Imphal : An indefinite economy blockade imposed by the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), one of the powerful tribal outfits in Manipur has stranded around 300 goods-laden trucks plying towards Imphal from Assam and Nagaland on Wednesday.

These vehicles laden with essential commodities ferrying towards Imphal from Assam via Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland are stranded at Lairou area on the NH-2  in the Senapati district of Manipur bordering Nagaland on the north.

COTU, Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi District of Manipur has served an ultimatum to the state government on August 17 to re-imposed highway blockade along NH-2 Imphal Dimapur and NH-37 Imphal-Silchar if essential commodities failed to reach the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas.

A driver whose truck was stranded in the said area said that around 300 goods-laden trucks were stranded in Lairou since August 18. Even after 12 days, the government has not sent any security personnel to protect them or to escort them toward Imphal.

on a mobile connection, a driver said that there are no medicines, no doctors to treat them and besides that, they have exhausted food to eat. The drivers said that some of the edible items that the trucks were carrying were being shared among the drivers and the handymen.

Meanwhile, the State Government has informed that alternative supply chain cum transportation of essential commodities to the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas especially in the Churachandpur district has been taken up through Silchar and Aizawl due to the disruption of the Imphal-Dimapur supply chain.

The transportation of essential commodities from Imphal to Churachandpur with the coordination of the Indian Army, CAPF, and Assam Rifles is also set to be carried out from August 28, officials added.