Imphal, August 19 2010: Three truckers were injured when suspected economic blockade supporters allegedly threw stones damaging windshields of over 20 freight trucks heading to Imphal on the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39 even as two other freight trucks were set on fire on NH-53 in different violent incidents on the national highways in the state.

The attacks on the national highways in Manipur occurred on the 15th day of the economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) which commenced from August 4 .

The stoning of the Imphal bound freight trucks that inflicted injuries to three truckers- two drivers and a handyman occurred near an oil filling station at Senapati Bazar, just 500 metres away from the Senapati police station, at about 2.30 pm.

Driver Rajen, a resident of Golaghat, Assam presently residing at Dimapur, received serious injuries.

He has been evacuated to a hospital in Imphal after being given first aid at Senapati District Hospital said the police adding that the other two who received minor injuries which need no medical attention.

Rajen is the driver of truck no.AS01C-0543 ferrying grocery items from Dimapur to Imphal.

It was among 65 trucks escorted by a combined team of 4th IRB and Senapati police.

They left Mao Gate for Imphal today, at about 10.45 am, police said.

Suspected blockade supporters attacked the freight trucks while they were crossing the Senapati district headquarters areas.

They were stood from different directions shattering windshields of over 20 trucks.

Police suspected the stone throwers to be supporters of the agitating UNC.

The UNC has been imposing a 20-day economic blockade on the national highways passing through the state pressing the Central government to fulfill their demands while announcing that they had severed political tie with the Manipur government.

Meanwhile, miscreants set afire two freight trucks travelling on the Imphal-Jiribam section of NH-53 at about 7.30 am today at a place some three kilometers towards Imphal from Tupul under Noney police station.

The trucks - AS01/3C-2665 and NL024-9461- were burnt by some armed miscreants when the load carried by one of the trucks was being transferred to other trucks.

The first truck was stranded owing to a mechanical failure.

Drivers and occupants of the two ill-fated trucks escaped unhurt and reported to the police, the report added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the UNC has resumed the temporarily suspended agitation (68-day long highway blockade) from August 4 last alleging that Central government has failed to address to their demands even after the five-day ultimatum expired on July 31.The blockade is due to end by August 24 .

The UNC had demanded a judicial enquiry into the May 6 firing at Mao Gate that killed two students and injured scores of protestors and also called for an immediate withdrawal of Section 144 of the CRPC from Naga-inhabited areas in the state.

Removal of the "wanted" tag to the presidents of UNC and ANSAM and the dissolution of the elected bodies of the autonomous district councils" are the two other demands made by the body.

The agitating body had also boycotted a joint team of the Central and State governments who visited Senapati district headquarters to hold talks with them.

The high level official team of the Centre was led by joint secretary of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (NE in-charge) Navin Verma.

Even though the joint team once again appealed to the UNC to lift the economic blockade and to come to the negotiating table, so far no further action to end the impasse over the demands is forthcoming from both the UNC and the two governments.

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