The students' wing of the joint committee on Inner Line Permit system has imposed a public curfew on all migrant workers in Manipur from Friday morning. The curfew shall remain in force till Ms Victoria Yengkhom, an additional superintendent of police is terminated from service and all arrested students are released without any conditions.
Subashchandra Sanasam, the co-convener of the students' wing of the ILP joint committee formally announced it in a news conference on Thursday evening in Imphal. He also said that the students take a serious view of the closure of all educational institutions in the state indefinitely by the government in a vain bid to foil the ILP campaign by the students. It only shows the lack of sincerity on the part of the government to address the ILP issue. Instead, it has become increasingly clear that the government is planning to torpedo the campaign.
It may be recalled that police raided the house of Ibotombi Khuman, convener of the ILP joint committee on Thursday evening. Though Mr. Khuman managed to escape, five of the ILP functionaries were arrested. Meanwhile there is widespread condemnation of the closure of the educational institutes. The students recalled how the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said in his independence day speech that the schools are not touched even during war. Today he is closing all the schools and colleges to suppress the people's movement.
As a result of the public curfew, the migrant workers were not seen beyond the well protected town areas. Cobblers, barbers and other hawkers did not venture out. Government circles are not happy with the public curfew. The other day J. Suresh Babu, principal secretary (Home) had issued a statement appealing to the ILP activists not to send a wrong signal. He said that there are large number of Manipuri students, employees and businessmen in every state in the country.
Meanwhile women activists continue to take out torch light processions at night demanding reintroduction of the ILP in Manipur.
