IMPHAL, June 1: The twin ‘public curfew’ imposed by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has partially affected normal in the state today.
Business establishment was severely hit by the ‘public curfew’ as shops run by non-locals in two main markets of Imphal namely Paona and Thangal bazaar down their shutters.
It may be mentioned that JCILPS had imposed a 24-hours ‘public curfew’ on non-locals residing in Imphal areas starting from today till June 2, asking them (non locals) to stay indoor during the curfew period.
Although shops run by the locals remained open during the curfew period, business activities remained negligible as maximum numbers of shops in the two main markets are run by non-locals.
With the business activities in the markets remaining low, volume of traffic in Imphal was less compared to normal days.
Most passenger vehicles including inter district transport services, stayed off roads as a result of the ‘public curfew.’
Road blockades in several pockets of Imphal areas, was another factor contributing to the reduction of traffic volume in Imphal.
Some group of protestors took to the streets in many parts of the valley and imposed road blockades and closure of shops causing inconvenience to the public.
The road blockade was affective along Imphal-Dimapur road at Khabam Lamkhai and Luwangsangbam.
Many passengers were forced to walk by foot carrying their heavy baggage from Koirengei Bazaar till Mantripukhri.
The Pro-ILPS protestors also burnt effigy of Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh.
Showing solidarity to JCILPS agitation many clubs and meira paibis in Imphal also staged sit in protest demonstration in different places of Imphal.
The ‘road block’ protest comes as a contradicting response to the protest announced by the JCILPS.
In the meantime, the ‘public curfew’ imposed in the central and state government offices starting from June 1 till June 3, remained ineffective.
Despite the JCILPS warning to Government employees to refrain from attending their office, most offices especially the state run offices remained operational in full swing. However, maximum number of central government offices like BSNL, Post Office and other major offices remained closed today.
It is learnt that the attendance of employees in state government offices was average.
It is pertinent to note that the Chief Secretary of Manipur had issued strong instruction to state government employees to attend without fail warning to take severe action under relevant service rules.