

No trucks plied along the Imphal-Guwahati NH 39, the other lifeline of the landlocked state, today. 22 loaded trucks took the highway to reach Imphal yesterday.

The bandh by ANSAM began at 6 a m today and inter-state bus services plying through the hill areas of the state were cancelled apprehending trouble, official reports in Imphal said.

However, normal life was unaffected by the bandh, which was called to protest the physical assault of a Maring woman at Langathel area in Thoubal district over a personal dispute yesterday.

ANSAM had launched the blockade of national highways in the state since June 22 to protest the O Ibobi Singh Government's decision declaring June 18 every year as holiday to observe state Integrity day. ANSAM had said it was against the plan for Naga integration.