IMPHAL, September 12: The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System student wing started its curfew against non-locals from midnight today demanding suspension of additional SP Yengkhom Victoria among other demands.
The JCILPS is demanding immediate implementation of the ILPS in the State and unconditional release of its volunteers and members immediately.
Early in the morning, several shops run by non-locals in the Keishampat area and other places were made to close down, however, amidst heavy police presence, the shops opened again later in the morning.
There were no reports of any unwanted incidents during the first day of the curfew.
JCILPS student wing media coordinator Anil Khuman said police teams frequented residences and offices of student body leaders and volunteers to arrest them for imposing the curfew.
The student wing of the JCILPS said eight of its volunteers from DESAM, six from AMSU, two from KSA and another from SUK were picked up by the police from their residences and offices.
He said the student wing condemns the police action of chasing down the student volunteers and arresting them unreasonably.
Anil said ever since the curfew against non-locals was announced yesterday, police have been searching for the leaders and volunteers, however, this cannot deter the movement, but will only fan the desires of the student leaders and volunteers to take the movement further.
Imphal East police had arrived at his Sekta residence this early morning, but since he was not there they arrested his mother, he said.
The police had informed his family to bring him to the police station if they wanted his mother to be freed, he continued.
Volunteers involved in the ILPS movement are not terrorists, but they only wanted to safeguard the State and its indigenous people, he said.
On the contrary, the government has labelled the volunteers and leaders as lawbreakers in its bid to hinder the movement, he observed.
Nevertheless, only stronger agitations will follow unless the ILPS is implemented in the State, he said.
Volunteers of the JCILPS have spread out in Bishnupur, Thoubal, Imphal West, Imphal East districts to ensure the success of the curfew, he said.
