Trade conspiracy

Is the blockade on National Highway-39 (Imphal-Dimapur) and 53 (Imphal-Jiribam), which is choking Manipur’s supply chain, a spontaneous action by the Naga Students’ Association, or is it a conspiracy by a section of traders? The Union home ministry is seeking a special report on the situation. According to top sources, the Union home ministry has sought details of foodgrain-lifting and transportation by the traders of Manipur in the months before the blockade started. Preliminary reports suggest that a section of the traders was hand in glove with agitating Nagas and wanted a blockade. The two-month-old blockade has enabled traders to make huge profit, says an official.