Imphal, April 03 2010: The Khaplang group of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K), which is on a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India, has allegedly detained at least 70 trucks of Manipur carrying essential commodities such as rice and sugar at Dimapur on a demand for Rs 50 lakh.

The trucks are engaged in lifting the essential commodities from the FCS godown of Dimapur to the FCS godown at Sangaiprou in Imphal.

Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (CAF&PD), Y Irabot has informed the Central Government about the forcible detention of the trucks by the NSCN-K, and urged the Centre to take appropriate action.

Reliable sources said that the NSCN-K had demanded the CAF&PD to pay the group an amount of Rs 50 lakh.

But the CAF&PD did not give the money.

Reacting to the nonpayment of the demand for money, the NSCN-K stopped 70 trucks from lifting the essential commodities from the FCS godown located at Dimapur in Nagaland.

Some of the trucks had already started loading goods.

All the trucks have remained parked on the campus of the FCS godown at Dimapur for the past six days.

The Naga rebel group is not allowing the trucks to move out of the campus, the sources said.

It may noted here that lifting of rice and sugar from the FCS godown, Dimapur in Nagaland to FCS godown, Sangaiprou in Manipur is done by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Among the trucks forced to remain parked on the campus of FCS godown, Dimapur due to NSCN-K's threat, 30 carry rice and 20 carry sugar.

Minister Y Irabot is reportedly aware of the situation in Dimapur, and has urged the Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram to influence the Naga rebel group to release the trucks.

It is pertinent to recall here that the same rebel group had stopped two trucks (MN 04/4438 and MN 01/7683) of Manipur transporting rice from Dimapur to Sangaiprou godown at Khongnem village area in Senapati district at about 7 am of March 20, and detained the two drivers on the demand for Rs 30 lakh.

The NSCN-K cadres came in a Maruti Zen car.

All Manipur Truck Owners' Welfare Association negotiated with the rebel group for safe release of the two drivers.

It is learnt that a huge amount of money had been paid, and the two drivers were released safely.

However, it is not yet known how much money was given.

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