Eco blockade: MHA team in Manipur; tripartite talks tomorrow

A team of Union Home Ministry officials is in Imphal to hold talks with the Manipur government and a Naga group spearheading the agitation in the poll-bound state for a "definite solution".
Sources said the second round of tripartite talks, among the officials of the Ministry, Manipur government and representatives of United Naga Council (UNC), will be held in Imphal tomorrow.
A definite solution to the over three-month-long economic blockade there is likely to come up during the meeting, they said today.
National Highway number 2 (NH 2) in Manipur is blocked since November 1 by UNC cadres leading to normal life being severely affected. The Council is protesting against creation of seven new districts in the state.

The Home Ministry had made "substantial progress" during the talks held by it here on Friday and officials hope that the economic crises will end soon, the sources said.
They said an agreement has been reached between the agitating Naga group and the state government which is likely to be signed shortly.

Tomorrow's meeting is likely to be attended by UNC president Gaidon Kamei and the Council's information secretary Sangkhel Stephen, both of whom are lodged in Imphal central jail since January after Manipur police arrested them on November 25 last for leading the indefinite blockade.
Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry--who will represent the Centre in the talk-- has reached there along with other officials concerned, the sources said.

Due to the blockade, normal life in Manipur has been badly affected and prices of essential commodities have sky rocketed.
Polling for the 60-member Manipur Assembly is scheduled to be held in two phases next month -- March 4 and 8.