Correspondent
IMPHAL, JULY 26
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he 18-hour statewide general strike called by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) paralysed normal life in Manipur today. The strike concluded at 6 this evening.
The Joint Committee on ILPS called the strike in protest against the police brutalities on students while staging democratic agitation and the government’s alleged indifferent attitude towards the demand of introduction of ILPS in the state of Manipur.
Besides the strike supporting volunteers, many women folks in groups came out in the streets in Imphal and enforced the strike by blocking the passersby and burning tyres, etc.
Not only the busy Khwairamband Keithel in Imphal, the busy Singjamei super market area in Imphal west district and Lamlong Keithel junction in Imphal east district also wore deserted look throughout the day.
The market places and business establishment in the state remained closed in view of the strike while the important roads in Imphal wore desolate look as most of the inter-state, inter district and local passenger transporters services suspended their daily services. But it could not affect the normal air traffic. However, there is no report of any unwanted incidents during the course of the strike.Meanwhile, many womenfolk’ organizations have strongly condemned the police action on the student community while staging democratic forms of protest in Imphal. On Thursday, many students were brutally beaten up while some of them were detained when a group of students under Joint Student Coordination Committee (JSCC) tried to move towards the state assembly to lodge their demand for immediate introduction of ILPS which restricts ‘outsiders’ from entering a state and staying there without permission, is enforced in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram. ILPS was withdrawn from Manipur in November 1950.
Meanwhile, while denouncing the unbecoming action of the police, the Bharatiya Janata Party Manipur Pradesh has demanded introduction of ILPS in the state and unconditional release of the detained students.
The JSCC had been public curfew in the government offices excluding education and essential services till July 28 to protest against the closure of educational institutions in Imphal West and East districts on July 25, 26 and 28.
