Manipur High Court declares economic blockade called by United Naga Council 'illegal'

The High Court of Manipur has declared as illegal the over four-month-long economic blockade in Manipur called by United Naga Council (UNC).The HC also directed the authorities to deal with those supporting the blockade according to the law.

A bench of Chief Justice R R Prasad, Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice Kh Nobin Singh passed the order on a public interest litigation.

Though the order was passed on March 3, it was made available on Monday.

The blockade, called by the UNC on November 1 last year, has become a key issue in Manipur where Assembly election is going on. The second and last phase of polling will he held on March 8.

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The key national highways (number 2 and 37) have been blocked by UNC cadres since November 1 severely affecting the normal life.

The UNC protesting against creation of seven new districts in the state, saying this would bifurcate the ancestral land of the Naga people.

UNC president Gaidon Kamei and its information secretary UNC Stephen Lamkang are in jail in connection with the blockade.

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