By IANS,
New Delhi: Home Secretary G.K. Pillai and another senior official Tuesday flew to Manipur and Nagaland to help end an economic blockade by Naga students of a key highway that has sparked shortages in Manipur.
While Pillai went to Imphal, R.S. Pandey, the government’s interlocutor on talks with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), went to Nagaland to help calm a tense situation.
The move came after Home Minister P. Chidambaram received a message from the Manipur government seeking help, home ministry sources told IANS.
The officials are expected to help the Manipur government open a channel with the All Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM).
Manipur is facing acute shortage of essential commodities due to the blockade.
The Naga students launched the economic blockade after the Manipur government objected to a planned visit by NSCN leader T. Muivah to his ancestral village in Manipur.