File picture of trucks stranded on a highway outside Manipur

Imphal, June 13: The Opposition Manipur Peoples’ Party today blasted the Centre for remaining silent over the two-monthlong economic blockade while in Imphal, police took into custody three MPP fast-onto-death strikers.

The police arrested MPP Youth Front’s president M. Maniton, vice-president Th. Dillip and chairman of MPP minority cell Md. Aurangazeb at 12.30pm today. The trio were on a fast-unto-death agitation demanding lifting of the ongoing economic blockade on Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Jiribam highways. They began their fast from 1pm of June 10.

With their arrest, the number of MPP leaders held for attempting a fast-unto-death in support of the demand for lifting of the economic blockade went up to five.

Earlier, MPP president Nimai Chand Luwang and working committee member S. Dhananjoy were arrested on June 10. The two had begun their fast from 11am of June 7.

After the three leaders were arrested today, a 10-member team of the MPP Chanura Marup (women’s wing) began their fast unto death. The women’s team is being led by Okram Thoibi Devi, president of the Chanura Marup.

The MPP is also demanding that NSCN (I-M) general secretary Th. Muivah should be pulled back from areas close to the Manipur border and not be allowed to make provocative statements that could fan communal tension in Manipur.

The party is also demanding that NSCN (I-M) cadres should not be allowed to operate in Manipur.

“The blockade is running for more than two months. But the Centre is indifferent to the plight of the Manipuri people. This inaction reflects the step-motherly attitude of the Centre towards the Manipuris. Will the Centre remain silent if such a blockade is imposed on other states of the country?” MPP legislature wing leader Okram Joy Singh asked.

Stating that the root of insurgency in Manipur is neglect and step-motherly treatment of the people of Manipur, Joy Singh said if the Centre continued to be so negligent, the problem of insurgency would compound in the state.

Joy Singh said the arrest of the hunger strikers by the police and their “dumping in jail” would not discourage the party.

“More and more party workers would come forward and continue the hunger strike if the third batch is also arrested by the police. We will not call off the hunger strike until our three demands are fulfilled,” Joy Singh said.