30 trucks damaged by blockade supporters in Manipur: Police

Economic blockade supporters have vandalised around 30 loaded trucks and tankers heading for Imphal along NH--53 from Jiribam town in Manipur, police said today.
The destruction of the trucks which was heavily escorted by security forces took place mainly in the town of Noney in the Naga-dominated hill district of Tamenglong of the landlocked state yesterday.
The trucks numbering around 500 had to stop while it was on its way to the state capital after large number of blockade supporters forcibly stopped them and pelted stones.
Meanwhile, police burst tear gas shells in which one 47-year-old woman T Kamei was injured, a police officer said.

Some of the drivers and their associates were also injured, he said.
The blockade supporters are demanding release of the president of the United Naga Council (UNC) Gaidon Pamei and associate Stephen Lamkang who were arrested in connection with the ongoing economic blockade.
The economic blockade which has drastically reduced the stocks of necessity items and hiked the price of petrol in the black markets to Rs 300 per litre was imposed to protest the state government's move to upgrade SADAR hills and Jiribam sub-division into full-fledged revenue district.