IMPHAL, Aug 20: More than 800 empty freight trucks left Imphal for Jiribam along National Highway 53 this morning to ferry in essential commodities, while eighty loaded freight trucks reached Imphal amid general strike imposed by Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) across the contiguous area which feeds the state through National Highways 39 and 53.
120 oil tankers and four tourist busses were among the 814 heavy vehicles that left Imphal at 11:30 am under heave security cover.
A source said that when the convoy reached Seijang area some 40 km from Imphal, suspected strike supporters rained down missile and rock attacks on the convoy, damaging windshields of some trucks.
As the attack became incessant the security personnel of the convoy reportedly fired several blank shots into the air to scare away the assailants.
Some fifty loaded freight trucks, 29 oil tankers and two LPG carriers reached Imphal this evening through the same route on National Highway 53, said a police source.
It is worth noting here that an economic blockade that was imposed by SHDDC beginning midnight of July 31, tentatively for seven days, quickly spiraled into an indefinite general strike across Sadar Hills, barely two days after the blockade began, following the death of three women in a blockade related incident. The ongoing agitation is spearheaded by Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) which has been demanding creation of full fledged district of Sadar Hills.
no body has the right to block the national highway even if whatever demand is not made MANIPUR GOVT should let know everyone by any mean THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH