Manipur choked, struggles for basic needs
Vehicles form a queue for oil near a petrol pump in Manipur state capital Imphal on June 9, 2010. Residents of the remote state in Manipur are running out of essential supplies as an economic blockade imposed by tribal rebels nears its 60th day, officials say. Several Naga tribal groups have blocked the main highway into Manipur state since April 12 to protest against a government decision preventing their separatist leader, Thuingaleng Muivah, from visiting his birthplace. (AFP) 
By Oinam Sunil
Guwahati, Jun 14 : Petrol is selling at Rs 100 a litre and that’s a bit of respite. Last week, it was selling for Rs 170 a litre and that too was scarce. A cylinder of cooking gas is going for Rs 1,800.
Manipuri women protest economic blockade of NH-39
Manipuri women preventing traders from transporting food items to Naga-inhabited hill districts in reaction to the economic blockade on NH-39 by Naga groups, at a bus stand in Imphal on Saturday, May 15, 2009. (PTI)
Routine surgeries were put off at all hospitals because most medicine shelves were empty and oxygen cylinders couldn’t be refilled.
Patrolling in Manipur-Nagaland border
A joint team of Imphal East Police and Assam Rifles patrolling a hilly road to prevent entry of NSCN(I-M) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah to Manipur, at Liyai in Senapati district of the state bordering Nagaland on Friday, June 11, 2010. (PTI)
That’s a snapshot of life in the last two months in Imphal and most parts of Manipur where protesters, mostly Naga students’ groups, choked National Highway 39, the lifeline of the state, which borders Myanmar.
Protest against Thuingaleng Muivah's entry
Manipur women march with a banner during a protest against NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah's entry in the state, in Imphal on Saturday, May 29, 2010. (PTI)
The protests are directed at Okram Ibobi Singh government’s decision to not allow the separatist Naga group NSCN (IM) general secretary T Muivah to visit his native village Somdal in Ukhrul district. NH-39 connects Manipur to Dimapur, the closest railhead.
Protest at Mao
Security men fire teargas shells to disperse protesters who were demonstrating against their deployment to check the entry of NSCN-IM Secretary General Thuingaleng Muivah into Manipur, at Mao gate on Thursday, May 6, 2009. (PTI)
The blockade in Manipur is for three reasons. The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (Ansam), started its agitation from April 12 in protest against the holding of Autonomous District Council (ADC) polls in the hill districts as it feels the ADC Act ‘‘ suppresses tribal rights’’.
GGMA rally in Guwahati
Members of Greater Guwahati Manipuri Association (GGMA) take part in a peace rally in the wake of prevailing tension in Manipur over NSCN (IM) leader Thuingaleng Muivah's visit to the state, in Guwahati on Tuesday, May 11, 2009. (PTI)
The Manipur government, meanwhile, declared Ansam president David Choro and United Naga Council (UNC) president Samson Remei as ‘‘wanted’’ and announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh on them. The UNC also backed the blockade.
Muivah meets Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio (R) shakes hands with NSCN (I-M) leader Thuingaleng Muivah at Viswema village in Nagaland on Friday, May 7, 2009. Muivah is camping at Viswema after the Manipur government barred his entry into the state. (PTI)
The crisis was compounded with NSCN (IM) supporters joining the blockade after the Ibobi Singh-led Congress government prevented Muivah from visiting Somdal over fears it might reignite the greater Nagaland and separatist movements. Security officials, however, suspect that those who called the blockade were close to the NSCN (IM) and the intention was to choke Manipur’s lifeline.
Naga women and children sit at a temporary shelter
Naga women and children sit at a temporary shelter for displaced Nagas from Manipur state, at Khuzama village, in the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland on Friday, May 7 2010. Police fired tear gas and clashed on Thursday with hundreds of people trying to remove barricades put up by authorities to prevent Thuingaleng Muivah, the leader of the separatist National Socialist Council of Nagaland, from entering Manipur state in northeast India, officials said. Situation has been tense in the Manipur-Nagaland border area ever since. (AP)
"The blockade is not only creating problems for people in Manipur, it is also affecting Nagaland. Many hotels and shops on NH-39 have downed shutters after vehicles stopped plying. Nagas in Manipur are also bearing the brunt,’’ said a political observer in Kohima.
