Manipur-based Naga leaders today asked the Naga students to call off the month-long indefinite economic blockade of two national highways 39 and 53 in Manipur to end suffering of common people.

In a joint statement, Naga Leaders Forum, Manipur, (NLFM) convenor A S Simreiyo and general secretary P A Thokho said common people were suffering a lot due to acute shortage of essential commodities and other items of daily need on account of a economic blockade since April 12.

The prologned economic blockade, launched by the All-Naga Students Association, Manipur, could result in starvation and even death, the statement said. They also disapproved of destruction of public or private property during the blockade.

In the same vein, the statement also appealed to civil organisations to withdraw a counter-blockade by preventing transportation of essential items to the hill districts.

The ANSAM had launched the economic blockade on national highway 39 (Imphal-Dimapur) and 53 (Imphal-Jiribam) roads to protest against the state government's plan to hold elections to autonomous district councils (ADCs) in the hills saying that enough monetary powers were not given to the council, a charge denied by the state government.

The NLFM statement said elections to the ADCs were a democratic process and it would be very unfair to boycott it.

It said people should be given a chance to express their rights in the elections and appealed to all sections of the people to cooperate with the elections.