IMPHAL July 10: The six members of the Joint Committee Inner Line Permit System who were picked up by the police yesterday have been released this evening.
The members are identified as Khomdram Ratan, convenor in charge; BK Moirangcha, co-convenor in charge; Md Kheiruddin Shah, co-convenor; co-convenor Pukhrambam Arjun, Thokchom Somendro member, Soubam Rajen Singh, member.
Speaking to media persons somewhere in Imphal following their release, Ratan said they were picked up from the Wangkhei Thangapat area yesterday around 9pm and released this evening around 4pm.
He said after they were picked up they were taken to the Imphal East SP office where minister Moirangthem Okendro, minister Govindas, MLA RK Anand, MLA Ng Bijoy and MLA Dr I Ibohalbi were waiting for them.
The ministers and the MLAs asked them for talks on the present issue, but they turned down the invitation citing that they were in police custody, Ratan told media persons.
Following the brief meeting, they were again taken to the Chief Minister`™s bungalow, where again they were met by several ministers and MLAs, he said.
There again the Chief Minister asked what their demand on the issue was, he said.
He said they replied that since they were under police custody they cannot negotiate and that their objective is what the public desires.
Ratan also said that no police case was registered against them.
The JCILPS convenor incharge also said that the imposition of curfew and the closing down of schools will not bring any good and it would be better to re-open the schools and lift the curfew.
He further appealed to the people not to spread rumours of the death of a student of the TG Higher Secondary School.
Meanwhile, it may be mentioned that the Indigenous People`™s Assocation of Kangleipak has urged the government to release the leaders of the JCIPLS in a press conference held earlier in the day.
Speaking to the media persons, at the IPAK, head office Keishampat, Sapamcha Jadumani chairman IPAK also founder of JCILP stated that arresting leaders of the agitation will not prevent the public from continuing with the movement.
He said the movement will continue until the demands are met as the ongoing agitation demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in the State is not only for the joint committee but for the whole people of the State.
The Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill 2015 which was passed by the government omitted the recommendations submitted by the All Political Parties Committee and the joint committee and was made not according to the interest and welfare for the people he asserted.
The situation would not have turned this bad if the government had shown some concern and understanding of the people`™s sentiment, he continued.
`It would be best if the government withdraw the previous bill and fulfill the demand made by the people as this is the only means to safeguard the indigenous inhabitants of the people and to live peacefully in the state` he added.
The chairman also mentioned that in the year 2012 and 2013 on the same date on July 13 during the Assembly session the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Bill, 1873 was passed altogether in three states Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.
When other states government fights for its people to safeguard and protect its own people why is our state government so weak to do something for the welfare of the state he question.
This could be easily and peacefully done if the people and the government work hand in hand for the welfare of the state.
But the situation now has turned so ugly that even student was killed doing the agitation which hurt more the sentiment of the people.
It also shows that the present government inability to govern the people in the right way and also lack the leadership quality in them.
On the other hand the state police personal were acting as the anti people or the enemy to the people of the state but the police should also understand the fact that the ILP is not only for particular organisations or community but for the whole including them and the government, he said.
Most importantly he also appealed to the people of the state to understand minutely the demands made to the government to implement the ILP in the state and should not turn our frustration to the Non-Manipuri by torturing, beating or threatening them as they are not responsible in fulfilling the demands made by the people of the state.
If the government at the earliest understands and makes a law or permit system on this, the people worried about losing its indigenous inhabitants could be protected he added.
The increasing illegal influx also could be stop only by the law and not by any civil organisations and that is the reason why the people of the state is unsatisfied with the previous bill and continue the agitation until the said demands are met he added.