Imphal: About 200 oil and gas tankers that were stranded in Assam and Nagaland due to blockade by Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) reached Manipur on Tuesday from a different route.
Chief Minister N Biren said two Companies of CRPF escorted the stranded vehicles and entered Manipur from Tamei in Tamenglong district. The SAPO blocked all Manipur bound vehicles from March 21 last demanding the removal of a security post in the Dzuko valley of Manipur.
The matter was discussed in the Manipur Assembly and the Manipur government had requested the centre and the Nagaland government to intervene as people were facing hardship in Manipur.
The Chief Minister also appealed to all business communities not to take undue prices and hike prices of essential commodities due to the blockade. Assam based body like All Assam Manipuri Students Union (AAMSU) has also started a counter blockade in Assam on the national highway leading to Nagaland to oppose the SAPO blockade.
The AAMSU said it will lift the blockade once SAPO lifts the blockade. Vehicles have also started coming to Imphal using Jiribam to Imphal highway as the Dimapur to Mao highway which is shorter and roadworthy is preferred by passengers and transporters.
The United Committee Manipur (UCM) a conglomerate of Manipur based organisations has also asked the SAPO to stop the blockade. People of Manipur will never compromise the territorial integrity of Manipur.
To check the frequent felling of trees, natural calamities and harassment of people in the area, the Manipur government had put up a post where police, forest, Disaster management, fire brigade personnel were posted. Due to the blockade, most oil depots were closed down, essential commodities, medical supplies coming by road had stopped coming from March 21.
