IMPHAL, August 10: Even as the Transporters’ and Drivers’ Council had decided to use the Imphal-Jiribam Highway, National Highway 37 (NH-53) to ferry essential goods into the state from other states, the Jiribam District Demand Committee has today announced a total blockade along the said highway from 7 pm of August 14 till August 30, against the government’s apathy towards their demand for a separate full fledged Jiribam district.
According to a source, the Jiribam District Demand Committee had taken the decision to call the total blockade along the national highway during an executive meeting held at the office of the Jiri Ima Meira Paibi Apunba Lup office at Babupara, Jiribam this afternoon which was presided over by Th Jiny Devi chairperson, Jiribam District Demand Committee.
It has also decided to turn to stronger agitations from August 30, incase the government fail to declare a separate full fledged Jiribam district by August 30.
The source has further stated that, the Chief Minister has previously announced the demand as genuine however he has failed to declare Jiribam as a separate district which has further angered the committee and the people of Jiribam. The committee as such has decided to call the total blockade along the NH.
The warning for total blockade along the National Highway 37 comes amidst the current indefinite general strike of the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee in demand for a separate Sadar Hills district which has already crippled the state with National Highway 2 (formerly 39) remaining impassable due to the indefinite general strike since the past few days.
Jiribam people with the state govt has to first work on the plan and framework of sending back illegal settlers and migrants first.