Source: Matamgi Yakairol
Imphal, June 28:
Petrol and kerosene prices are soaring in the curfew bound capital of Manipur.
The 11 days of curfew in greater Imphal, including Imphal town, Imphal East and Imphal West has been one of the longest ever in the state.
Indefinite curfew was imposed on June 18 after 14 deaths in police firing on tens of thousands of demonstrators protesting against the extension of the Naga ceasefire to Manipur.
It was relaxed for the first time on the fourth day for two hours from 7 am.
On June 20, about MLAs held a meeting at the State Guest House and condemned the burning of the Assembly hall and other government buildings.
The demand for a judicial inquiry into the police firing was also raised and a decision taken to send representatives of all political parties to Delhi to press for an early revocation of the ceasefire from Manipur.
The next day, legislators led by former chief minister Dorendra Singh left for New Delhi to meet the central leaders.
They had an audience with Home Minister Lai Krishna Advani, the next day but no solution emerged.
The Home Minister gave an assurance that the centre would review the situation arising out of the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, the Manipur Human Rights Commission served notices on June 21 to the State Chief Secretary ad Director General of Police after registering a suo moto case on the police Bring.
It was reported that rallies against the Naga ceasefire extension to Manipur was organized in remote areas by local clubs today during the curfew relaxation.
Indefinite curfew was re-imposed to Imphal East and West district from 2 pm today after a nine-hour relaxation.
There were no reports of any untoward incident during the curfew relaxation.
On June 21, two BSF personnel and two civilians were killed in an ambush at Tera Khongshangbi under Moirang police station limits.
On June 22, curfew was relaxed for six hours to enable the people buy essential commodities which due to short supply are becoming very expensive.
One kg of' rice costs Rs 20, potato Rs 16 and onion Rs 20.Though the situation is limping back to normalcy, there is severe oil scarcity in the capital town.
Most of the oil depots were closed down as their stocks finished and there were long queues in some depots where oil is still available.
In the black market one liter of petrol costs Rs 55, kerosene Rs 30 and diesel Rs 25.Tension increased when 12 student leaders including the president of the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) were arrested and all educational institutions were closed for a week from June 25.On June 23, seven non-governmental organizations of Manipur sent a memorandum to Prime Minister AB Vajpayee to revoke the ceasefire extension from Manipur.
The memorandum said, "one who has no proper knowledge of Manipur and her history should not have authority to decide the state's future�.
Manipur government has formed a committee to advise the Governor to restore normalcy in the state.
The Committee for Restoration of Normalcy (CRN) was formed on June 22 and has met twice.
Among the various measures suggested by the committee Manipur Governor Ved Prakash Marwah accepted seven.
These include ex-gratia payment to the bereaved families of the 14 people killed in CRPF firing.
However, the next of kin of the victims declined the offer.