IMPHAL, September 13: Breaking the prevailing deadlock over the ILP movement, the students’ wing of JCILPS has lifted its curfew imposed on movements of non-locals till September 19 following an understanding brought between the students’ wing of JCILPS and the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi late this evening.
Sources said that the students’ wing met with the Chief Minister at his office chamber with the initiative of Khurai MLA Dr Ng Bijoy, Noariya Pakhanglakpa MLA, RK Anand and Oinam MLA Dr I Ibohalbi.
The meeting which started around 6.30 pm and lasted till 8.30 pm was also attended by deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam.
Making the announcement late this evening during a press meet held at NIPCO office, Nandababu, an executive member of the students’ JCILPS said that the decision to lift the curfew was taken following assurances given by the Chief Minister.
He said the Chief Minister assured to free all the arrested members of the JCILPS by September 19 without any condition and to re-open all the learning institute. As per the assurance, those JCILPS activists arrested on September 11 and 12 will be released by September 15 while other who were arrested on September 8 will be released on September 19.
As a goodwill gesture the State Government unconditionally released leaders of the students wing this evening including AMSU president Thiyam Naresh, RN Koireng vice president MSF, L Jayenta Kumar president SUK, Longjam Sanjoy vice president AIMS and P Premchand secretary general DESAM.
Further it warned to re-impose the curfew if all the agitators who were arrested over the past few days are not released by September 19.
Meanwhile, a highly reliable source informed IFP that during the meeting the Chief Minister reportedly tabled several conditions to withdraw the curfew imposed by the students’ wing on the movement of the non-local people and to abstain from mobilising school students in the ongoing ILP movement.
The Chief Minister said those who are under judicial and police custody can be released by Monday if they prefer bail before adding that it might takes few days time if they should be released unconditionally.
The same sources also disclosed that the Chief Minister assured all the FIRs lodged against them (arrested agitators) on or before September 29 will be closed.
The Chief Minister reportedly agreed to re-open all the learning institutes currently under indefinite closure from Monday if the students’ wing agreed to abstain mobilising school students in the movement.
The Chief Minister also briefed them of the progress made by a panel constituted to determine feasibilities of ILP implementation.
The process of seeking opinions and suggestions from experts was almost over, he is reported to have said, adding what remains to be straightened out are some constitutional issues.
Meanwhile, reliable sources informed that the Chief Minister had also instructed the DGP and other top police officials not to further arrest the ILP agitators.
Earlier before the agreement, concerned over the curfew imposed on non-locals migrant workers by the JCILPS students wing, State Government have establish three relief camps in Imphal West, East and Bishnupur districts.
Reports said that the relief camps were set up late last night and soon after non-local scattered at different corner of the districts were brought to the camp by the concerned police stations.
For Imphal West the camp was set up at Dharmasala where 121 migrant workers including women and children are taking refuge, around 76 people are taking refuge at a relief camp set up inside the DIC complex Porompat, Imphal East and 73 people in Mini-secretariat Bishnupur.
Sources said that food, lodging and medical attention are provided for the campers with maximum security arrangement.
Meanwhile, shops run by non-local at Thangal and Paona bazaar that remained closed due to the curfew yesterday have opened today.