Guwahati, August 7:

India’s air force was flying food and essential supplies into Manipur, which has been choked by a 50-day blockade of its two main highways by ethnic activists, authorities said today.

Four cargo planes landed in Imphal carrying about 40 metric tonnes of edible oil, lentils, sugar and other items, said Th Ratan, director of the state’s civil supplies department. Ratan said officials were arranging to distribute the goods across the state, where residents have been facing shortages of food and essential supplies.

Prices of fuel, cooking oil and sugar have more than doubled since Naga student groups began a blockade of traffic on June 19 on the two highways.

The Naga groups are demanding a merger of Naga-dominated areas in Manipur with Nagaland.