36-hour general strike and economic blockade called in Manipur

A hill-based Kuki committee has called a 36-hour general strike from July 8 and a 3-day economic blockade beginning the next day to press for its demand of 'Kukiland'.
Senior spokesman of the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) K Khongsai told mediapersons here today that the strike has been called from 5am of July 8.
The organisation has also called for an economic blockade on all highways and national highways passing through Kuki-settled areas from 5 pm of July 9 till 5 pm of July 11 as part of their prolonged agitation.
He said movement of vehicles, particularly those carrying economic items, would be prevented during the economic blockade on all routes between capital city Imphal and all the district headquarters and between Imphal and neighbouring states.

He said the Centre had on earlier occasions given the KSDC written assurance that the talks on their demands would be held soon but they (the Centre) had not taken any concrete steps to hold talks with the representatives of Kuki organisations.
Official sources said here that KSDC wanted to break up Manipur (22,327 Sq Kms) to form a 'Kukiland' which was objected to by various civil organisations and the Manipur government.