No new supply lines to Manipur

The move to open alternative routes to Manipur, affected by the economic blockade, had run into problems as stretches of those routes passed through terrorist-infested areas, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said today.

"Certain alternative routes were identified, but those pass through areas infested with terrorists. The Silchar-Jiribam road is also not safe. Therefore, search is on for new alternatives," Mukherjee told reporters here.

"This blockade, unfortunately has been a long one. Whenever there is an agitation in any part of the North-east, the first casualty is the communication system. They do not understand that this affects the common people and not the policy makers," Mukherjee said.

He said the Centre was in constant touch with the Manipur government in a bid to resolve the problem.

Around 40 tonnes of essential items, including life-saving drugs, were airlifted to Manipur from Guwahati yesterday.

The All-Naga Students Association Manipur launched the economic blockade on June 22 last in protest against a government decision declaring June 18 as a holiday to observe the "state integrity day".

According to the association, it was against the plan for unification of Nagas. However, many social groups supported the government's decision.

Meanwhile, the Centre is trying to ascertain how the bridge over the Irang river on the National Highway 53, an alternate economic lifeline to Manipur, was cut off allegedly by activists of NSCN (I-M) despite a clearance certificate given by Army authorities that the road was "secured".