Manipur's agony spilled into the hundredth day, with petrol selling at Rs 200 a litre and LPG at Rs 2,000 a cylinder in the black market. Prices of fuel and essential commodities have continued to soar due to the economic blockade that has plunged the state into a virtual humanitarian crisis. While the rest of India fumes over the recent petrol price hike, fuel prices here have gone through the roof, and whatever is available, is selling at a premium.
An ineffectual government and little intervention from the Centre have meant that there is no end to the crippling blockade.
The region depends on supplies transported by road for its essential needs and has been cut off for 100 days now, with the two national highways - the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati (NH-39) and the Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar (NH-53) - blocked by protestors of various political affiliations.
The state, which has been reeling under a crisis for over three months ensuing from the economic blockades on the two national highways, got some relief last week as the Kukis demand for conversion of the Sadar Hills area near Imphal into a full-fledged revenue district was met with. The Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) - spearheading the movement for the separate district Kuki-dominated district - signed a deal with the state government.
But the Nagas were not happy with the decision and, led by the United Naga Council (UNC), the tribe decided to intensify their counter-blockade on the two highways.
"All that the government is doing is play politics because elections are approaching," said S Milan, Publicity Secretary, United Naga Council.
Many in the state feel the Centre could have acted tough and got the highway cleared by now. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram visited for two days, but there was no tough talking, at least on record. He said that there was no problem that could not be solved through talks.
'"We must learn to live together and the first rule of living together is to understand each other."
But these words have had little impact on the protesting groups, and Manipur's blockade looks all set to continue well beyond 100 days.
Left high and dry after the blockade by agitating Nagas, Manipur is banking on a temporary road route through Assam to get fuel supplies in. The first lot of 100 trucks carrying petrol and diesel had started moving towards state capital Imphal yesterday.
The state government has said that it was trying hard to negotiate with the agitators and was confident that a solution would come out soon.