'Public curfew' paralyses life
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, August 14 2015 : The 12-hour public curfew imposed by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) brought life to a total standstill in Manipur valley area on Friday.

As the curfew was announced late Thursday night, public had very little knowledge about the strike and started the day on a normal note.

However, the real impact of the curfew started showing after 9 am as roads wore a deserted look with all markets shutting down.

JCILPS enforced the public curfew after Chief Minister O Ibobi announced on Thursday that the Government would not be able to present the new ILP Bill by August 15 .

'Public curfew' paralyses life

The strike was called as the Joint Committee and the Manipuri public, in general, were not happy with the Government's response to the ILPS demand.

The State Government had held talks with JCILPS for two rounds, but there was no breakthrough.

Curfew supporters came out in large numbers in Tera Bazar area of the Imphal-Jiri Highway and blocked the road.

They burnt tyres, fell trees and placed them on the road.

Traffic was blocked along Tiddim road by residents of Keishampat and Kwakeithel to support the curfew.

However, the medical service related professionals, media persons and other essential services were exempted from the purview of the strike.

'Public curfew' paralyses life

Even BJP Manipur president Th Chaoba and Naoriya Pakhanglakpa MLA RK Anand had to get down from their vehicles and walked through as the protesters did not spare the two leaders and their escorts.

All the local clubs and meira paibee associations in Mayai Lambi road supported the strike in a coordinated manner.

Sit-ins were staged in their respective localities and later formed a large human chain.

They shouted slogans demanding ILP system in Manipur and strict punishment to those police officers who responsible for killing Sapam Robinhood and manhandling of girl students.

No untoward incidents were however reported during the public curfew except few incidents of damages caused to vehicles.