IMPHAL, May 23: The 24 hours State wide public curfew imposed by Joint Action Committee formed against unprovoked firing by three unidentified youths at a meira paibi shed at Nungei on April 11 affected normal life in the State capital today. The JAC has been demanding the arrest of the three unidentified gunmen who fired rounds of bullets at Nungei Meira Paibi Shang on April 11 last.
Business activities and inter-district passenger services came to a halt. Few private vehicles related with emergency service and religious activities were seen plying though. Almost all shops and business establishments at Imphal Khwairamband Keithel and its surroundings remained closed.
Emergency services, water supply, doctors and other related staff and also those related with religious ceremony were exempted from the bandh. Banks and other private offices, schools and colleges were also shut for the day. It may be mentioned that 14 persons, including four children were injured in the unfortunate incident and 12 among them were hospitalised with serious injuries in the firing by three unidentified men believed to be youth who came in a motorbike and fired two rounds of bullet towards Meira Shanglen at Nungei Meira Paibi Shanglen in the night of April 11.
The JAC accused the State Govt of failing to act promptly and neglecting the demand of the JAC to pull up the gunmen involved in the firing. Local club members of Kongpal and joint students’ body of different localities also staged sit-in besides enforcing roadblocks at Kongpal bridge. The bandh was also strictly enforced at Thoubal bazar, Wangjing Keithel and Yairipok Keithel. The bandh supporters blocked movement of vehicles at Thoubal Wangmataba, Mela ground, Khangabok, Waithou and Wangbal. Bandh was also enforced at Kshetri Leikai and Yairipok along the Yairipok-Thoubal line.
