IMPHAL, May 6: The 48hrs public curfew imposed by the JCILPS demanding implementation of inner line permit system affected normal life in the State today.
Shops and other commercial establishments, educational institutes were completely shut down and vehicular traffic came to a standstill.
Oil pumps, banks, market places including shops in the municipality areas also remained shut. The bandh affected heavy vehicles entering the State from Jiribam and Gauhati.
In response to the curfew, agitators took to the streets and burnt tyres along the roads, barricaded roads in municipal areas and other peripheral areas of greater Imphal.
The protestors were less aggressive when compared to similar curfew imposed last year which invited criticism from different angles.
Womenfolk halted vehicle movement along Singjamei road, Wankhei Ayangpalli road, Khurai- Nagaram road, Airport road, Thangmeiband Khuyathong road etc. However, there is no report of any untoward incident occurring during the curfew which started from midnight of April 5 till the time of filing of this report.
Nevertheless, movements of media personnel, religious ceremony, essential services like medical services, water supply etc were exempted from the purview of the strike.
Although the streets remained deserted during the day time with most of the people remaining indoors, movements of vehicles and people became visible in the evening.
While the curfew will come to an end from 6pm tomorrow, series of agitations including blockade, strike is lined up in the days to come.
The National Highway- 37 will also remain blocked by the Truck Drivers Association from today midnight. The 48 hour bandh will conclude on midnight of April 7.
It may be mentioned that the JAC of Sagolsem Prasanta alias Abung of Kakwa Nameirakpam Leikai who was found hung to death from a tree at Lilong Haoreibi Awang Leikai on April 26 had also imposed a 48 hours State-wide bandh from May 5, urging the Government to establish facts and circumstances leading to the death of Prasanta.
