IMPHAL: As many as 150 trucks were stopped, a few destroyed, and keys snatched from some of them during an indefinite economic blockade on NH-2 imposed since Thursday by Senapati District Students' Association, which is from Manipur's hill district abutting Nagaland.
This was in protest against the ongoing ban on mobile net services in Manipur, where the government extended the restriction on Friday until October 11.
NH-2 connects Dimapur in Nagaland with Imphal and is a crucial lifeline for Manipur, especially the Imphal valley, as it facilitates transportation of essential commodities such as food, medicines, fuel, cooking gas, and other necessities.
Expressing disappointment, the students' union said in a statement: "We firmly believe that access to the internet is not just a privilege but a fundamental right that every citizen should enjoy without interruption." It argued that the blanket ban on mobile internet services across the entire state, even in areas with no law and order issues, infringes upon their basic rights as citizens of a free state.
The union had issued an ultimatum to the government, demanding lifting of the ban by Friday. Failure to meet the demand aggravated the situation along NH-2.
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