Imphal, June 19 2010: The United Committee Manipur (UCM) has expressed strong preference for NH 53 over NH 39 .

Until and unless the Government of India frames a policy of reimbursement for the huge amounts paid unofficially for passage through NH 39 and the large amounts collected illegally from the transporters as well as casualties caused to transporters and passengers, there is no point to take Imphal-Dimapur road.

Instead of deploying central forces along NH 39, the Government should develop NH 53 and provide escorts for vehicles travelling along NH 53, the UCM demanded in a press release.

Even as the common people suffered the worst due to the indefinite economic blockade, the same blockade was a lucrative means of earning big money for the agitators as well as monopolist businessmen.

While other vehicles were blocked, vehicles belonging to big businessmen were given free passage under a tacit understanding with Naga NGOs which imposed the blockade.

This was confirmed from the pass issued by Dimapur Naga Students' Union (DNSU) to some vehicles till Imphal.

The DNSU pass seized from truck coming from Dimapur has also testified that block callers were acting as open agents of NSCN-IM, the UCM asserted.

It also conveyed gratitude to all those who extended cooperation in successful observance of the Great June Uprising day 2010 .