ANSAM economic blockade
People collecting ration, being distributed by the FCS department, as there is shortage of essential commodities due to economic blockade two National Highways by ANSAM, in Imphal on Tuesday, May 18, 2009. (PTI)
However, things might improve in the next few days, government sources said. The Naga Student Federation, one of the protesting groups, has softened its stand and decided to consider lifting the blockade in Nagaland after Manipur chief secretary D S Poonia wrote a letter to it expressing "regret" for the ‘‘inconvenience’’ caused to the federation’s team at Mao Gate on May 3.
National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM)
A female cadre of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) helps a colleague tie a belt to hold ammunition, at the central headquarters of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), at Hebron, on the outskirts of Dimapur, in the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, Wednesday, May 5, 2010. India is offering wide autonomy to the group though it has already rejected the rebels' demand for an independent homeland in northeastern India bordering Myanmar, where most of the 2 million Nagas live. (AP)
The NSF joined the protest from May 4 in protest against Manipur Police’s move to stop them from visiting Senapati district a day earlier.
Rally for petroleum in Manipur
People line up their vehicles at a petrol pump demanding fuel, in Imphal on Tuesday, May 25, 2009. Essential commodities, including petrol, in Manipur are in acute shortage due to the economic blockade on NH-39 and NH-53 by a Naga students' group. (PTI)
It is an irony that an elected government has to apologize to a students’ organization. Many feel such a concession was not healthy for a government. And the Centre, it seems, doesn’t mind such a trend.
Supporters of Muivah blocking NH-39
Supporters of Thuingaleng Muivah, General secretary NSCN(IM), blocking National Highway No. 39 with stones and burning firewoods in protest against Manipur government's decision of not allowing the leader to visit his home town Ukhrul, in Senapati on Friday, May 7, 2009. (PTI)
On Wednesday, Union home secretary G K Pillai indicated that Naga protesters will soon lift the blockade. The following day, the NSF said the ban on Manipur vehicles in Nagaland would soon be lifted in response to a letter written by the Manipur chief secretary and public appeal.
Economic blockade timeline: Manipur-Nagaland tussle
Residents waiting for their turn to collect rice rationed by the state government following the economic blockade on NH-39 by Naga groups, in Imphal on Tuesday, May 18, 2009. (PTI)
June 9: G K Pillai indicates blockade will be suspended.
June 10: NSF says considering lifting ban on Manipur vehicles in Nagaland.
Naga students at Manipur Bhavan
Police trying to pacify students and activists of Nagaland who tried to storm Manipur Bhavan after Manipur government denied entry of Thuingaleng Muivah, leader of NSCN (IM) into the state, in New Delhi on Thursday, May 6, 2009. (PTI)
June 5: Manipur chief secy D S Poonia ‘regrets' the ‘inconvenience' to NSF team at Mao Gate on May 3.
June 7: Manipur govt declares Ansam president David Choro and UNC president Samson Remei ‘‘wanted''.
June 8: All-Manipur Christian Organization visits Kohima for talks with Naga civil society groups to end blockade.
Protest at Mao
Fire men extinguish a police vehicle torched by protesters during a demonstration against deployment of security personnel to check the entry of NSCN-IM Secretary General Thuingaleng Muivah into Manipur, at Mao gate on Thursday, May 6, 2009. (PTI)
May 12: Pillai and Pandey fly to Kohima to meet Muivah. Talks deadlocked.
May 26: Phase I of ADC polls. A delegation of Naga Cong led by PCC boss Imkong in Imphal, talks with Ibobi.
June 2: Phase II of ADC polls held.
