Gaikhangam

Imphal, Sept. 12: Manipur home minister Gaikhangam today condemned the public curfew imposed by the students’ wing of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System on non-Manipuris.

The committee’s students’ wing yesterday announced its decision to enforce an indefinite “curfew” on business activities of non-Manipuris in the state beginning today, until its demands are met by the state government.

Gaikhangam said, “We should also think about what may happen to our people staying outside the state.”

He appealed for an amicable solution to save the indigenous people of the state.

The committee has been demanding implementation of the inner-line permit system since its inception on July 4, 2012.

It is demanding the release of 12 committee members, including five student activists, who were arrested earlier on the charge of beating Devson, the manager of Tashi Interiors Embracing Quality of Thangal Keithel.

Five members of the committee, including one of the students’ wing, were produced at the court of the chief judicial magistrate, Imphal East, today and they were remanded in police custody till September 16. They were arrested yesterday. Three more members were arrested this afternoon.

The committee also demanded action against Yengkhom Victoria, the additional superintendent of police, for damaging its office using her team.

The demand committee is asking the government to allow immigrants enter the state after they are properly verified. Ibotombi Khuman, the convener, said, “The movement of the committee is to bring a system that allows migrants to enter the state if they had proper identification. We are not against any non-Manipuris staying here if they have accurate identification.”

Gaikhangam, who is also the deputy chief minister of the state, said, “We are the ones who are just like a solid rock on this issue. We are not different. Why are they (demand committee) thinking that we are against them?”

The shops run by non-Manipuris were found shut this morning for fear of the curfew. One worker from Bihar staying in Imphal said, “We want to live peacefully. We are here to earn our bread. What can we say to them?”

Gaikhangam appealed to the committee for peace.

He said, “We the government, the Assembly, civil society groups and students are all working for the same goal. The only difference is the approach. We need to proceed democratically and peacefully, not by violent means.”