Kohima: Nagaland and Manipur are cut-off by road following an economic blockade imposed against Nagaland by various Assam-based organisations and trucks in hundreds, bound for Nagaland and Manipur, are stranded in various entry points of Nagaland.
Official sources on Monday said the situation in Nagaland has turned into an all out bandh. Volunteers imposing the blockade were not giving passage to any Nagas to enter Assam. Even critical patients were not spared.
Sources said all Nagas or Nagaland registered vehicles were forced to return to Dimapur by volunteers of All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) Karbi Anglong unit, who had set up a blockade some 400 meters away from the Nagaland Gate to restrict movement of Nagas through Assam.
The economic blockade has resulted in hundreds of vehicles bound for Nagaland being stranded at Golaghat, Mariani, Namtola and Sonari in Assam, as they have been forced to halt their by the agitators, who belong to different organisations. Many trucks with perishable items were also stranded. Nagaland is already facing shortage of LPG cylinders as stocks are running out, while other essential commodities may last for a couple of months.
Administrative sources disclosed that the state has enough stocks of fuel and essential commodities, but it is running short of LPG stock and if the blockade is not lifted, there would be a crisis. According to sources, the All Assam Students Union (AASU) is going to intensify their agitation against Nagaland following the failure of the Assam government to provide details of incidents that led to arson and killing of several persons along the Nagaland-Assam border.
AASU had served an ultimatum to the Assam government, giving it time till 1800 hrs yesterday, to provide details of the incident.
While AASU has not given any details about what kind of agitation they would begin apart from the economic blockade, the ongoing stir, if not lifted, would create a crisis.
According to a report received on Monday, various organisations of Assam sat on a dharna in front of Nagaland House at Guwahati and submitted a four-point representation to the government of Nagaland through the Resident Commissioner of Nagaland House, which included ex-gratia payment to the victims. (UNI)
