5 students launch fast-unto-death agitation over ILPS demand
Source: Hueiyen News Service / RC Mangangcha

Imphal, August 14 2015 : Five students, including one girl, from different Higher Secondary Schools in Imphal launched a fast-unto-death agitation demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in Manipur on Friday.

The stir comes a day after Chief Minister announced that the new ILP Bill being prepared by the five-member Drafting Committee would not be ready by August 15.Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JILPS) has set August 15 as the deadline for introduction of the fresh ILP Bill.

The five pro-ILP campaigners, who are studying in Class XII, began the fast in front of the main Gate of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy, Nongmeibung in Imphal East at 7 am.

They are Surjit Sagolsem, Oinam Suresh and Dayananda Lairikyengbam of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy, Nongmeibung, Loitongbam Bidyalaxmi of Ibotonsana Girls' Higher Secondary School, and Thoudam Mukhesh of Lamlong Higher Secondary School.

students launch fast-unto-death agitation over ILPS demand

Volunteers of Nongmeibung local club and meira paibis were seen guarding them at the site.

The agitating students said that the decision to observe the indefinite fast was taken against the Manipur Government's irresolute stance on the public demand for implementation of ILPS to safeguard the indigenous people.

The Government is showing lack of concern about the demand as it is not inclined to protect the indigenous people threatened by unchecked influx of non-locals, they said.

They said the Government is paying no heed to the demand by the public and JCILPS.

The pro-ILP activists asserted that their decision to fast was in line with Sapam Robinhood's sacrificial spirit to protect the indigenous people of Manipur.

"We'll continue this fast-unto-death protest until the demand is met," they vowed.

The Joint Students Union of Higher Secondary Schools will take action against those individuals who are trying to re-open educational institutes, they warned.

The union is currently enforcing a class boycott agitation over the ILPS demand.

The protesters said the Government should know that mere suspension of six police personnel responsible for the killing of Sapam Robinhood will not be the final solution and demanded that these police personnel should be terminated from service and punished.