Imphal, November 16: Even as inter-State goods and passenger transport vehicles have ceased services along the National Highway 39 from today following the ten-day bandh called by Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA), Jiribam District Demand Committee (JDDC) has announced its decision of imposing an economic blockade on National Highway 53 for a week starting from the midnight of November 20.The Senapati student body enforced bandh along the National Highway 39 since last midnight in pursuance of its demand for improving the deplorable condition of the road and early work completion of construction of water reservoirs under the NonLapsable Central Pool of Resources (NCLPR) in the district.

Senapati SP Nishit Kumar Ujwal, however, said security has been beefed up along the route passing through the district to thwart any attempt to disrupt the traffic.

"Besides enhancing mobile teams, all police stations located along the route have been instructed to stay alert," the SP said, adding that there has been no report of any untoward incidents connected with the bandh so far.

The bandh, however, did not cover the inter-district transport services and passenger buses were seen plying normally.

SDSA president had earlier warned of launching agitation against the Ibobi Singh led SPF Government if it fails to give a positive response to the demands.

Meanwhile, putting its weight behind the student body calling the bandh, All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has stated that the demands made by the SDSA are genuine and the State Government should not ignore the student body's stand.

The Naga student body said that it would fully endorse whatever course of step is taken up by the Senapati District Students' Association.

ANSAM vice president Souni Khapa lamented that the State Government not given any attention for improvement of the highway inspite of lying in deplorable condition for long now causing immense hardship to the people.

The Naga student body further said that the other demands of SDSA should also be addressed by the State Government at the earliest.

On the other hand, an emergency meeting of the Jiribam District Demand Committee (JDDC) held today has decided to call an economic blockade on National Highway 53 for a week starting from the midnight of November 20, reports our Jiribam correspondent.

The meeting further resolved to take recourse to more intense agitation in case the Government fails to give a positive response to the demand for granting district status to Jiribam Sub-division even after the imposition of the economic blockade for a week.

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