Militants Creating Artificial Shortage Of Eggs, say Manipur Traders

By Iboyaima Laithangbam

Imphal, Jun 6 : There is an artificial shortage of eggs and fish transported from Andhra Pradesh to Manipur, resulting in unreasonable price hike. Two organisations, All Manipur Fish and Egg Traders Association and Nupi Keithel Sinpham and Saktam Kunba Lup blame the rebel group, the National Socialist Council of  Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) for this.

Vijayalakshmi Tayenjam, the joint secretary of the Association told reporters that the NSCN (IM) is banning the transportation of fish and eggs to Manipur through Nagaland.

This is despite the forcible collection of various illegal taxes from the traders and vehicles of Manipur by this rebel group. She further said that to fish mongers had ganged up with the rebel group to monopolise the fish trade in Manipur. In fact these two traders have been asking all fish shops in the capital to buy fish from them only.

Mangi who is the president of the Saktam Kunba Lup said that though several persons had been killed and vehicles destroyed along the highway that passes through Nagaland the state and the central governments have not lifted a finger.

She further said that transportation of fish and eggs to Manipur via Nagaland was banned from May 17. She said that the government should solve it within June 10 failing which there will be agitations.

Reports say that as a result of ban on such transportations prices of eggs and fish have been hiked beyond the reach of the common people. As people cannot buy the fish and eggs at the exorbitant prices many of the shops were closed down.