Security Forces to Clear Dimapur-Imphal NH-39

New Delhi, May 14 : In a move which will bring much needed relief to Manipur which has been facing a severe shortage of essential commodities in the wake highway blockades, the Centre on Thursday managed to impress upon supporters of NSCN (IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah to let traffic resume on at least one of the highways leading to the state.

Sources here said that the Dimapur-Imphal National Highway-39 could be cleared by security forces and it was ready for truck traffic to Manipur. The Centre's intervention came in the wake of Union home secretary G K Pillai's visit to both Nagaland and Manipur on Tuesday-Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the blockade of the Silchar-Jiribam-Imphal NH-53 by the All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) continued.

The ANSAM, which strongly supported the entry of Muivah to his hometown at Somdal in Manipur's Ukhrul district, had launched the blockade in protest against the Manipur government's plan to hold elections to the autonomous district councils in the hills.