IMPHAL, July 13: Members of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit led by its convenor, Sapamcha Jadumani was denied entry to the JNIMS hospital ward where hunger striker KB Sharma is lodged presently.
Meanwhile, doctors at JNIMS have today afternoon begun nasal feeding of KB Sharma who still refuse to eat.
Following the state Assembly’s decision today, a team of the committee visited the hospital ward to request KB Sharma to break his fast; however, they were denied entry by the police guarding the ward.
Later in the evening, the committee convened a press conference announcing that the committee has lifted its series of agitations in demand of the implementation of the ILP.
Speaking to media persons at the office of the HERICOUN at Palace Compound, Jadumani announced that the committee’s public agitations demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit has been withdrawn following the state Assembly’s adoption of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 today.
However, the committee’s decision to bar unauthorised influx of non-locals into the state remains until the regulation is extended into the state, he said.
Elaborating further, he lauded the steps taken up by KB Sharma and said that such selfless actions should be lauded by everyone.
He expressed gratitude to the state Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh for understanding the pulse of the people of the state.
He further lauded the Opposition leader, MLA Dr Ibohalbi Singh and the others for bringing up the issue at the state Assembly.
He termed the adoption of the regulation at the state Assembly as a positive action towards the development of the state.
He expressed the committee’s expectation that the government will soon follow the adoption by extending the regulation into the state.
All the people of the state should come out united whenever such issues arise in the society, he added.
He also lauded the student bodies, meira paibis and civil societies for coming out in support of the committee in demand of the ILF.
The convenor of the committee further appealed to the state police not to used force while dealing with the students of the state as was witnessed during the past few days.
The joint committee will appeal to KB Sharma to break his hunger strike as their objective has been met with.
Meanwhile, sit in protests demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit in the state continued unabated today.
Meira paibis of Kakwa Naorem Leikai staged a sit in protest at the local Lairembi community; teachers of Imphal Public School, Canchipur staged sit in protest in front of the school gate; meira paibis of Chingamakhong also staged sit in protest at thelocality.
Local meira paibis of Ningom Thongjou also staged a sit in protest at the local community hall.
