The organisations implementing the indefinite blockade are demanding the regularisation of 772 contractual teachers in the hill districts.

Brushing aside appeals from several civil society organisations, the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) and the All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) went ahead with > the indefinite blockade of the three national highways — the lifelines of Manipur — from Monday midnight.

Seiboi Haokip, the general secretary of the KSO and James Inka, the assistant general secretary of the ANSAM told reporters on Sunday night that the blockade would go ahead as announced.

The organisations are demanding the regularisation of 772 contractual teachers in the hill districts. However the government has been going slow on the issue as there is no rule to regularise contractual workers. If special favours are shown to these teachers, all other such engaged workers in the rest of the State might clamour for service regularisation.

On the other hand, the United Naga Council is calling a 48-hour blockade of the national highways from February 4 midnight. The UNC is calling the blockade in protest against the passing of the three "anti tribal bills" in the Manipur Assembly on August 31 last year and killings of nine activists, whose bodies are still in the hospital.

These blockades would affect the people's march planned on February 6. Supported by almost all civil society organisations and most of the political parties, the march is to reaffirm the people's determination to safeguard unity in the State.

Concerned by the blockade calls, Elangbam Johnson, convener of the Joint Organisation Committee of the Associations, organising the march told reporters on Sunday night that people have been appealing to call off this "unfortunate" call for blockades. However, the appeal has obviously fallen on deaf ears.

Within minutes of the announcement by the two students' groups, prices had been hiked and there was panic around the availability of fuel. On Monday morning, most of the oil pumps displayed "No petrol stock" signs. However, the roadside vendors are doing brisk business under the nose of the police.