With the indefinite economic blockade imposed by United Naga Council (UNC) on two National Highways of Manipur entering 14th day today, prices of essential items have skyrocketed in the capital city.
Over 1,000 loaded trucks are stranded alongside Mao gate on the Nagaland side and Jiribam respectively as Imphal-bound trucks are unable to head for the capital due to the economic blockade, a high-ranking police officer said.
Price of petrol in black market has risen to Rs 250 per litre in Imphal and Rs 300 a litre in the hill districts of Churachandpur and Chandel, officials said.
To cope with the crisis, hundreds of trucks and fuel tankers, escorted by security personnel, have headed for Jiribam sub-division from neighbouring Silchar in Assam to bring essential commodities, the officer said.
Meanwhile, Irom Sharmila's newly-floated political party People's Resurgence and Judicial Assurance (PRJA) appealed to the UNC to lift the ban on humanitarian ground.
PRJA Convenor Erendro condemned the blockade as it affected common people irrespective of ethnic groups and said it revealed the inefficiency of the Okram Ibobi-led Congress government in the state.
The UNC has been agitating against the government decision to create Sadar Hills and Jiribam into full fledged districts, claiming it would bifurcate ancestral lands of Nagas in Manipur.
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