Manipur, Nagaland chief secys summoned

Union Home Secretary GK Pillai has summoned the chief secretaries of Manipur and Nagaland who are expected to reach New Delhi tomorrow to discuss steps the two state governments need to take to keep National Highway 39 open.

Union Home Secretary GK Pillai has summoned the chief secretaries of Manipur and Nagaland. They are expected to reach New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss steps the two state governments need to take to keep National Highway 39 open.

HT Image

Various Naga organizations had ‘imposed’ an economic blockade on NH39 from April 11. A Naga students’ body temporarily lifted the blockade from Tuesday, but their Manipur counterparts are yet to do so.

Considered Manipur’s lifeline, NH39 passes through Nagaland and the Naga-inhabited hills of Manipur before reaching Manipur capital Imphal.

The summoning of the chief secretaries followed a telephonic conversation Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had with the chief ministers of Manipur and Nagaland. “We took the decision to deploy additional paramilitary forces on NH39 to remove the blockade and ensure unhindered movement of traffic and goods to and from Manapir,” said an MHA official.

The official added the Centre had been ensuring the supply of life-saving drugs, PDS rice and petroleum products to Manipur during the blockade phase.