Imphal, July 12: Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh found himself cornered by the Opposition today with a barrage of uncomfortable questions on the highway blockade in the Naga-inhabited districts and the new crisis in the Sadar Hills.

Firing the first salvo after the day?s Assembly proceedings began, Naga legislator B.D. Behring said the government?s lack of alertness was to blame for the arson in Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel and Tamenglong last weekend. He said security arrangements in the headquarters of these districts were inadequate, which is why arsonists could set over 20 government offices ablaze.

Ibobi?s response was not very different from what he has been saying all along. He said the government was ready to hold talks with the All Naga Students Association of Manipur, the organisation behind the indefinite highway blockade, and needed the Assembly?s support to bring it to the negotiation table.

The chief minister said the services of the two security personnel involved in that incident would be terminated if they were found guilty of unprovoked assault.

The Centre today seemed to be in a dilemma about how to deal with the alarming situation. The home ministry's problems were aggravated today when Manipur governor S. S. Sidhu made it clear that the decision taken by the Ibobi government to declare June 18 as Integration Day and a state holiday could have been avoided.

Ibobi also faced criticism for his handling of the situation in the Sadar Hills, where an activist enforcing the three-day bandh called by the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee was run over last night by a speeding convoy of trucks at Keithelmanbi, on National Highway 39.

The victim was identified as 20-year-old Lalmitlen Sitlhou. Angry residents set an oil tanker ablaze at Yaikhong Pao village, under Kangpokpi police station, and damaged a Maruti Gypsy at Keithelmani this morning.

The tanker was part of the convoy of supply trucks that was being escorted from Mao Gate, on the Manipur-Nagaland border, to Imphal last night. Another 100 trucks that had brought goods to the state capital a couple of days ago were escorted back to Mao last night.

The three-day bandh in the Sadar Hills, which is under Senapati district, will end tomorrow. The CPI called for an all-party meeting on the blockade.

In another development, the Naga Student?s Federation (NSF) announced an economic blockade with ?immediate effect?, after a meeting in Kohima today. NSF president Phushika Aomi said students in all ?Naga areas? will stop Manipur-bound goods vehicle.

Meanwhile, the NSCN (I-M) refuted allegations of its involvement in the student agitation.