New Delhi, June 14: With the Centre today deciding to send security forces to remove the 65-day-old blockade of two national highways in the northeast by Naga groups, the agitators showed some signs of relenting by hinting at a temporary suspension of their stir.
The Home Ministry decided to send 16 companies (about 1,600 personnel) of central paramilitary forces, including one women company to assist the Manipur government to clear the blocked highways since April 11. Besides six companies are also being sent to Nagaland.
“We have decided to send Central forces to remove the blockade,” Home Secretary G K Pillai told PTI.
He said chief secretaries of Nagaland and Manipur will meet here on Wednesday to review the situation.
Later in the day, a five-member delegation of Nagaland Students Federation (NSF) met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and had about an hour-long meeting on the ongoing crisis.
–Agencies