IMPHAL, NOVEMBER 18: Long queues of people could be seen in and around Imphal since the wee hours of the day not only in front of banks. They were there for cash, as much as to buy petrol from fuel outlets following the arrival of oil tankers from outside the state via Imphal-Silchar route.
Braving a cold wave, school van operators and four-wheel owners stayed overnight in front of oil outlets in and around Imphal to buy petrol. In some outlets, the queues for two-wheelers were as long as half kilometre.
Manipur has been reeling from a severe fuel crisis after the state’s stock ran out on the 13th day of the indefinite economic blockade on supply lines imposed by the United Naga Council from November 1 midnight. The organization was protesting a reported plan of the state government to declare Sadar Hills in Senapati district and Jiribam in Imphal East district into full-fledged districts.
As a result, the blockade affected normal life in the state not to speak of sudden closure of schools in Imphal following the suspension of school van services due to shortage of fuel.
Also, many people continue to storm the banks here for cash transaction and new notes besides to deposit old notes. Unlike the previous days, more ATMs were opened here on Friday; men and women were seen in long queues for more than two hours on an average for a single new Rs 2000.
The United NGO Mission Manipur (UNM-M) has called upon the organizations in concern to relax economic blockade for a few days on humanitarian grounds to relieve the suffering of the public of Manipur.
In the meantime, considering the hardships to the peoples of Churachandpur, the Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills warned of launching blockades on all goods vehicles from Churachandpur district (to Manipur Valley) from November 21 if there is further report of counter blockade on goods vehicles to the district.
