Imphal, Aug 7 - Manipur is facing acute shortage of life-saving drugs, blood, oxygen and essential commodities due to a series of agitations, officials said Friday.

Curfew continued in Imphal East and Imphal West districts for the fourth day Friday, though authorities relaxed it for four hours to enable people buy essential items. It was imposed Aug 4 night to prevent protests against the killing of a youth from escalating.

Meanwhile, the indefinite blockade, called on national highways by All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) since July 15, is continuing on while transporters also have launched on stir since Wednesday to demand security and upgrading of roads.

According to a health department official, the state faces an acute shortage of life-saving drugs, blood, oxygen and anti-retroviral treatment (ART) medicines required for AIDS patients.

The state has been witnessing clashes between security personnel and protesters following the death of a pregnant woman July 23 in a shoot-out and the killing of Chungkham Sanjit, 27, in an alleged fake shoot-out at Khwairamband market in the heart of the state capital. People and rights groups allege that he was killed by the police.

Protests erupted after local media Sunday reproduced pictures carried by a New Delhi-based web portal Saturday, depicting some police commandos surrounding and taking Sanjit into a pharmacy in Imphal and later bringing out his body.