Widespread protests grip Imphal Valley; ILP agitation intensifies
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 11 2015 :
Widespread protest demonstrations were held across Imphal Valley against the killing of a student during a rally demanding the withdrawal of Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVT&MW) Bill 2015 on July 8 .
Mass anger refused to subside even after State authority relaxed curfew between 5 am and 10 am in Imphal areas on Saturday.
After a lull in the morning, protesters began coming out on the streets again to protest.
By evening, police fired tear gas shells to break clusters of protesters in many parts of the valley on Saturday.
Angry protesters were heard shouting slogans demanding the withdrawal of the MRVT&MW Bill and demanding appropriate changes for curbing the inflow of illegal migrants into Manipur.
Police had to fire teargas shells to quell the protests.
Angry youths were seen fighting pitched battles with security forces in many parts of Imphal late at night.
It has been reported that thousands of protesters from Irilbung area comprising of volunteers from many localities were heading towards Imphal.
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There were sit in protests and processions at many places on Friday night and Saturday.
Women had come out for staging sit in protests and taking out protests at Khurai Lamlong and Sawombung areas.
There were interventions from the police resulting in face offs.
In Bishnupur district sit in protests and demonstration were reported from various places.
They carried torchlights and placards and shouted slogans.
On Saturday there were numerous protests at Heingang areas.
Apart from sit in protests they had taken out processions.
One woman activist said that the Manipur government should save the people by implementing the Inner Line Permit in the state.
There were processions and sit in protests at Yaiskul and various areas in Singjamei.
They shouted slogans demanding punishment to the killers of the student on July 8.They carried placards demanding ILP in the state.
The Maniour University Students' Union also staged a sit in protest at the university gate.
The students were demanding the implementation of the ILP.
The student activists said that they will organise such protests and extend support to other campaigns.
The women at Lairikyengbam Leikai also staged protest.
The grandmother of Late Robinhood said that as per wishes of the JAC the family is not claiming the body.
She regetted the policy of the government of not taking up actions till some persons are killed.
There shall be no rest till the goal is achieved.
The Langol Chingmi Tami also organised a maspoprotest at Koirengei and Potsangbam.
On Friday night several men and women took out a torchlight procession from Langthabal to MU gate and Kakwa.
Police stopped them at Kakwa resulting in a face off.
There are reports of holding discussions on the burning issues here and there.
Curfew relaxation .
The indefinite curfew in the two districts will be relaxed from 5 am to 12 noon on Sunday.
The district magistrates of the Imphal East and the Imphal West had issued the official orders.
However, during the relaxation period assembly of five or more persons and carrying of lethal weapons shall not be permitted.
On Saturday curfew was relaxed from 5 to 10 am during which all sections of people thronged the market places for a shopping binge of consumer items.
There were obviously a shortage of vegetables and other items.
Shops in the Imphal town were also open.
However police forced them to close down after the relaxation period.