Manipur is likely to remain cut off from rest of the country for at least three more days after suspected militants of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah blew off a vital bridge on National Highway 53, connecting Manipur to Assam, in the wee hours of Wednesday.
The saboteurs targeted the bridge barely 12 hours after a convoy of trucks escorted by a large contingent of security personnel had left Imphal for Jiribam in Assam to fetch supplies.
The Imphal-Silchar road was supposed to be an alternative to the state's main supply route, the National Highway 39, which has been blocked by another Naga student organisation for over a month now.
Trucks have not been able to ply on NH 39, which links Imphal with Kohima, since June 19 because of the indefinite economic blockade. The blockade has pushed up prices of essential commodities in Manipur.
The 60-metre-long bridge on river Irang is 70 km from Imphal and located between Khongsang and Noney in Naga-dominated Tamenglong district.
Manipur's Public works department minister, Debendra Singh requested the Border Roads Task Force, which renovated the highway, to complete the repairs by Monday.
The BRTF engaged the services of about 100 workers for the task.
Meanwhile, the Manipur government has decided to deploy security personnel on all three major bridges along the National Highway 53.
Assam Rifles Director-General Lieutenant General Bhupinder Singh rushed to Imphal from Shillong.
He reviewed the security arrangements along the highway this morning along with Assam Rifles Inspector-General (South) Major General B.S. Ghotra.