IMPHAL, March 16: The 18 hour bandh called by JCILPS to register their protest against the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill 2015 which was passed by the State Assembly today, affected normal life considerably in the capital city. Vehicular traffic remained off the roads, business establishments downed shutters and government offices remained sparsely attended through the day.
Educational establishments, the press, pharmacies and other emergency services however functioned normally as they were exempted from the purview of the strike. The strike also went off without any untoward incidents.
Bandh activists were seen on the roads dissuading vehicles to go off the roads or return home. At some places, activists also placed burning tyres on the roads.
Roads wore a deserted look, and at some localities, children were seen playing on the tarmacs.
Elsewhere in the district, the bandh was less severe, but still affected normal life. Our Thoubal reports that the district witnessed greatly reduced traffic on the roads, but some prior scheduled functions were still held.
However, a diesel auto hired by JCILPS volunteers to coordinate the bandh enforcers was confiscated by the police while shuttling between Thoubal and Athokpam and held along with the driver.
JCILPS members appealed to the police to release the vehicle and driver unconditionally immediately, but till the filing of report, there was no response.