Jamir in Manipur, holds meeting with Ibobi; political parties

Imphal, JUL 10 (NPN):
Former Maharashtra Governor Dr. S.C. Jamir of Nagaland arrived Imphal by a special aircraft Saturday and later held separate closed door meetings with prominent political leaders of the state including chief minister, O Ibobi Singh and opposition leader Radhabinod Koijam.
Senayangba Chubatoshi Jamir, who also served as chief minister of Nagaland since 1982, arrived Imphal airport at 8 am from Dimapur for a two-day visit.
His visit comes close on the heels of the refusal of the Manipur vehicles owners to ply the Imphal-Dimapur section of the NH-39 till compensation of vehicles damaged or burnt down in Nagaland was not made and also assurance of that road would free of extortion menace in Nagaland.
Soon after arrival at the Raj Bhavan, Dr. Jamir held closed door meetings with the chief minister, former chief ministers and state Congress leaders. However, details of the meetings could not be obtained.
He also held a one-hour meeting with chief minister O. Ibobi Singh, after holding separate meetings with opposition leader and former chief minister Radhabinod Koijam of NCP and sitting MP of Raijya Sabha and former chief minister Rishang Keishing.
After the meetings with the current chief minister and former chief ministers, Jamir also held meetings with state Congress president, Gaikhangam, party leaders, former MLA A.S. Arthur, Victor Keishing, son of Rishang Keishing who is also general secretary of state youth Congress.
None of those who held meetings with the veteran Congress leader from Nagaland were willing to divulge anything. Even government officials and Raj Bhavan sources remained tight lipped.
Observers here believe that Jamir had been sent by New Delhi to assess the situation in Manipur particularly after the souring of relationship between the two states in the aftermath of the ban on the entry of NSCN (I-M) leader Th. Muivah by the Ibobi government. The relationship worsened when eight Manipur vehicles were torched in Nagaland following the ban imposed on all Manipur vehicles on NH 39 by the Naga Students Federation.
After more than sixty days of road blockades on the NH 39 and 53 were lifted by NSF and ANSAM, the Transporters and Drivers' Council, an apex body of the drivers refused to ply on the NH 39 unless the Nagaland government and the Centre paid compensation for trucks damaged or burned in Nagaland by blockade enforcers and making the road extortion free.
A highly placed source in Kohima claimed that Nagaland state was unaware of the demands of the TDC since both the drivers and Manipur state had not apprised Kohima about the demands.
The Central security forces, CRPF and ITBPF personnel deployed within the Nagaland section of the NH-39 have been withdrawn since Manipur vehicles continue to boycott the road.
However despite the boycott several Manipur-bound truckers take the route despite warnings on illegal taxes and all kinds of taxes imposed by underground factions and other unions.
Meanwhile, intelligence sources disclosed that hill-based underground factions will soon launch extortion on NH 53.