Imphal, Nov. 13: The Manipur government will escort all the trucks stranded on the Imphal-Dimapur highway through Cachar district of Assam, after facing growing public anger over a blockade-induced scarcity of essential commodities.

Hundreds of trucks loaded with essentials items and oil tankers remained stranded in neighbouring Nagaland and Assam as the United Naga Council (UNC) sponsored indefinite economic blockade entered the 13th day today.

The Naga organisation imposed the blockade along the Imphal-Dimapur (National Highway 2) and the Imphal-Jiribam (National Highway 37) since November 1 to oppose the government's plan to create two districts - Sadar Hills out of Senapati district and Jiribam district out of Imphal East.

"The chief minister (Okram Ibobi Singh) is reviewing the situation with people concerned on daily basis. We are trying to bring back those stranded trucks with security escorts, along the Imphal-Jiribam highway, through Cachar of Assam,"transport minister Kh. Ratankumar Singh today said.

As a result of the blockade, the stock of all commodities is running low while the fuel and cooking gas stock have dried up.

Angered by the "inaction" of the Okram Ibobi Singh government, the residents of Khurai in Imphal East launched a counter blockade on the road leading to Naga-dominated Ukhrul district for the second day today.

The residents unloaded essential commodities and consumable items like potato, onion, salt and dal, being ferried in bulk in buses and other means of transport out of Imphal along the route.

Those enforcing the counter blockade said the seized commodities would be returned to the owners after the UNC blockade is lifted and the names of the owners have been recorded on the items seized.

The transport minister said Ibobi Singh was trying to hold talks with the UNC to lift the blockade.

The UNC said the blockade would not have been imposed if the state government had consulted all the stakeholders and the public before announcing the creation of the two proposed districts.

Students and public organisations in the valley expressed resentment against the failure of the state government to clear the blockade and restore supply of essential commodities.

The Socialist Students Union, Manipur, today gave the UNC an ultimatum to lift the blockade by tomorrow.

"If they fail to lift the blockade we will launch a counter blockade at various parts of the valley from the next day. We also appeal to the government to get the blockade lifted. The state government should be held responsible for the counter blockade," the publicity secretary of the students' union Naorem, Tanoranjan, said.

The United Committee Manipur's president, Elangbam Johnson, condemned the state government for remaining silent on the blockade.

Professionals like a professor at the Manipur University's economic department, Amar Yumnam, and senior advocate Kh. Mani Singh demanded the imposition of President's rule in Manipur.