Anti-drug outfit halts anti-price rise campaign in Manipur

Imphal (Manipur), July 12 : The All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA) has halted its anti-price rise campaign in Manipur after submitting a memorandum to Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh.

The ''Campaign for Survival'' was launched on July 8 with a demand for a price fixation committee to regulate prices of essential commodities and another demand to check crime on National Highway-39.

During the campaign, women vendors also staged protests in Imphal against the hike in food and fuel prices.

The campaign covered Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts of Manipur.

On Sunday, the outfit organized a sit-in protest and a silent march in Imphal.

"Traveling on National Highway-39 has become dangerous and everyone is feeling unsafe and insecure after recalling the past incidents. We do not want to travel along it and rather prefer to opt for National Highway -53," said M. Padamini Devi, the chief of AMADA.

The All Naga Students Association (ANSAM) and the United Naga Council (UNC) spearheaded the economic blockade on National Highway-39, which passes through Nagaland.

The movement of essential commodities to this landlocked border state was disrupted since April 2.

Although the blockade was temporarily lifted recently, Manipur continues to reel from an acute shortage of petroleum products, LPG cylinders and other essential commodities due to a boycott call given by operators of tankers and other freight trucks.

In May, the Manipur Government prevented a rebel Naga leader Thiungaleng Muivah, from entering his hometown in Ukrul District.

As a mark of protest, Naga groups blocked National Highway 39, literally cutting off Manipur from the rest of the country.