Wednesday, August 10 2005 12:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Imphal: With the ongoing economic blockade by a Naga student's organisation entering the 49th day today (Aug 10, 2005), altogether 106 trucks carrying essential items were expected to reach the Manipur state capital today afternoon.

The trucks include 74 vehicles carrying essentials, which were held up at a weak bridge on the Barak river in Tamenglong district. Reports from Tamenglong district said the weak portion of the bridge was repaired and the trucks had crossed all the bridges on Silchar-Imphal NH 53.

The 74 trucks, which left the border town of Jiribam for Imphal via NH 53, had driven in from Cachar district of Assam.

No trucks however plied along the Imphal-Guwahati NH 39, which runs via Nagaland, the reports said.

Essential items laden trucks have been entering Manipur via the NH 53 for the past few weeks although on some days the vehicles could not run on the highway as roads and bridges were being repaired.

The All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) had launched the economic blockade since June 22 in protest against the Ibobi Singh government declaring June 18 as a holiday to observe 'Integrity Day'.

They have said that it was against plan for unification of Nagas.

The Government has been declaring a holiday on June 18 every year since 2002 in commemoration of 18 persons killed during the agitation against extension of the Centre-National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) Isak Muviah (IM) ceasefire beyond Nagaland in June 2001.