Imphal, May 18 : Normal life in the tribal districts of Manipur was hit for the second consecutive day today by the 48-hour total shutdown called by Joint Action Committee (JAC).
There was no report of any violence from anywhere during the day and attendance in government offices in the districts was almost nil, officials said.
Business establishments and educational institutions remained closed and inter-district bus services were off the roads as a result of the shutdown which began from the midnight of May 16, police said.
A large number of supporters came out in the streets, particularly in Churachandpur district and Kangpokpi area to enforce the shutdown, police said.
However, the incessant downpour hit public life and kept most of the bandh supporters indoors in Churachandpur.
In Chandel district, the shutdown was complete but border trade at Moreh remained unaffected, police said. On Tuesday, nine vehicles engaged in construction of railway lines, two loaded trucks and one truck carrying betel leaves were damaged by the supporters of the shutdown at Longmai area in Tamgenglong district, police added.
The agitation was called by JAC in the tribal areas of Manipur to protest the decision of political parties to send a delegation to New Delhi to request the central government for implementing Inner Line Permit System (ILP) in Manipur.
On May 9 this year, representatives of all political parties had decided to send a team to Delhi to have three bills passed unanimously
by the state assembly be converted into Acts with the assent of the President.
The Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015, The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and The Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 were passed by Manipur assembly to implement Inner Line Permit system (ILP) in the north eastern state and safeguard the identity of all communities in the state from illegal immigration from neighbouring countries.
Flash floods wash away bridge in Manipur
Flash floods washed away a newly constructed bridge across the Izek river in Tamenglong district of Manipur on Wednesday morning following torrential rain that hit Manipur and neighbouring states on Tuesday night. Bailey bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs.40 lakh, was yet to be formally inaugurated.
The washing away of the bridge has further isolated Tamenglong, which was already cut off from the rest of the state following multiple rockslides triggered by heavy rainfall. Several vehicles were stranded in the district due to the rockslides.
Officials said if the rain continues unabated, the NH 2 linking Manipur to Assam via Nagaland may also be hit by rockslides.
The Imphal-Moreh Trans Asian Highway which suffered major damage recently has yet to be repaired properly. Amid the reports of widespread damage, the Met office has forecast more rain in the coming days and the sky is overcast.
The irrigation and flood control department said “All low-lying areas in the four valley districts in Manipur are inundated by the rainwater.
Officials and other staff are closely monitoring the situation and flood control material is kept in readiness.”
The Izek and the Iril rivers are flowing above the danger level, according to officials in Tamenglong district. The low-lying areas in all districts in general and in and around Imphal city in particular are inundated. Reports received from Bishnupur district say that several fish farms had overflowed and the farmers had incurred huge losses.