Candlelight service by Naga students, activists
Naga students and activists holding a candlelight service to show solidarity with NSCN (IM) leader Thuingaleng Muivah, who was barred from entering Manipur, at India Gate in New Delhi on Sunday, May 9, 2009. (PTI)
May 10: Manipur sports minister N Biren Singh says Muivah's homecoming will be considered if he drops agenda of Greater Nagaland. Govt to clear NH-53 Imphal-Silchar highway to ferry food and fuel. Manipuris start using NH-150 connecting Imphal to Mizoram.
May 11: Home secy G K Pillai and Centre's interlocutor for Naga peace talks R S Pandey reach Imphal to meet Ibobi. No solution.
Naga Students' Union Guwahati (NSUG) taking out a peace rally
Naga Students' Union Guwahati (NSUG) taking part in a rally to condemn killing of students during police firing at Manipur's Mao gate, in Guwahati on Saturday, May 8, 2009. Police fired on protesters who demonstrated against Manipur's ban on the entry of NSCN (IM) leader Thuingaleng Muivah into the state. (PTI)
May 6: Nagas in Manipur protest at Mao Gate opposing Ibobi govt's ban on Muivah. Police lob teargas shells, fire at protesters, two students killed. Ibobi meets FM in Delhi. Sticks to stand.
May 7: Muivah supporters join blockade.
Stranded trucks due to indefinite economic blockade
A view of the trucks stranded on NH 39 due to the indefinite economic blockade of All Naga Students Association Manipur at Mao in Senapati district of Manipur on Friday. (PTI)
May 4: NSF bans Manipur vehicles in Nagaland.
May 5: Guwahati HC asks Manipur police to arrest leaders of two tribal student bodies, which imposed economic blockade along NH. Muivah starts his journey to Manipur from Hebron on NH-39. Stops at Viswema village, short of Mao Gate.
Manipur police commandos detaining and questioning locals at Mao
Manipur police commandos detain and question locals after a rally against the Manipur state government's decision to prevent Thuingaleng Muivah, the leader of separatist National Socialist Council of Nagaland, from entering Manipur state in India's northeast, in Mao, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from Kohima, capital of the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, Thursday, May 6, 2010. Several people were injured in clashes with police near Manipur's land border with Nagaland state, said a Manipur state government spokesman. However, a spokesman for the Naga People's Movement for Human Rights, said at least two people were killed in police firing in the area. (AP)
May 2: Manipur deploys heavy security at Mao Gate on Nagaland's border, on NH-39.
May 3: Manipur cops stop Kohima-based Naga Students Fed from visiting Manipur's Senapati district. Six Manipur trucks in Nagaland set on fire.
Damaged cars outside Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi
Onlookers stand beside damaged cars outside the Manipur Bhavan (House) in New Delhi May 7, 2010. Hundreds of 'Naga Students Union Delhi' (NSUD) students on Friday protested outside the Manipur Bhavan against the government's refusal to allow T. Muivah, leader of Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) to visit his ancestral village state, according to local media. (REUTERS)
April 29: MHA asks Manipur and Nagaland govts to provide security to NSCN general secy T Muivah during his visit to his ancestral Somdal village in Manipur in May.
April 30: Manipur cabinet resolves to oppose Muivah.
Security personnel stand guard at Mao gate
Manipur security personnel stand guard as they block the highway bordering Manipur border at Mao, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Kohima, capital of the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland on Thursday, May 6, 2010. Police on Thursday fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of people who tried to remove barricades put up by authorities to prevent a Naga separatist leader from entering Manipur state in India's northeast, officials said. Ravi Hemadri, a spokesman for the Naga People's Movement for Human Rights, said at least two people were killed in police firing in the area. (AP)
April 11-12 midnight: All-Naga Students' Association (Ansam) begins economic blockade on the NH-39 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-53 (Imphal-Silchar) protesting against Okram Ibobi Singh govt's decision to hold the Autonomous District Council polls in tribal hill districts. Ansam argues ADC Act suppresses tribal rights. United Naga Council backs blockade.
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