Aizawl, August 11: Supply of essential commodities is gradually limping back to normalcy with the lifting of economic blockade on Mizoram lifeline- National Highway-306 in Assam, Mizoram supply minister K. Lalrinliana said on Tuesday.
He said that oil tankers and trucks carrying LPG from oil depots and gas bottling plants in Assam are continuously coming in from the neighbouring state since August 7 after lifting the blockade by locals of Lailapur, the nearest Assam’s border village from Mizoram.
According to the minister, railway tracks, which were damaged at three locations in Assam, have also been reconstructed. Transportation of rice bags and other essential commodities by train to Mizoram will resume soon, he said. He said that the stock position of all essential commodities is expected to get normal in the next few days.
The unannounced economic blockade was imposed by locals along Dholai-Lailapur after the July 26 clash that left at least 7 people, including six policemen from Assam, dead and more than 60 people injured on both sides.
The blockade was lifted after 12 days at around 9 pm on August 7 with the intervention of the Assam government.
Mizoram Deputy Inspector General of Police (Northern Range) Lalbiakthanga Khiangte said that at least 1,303 vehicles have entered from Assam via NH-306 from Saturday night till 6 pm on Tuesday.
This includes 512 heavy and 339 medium motor vehicles carrying essential goods, 53 oil tankers and 51 trucks carrying LPG, he said. Besides, 328 light motor vehicles, 2 buses and 18 maxi cabs carrying passengers and goods have also entered during the same period, he said.
From Mizoram side, at least 431, including 127 heavy, 96 medium, 177 light vehicles and 4 maxi cabs have left the state for Assam since Saturday night, he said.
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Meanwhile, highly placed sources in Assam said that locals of Lailapur have threatened to resume the blockade unless the Mizoram government fails to meet their demands.
During a meeting with two ministers and bureaucrats of Assam on August 7, the locals had demanded that action be taken against Mizoram police officials involved in the killing of seven Assam residents.
They had also demanded that personnel of the Indian Reserve Battalion of Mizoram be shifted from their present outpost where firing took place on July 26 and the same should be occupied by neutral forces.
