With the indefinite economic blockade on highways to the state from Assam and Nagaland by Naga students crippling business, Manipur has sought Mizoram's help in transporting essential supplies through its territory.

An official statement in Aizawl today said that the Manipur government has sought its cooperation in transporting essential supplies from Silchar in Assam through to that state.

With the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway 39 blocked by All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM), the government's plan to bring in essential supplies through the Silchar-Jiribam-Imphal National Highway 53 fell through because of weak bridges en route and security concerns.

Reports from Jiribam on the border with Assam said hundreds of trucks and passengers were stranded there unable to enter Manipur.

Essential items were scarce in Manipur with prices shooting up. Onion which was sold at Rs 11 per kg was being sold at Rs 28, potato at Rs 25 as against the earlier Rs 11.

Petrol which normally cost Rs 50 a litre was being sold at Rs 150, reports said.

On May 12, talks between Union Home Secretary G K Pillai and NSCN-IM 'general secretary' Thuingaleng Muivah at Visema village just across the border in Nagaland failed to resolve the blockade, with the Naga leader adamant on visiting his birthplace at Somdal village in Ukrul district in Manipur, which the state government has vehemently opposed.

Security forces are still deployed on the Manipur- Nagaland border at Mao gate on the NH 39 as the blockade supporters fully supported Muivah's attempt to visit his birthplace, official sources said in Imphal.

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh chaired a meeting of the Unified Command last evening for bringing in essential commodities, life-saving drugs and petrol following acute shortage, the sources said.

A statement issued by chief minister's office had earlier said that the government was considering airlifting of life-saving drugs and essential items on an emergency basis.

ANSAM had launched indefinite economic blockade both on NH 39 and NH 53 in protest against the holding of elections to autonomous district councils in hills and demanding more monetary power for them.