IMPHAL, July 4: The Federation of Regional Indigenous Societies today intensified its agitation demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit today by staging sit in protest demonstrations at several locations in the state capital in collaboration with several other organizations and bodies.
The sit in demonstrations was followed by a rally of women vendors of the three Khwairamband Ema Markets later in the evening around 3pm.
A woman vendor also fainted during a minor scuffle between the police and the women vendors of the three Khwairamband women bazars.
Police trying to control the women vendors during their protest rally on Wednesday. Photo : IFP
The scuffle resulted as a team of the City police led by its OC Tejbir was trying to block the women vendors from taking out their rally demanding implementation of the ILP in the state.
The woman identified as RK Radhesana, 63 of Thangmeiband Lourungpurel Leikai was shifted to a nearby hospital by the police team.
Women vendors of the three ema bazars had converged together under the BT flyover in the evening around 3pm after staging separate sit ins at their respective market buildings.
Soon after the women vendors holding placards and a banner reading “Save Manipur, Implement the ILP”, took out a rally.
They were however stopped by a City Police team led by its OC Tejbir in front of the Gambhir shopping complex.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day sit in protests were held at different places including all three ema keithels at Khwairamband bazar jointly organized by FREINDS and women vendors; Masjid road organized by the Masjid Road Association of shopowners; Wanghengbam Leikai organized jointly by Yumjao Lairembi Apunba Nupi Marup Develoment Association and the Young Socio Cultural Union.
Sit ins were also held at Keishamthong organized by the Mathenmeipuinun; Heirangoithong organized by YMDO club; Singjamei Sorokhaibam Leikai organized by Sorokahibam Leikai Apunba Meira Paibi Lup, Yaishkul Police Lane organized by Emoinu Meira Paibi Lup; Uripok Khaidem Leikai by Kanglei Ima Lup; at Heinoubok Bazar organized by the Women Welfare Association, the Youths Cultural and Welfare Organization and the Heinoubok Tenant Farming Corporative Society Ltd.
The Sodokpham Leikai Meira Paibis and Sangaiprou Kabui village also jointly organized a sit in protest at the Tera Sadokpam Community Hall.
Speaking to a media team, one of the participants of the sit in protests urged the state government to discuss the implementation of the ILP during the ongoing state Assembly session.
She said Manipur is following in the footsteps of Tripura where the indigenous population has been overtaken by outsiders and the state affairs are controlled by the outsiders.
FRIENDS President Sapamcha Jadumani said as in the state of Tripura, the indigenous population of the state will be overtaken by that of the outsiders if we don’t check the large scale influx of the outsiders.
Considering the likely effect of the non-locals influx into the state, the government should implement the ILP at the earliest.
He continued that in other states of the NE region like in Nagaland, the ILP has been implemented to check the influx of non-locals.
With the railways soon to reach the state, influx of non-locals will increase manifold in the absence of the ILP, he said.
He lamented that Jiribam and Moreh have become a place for the outsiders as the population of the non-locals have exceeded that of the locals.
He further urged the government to implement the ILP(Inner Line Permit) at the earliest.
During a visit at one of the sit in protest today, FRIENDS, advisor KB Sharma said he will start a fast unto death in demand for the implementation of the ILP at the earliest.
He further urged the people of the state to save the state and its identity.
