Public curfew ends with protests in different areas
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 05 2023: The 24-hour public curfew called by Coordinating Committee of 27 Assembly Constituencies ended on Saturday evening without any major incident as protestors set on fire effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah in different parts of the state.

All offices and business establishments including Khwairamband Ima Keithel remained closed and passenger vehicles off the road as protestors were seen enforcing the public curfew in different areas by burning tyres and effigies.

In Imphal West district, protestors were seen in large numbers in Iroisemba, Naoremthong, Uripok, Thangmeiband, Lamphel Sanakeithel, Singjamei, Yumnam Leikai, Keishampat and Kwakeithel areas among others.

The public curfew was called against the failure of the state government to convene special assembly session during the ongoing parliament session to discuss and adopt a resolution on the present crisis in the state for referral to the Parliament.

In Imphal East, protestors were seen enforcing the shutdown at Khongman, Palace Gate, Khurai, Singjamei Thong Wangma and Kongba Road among others.

A group of protestors went up to the residence of BJP Manipur Pradesh president Adhikarimayum Sharda at Brahmapur Aribam Leikai and burnt effigies of PM, Union home minister, chief minister, minister Th Biswajit and BJP state president Sharda at the gate.

Another group of protestors also stormed the residence of Manipur Legislative Assembly speaker Th Satyabrata and submitted a memorandum though he was not at home.

In the memorandum, the protestors raised their demand for a special assembly session before the ongoing Parliament session concludes apart from other demands like abrogation of Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement, NRC exercise in the state, and halt all process for converting Torbung Bangla into mass graveyard of Kuki militants.

Sit-in protests were also organised at Kombirei Keithel by Salai Taret Meira Paibi and Kombirei Keithel Meira Paibi.

Protestors shouted slogans demanding protection of state's territorial integrity, implementation of NRC, removal of Assam Rifles from the state, and prevention of mass graveyard for Kuki militants in Torbung Bangla.

They also burned effigies of PM Narendra Modi, HM Amit Shah, CM N Biren and BJP state president A Sharda.

WAL United Youth Club and local Meira Paibi Lup of Wangkhei Angom Leikai also organised protest and burned effigies of PM Modi and HM Amit Shah.

The 24-hour general strike/public curfew, however, had no effect in the hill districts.

Committee convenor L Binod had earlier said that the strike is not to add to the hardships of the people, but to "pressure the government" .

It may be mentioned that the state cabinet on Friday recommended Governor Anusuiya Uikey to convene a session of the assembly from August 21.The previous assembly session was held in March.

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