Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, July 27:
Candle illuminations, fire crackers, drum beating, impromptu thabal chongba dance, whistle blowing and ecstatic yells marked the people's welcome of the announcement of restoration of NSCN(IM) cease-fire status quo before June 14 which was reported in the electronic media late this evening.
Minutes after the announcement was reported, lakhs of people in groups came out on the streets in Imphal areas in jubilation defying the curfew while the police kept appealing to them using loud speakers to suspend their revelry till tomorrow morning and keep indoors.
There were rows of candle lights lit up at Moirangkhom and Singjamei along the Indo-Burma road and crackers were fired.
A bike rally was also taken out and thabal chongba were improvised at several places though the moon visible in the sky was a narrow crescent.
Large numbers of people also came out and marched on the streets at Pishum bridge, Heirangoi Thong, Haobam Marak, Tiddim Road, Nambul Mapal road Singjamei and Keisampat.