Okram Ibobi Singh

Imphal, April 19: The issue of re-imposition of inner-line permit system in Manipur may cause a serious law and order problem for Okram Ibobi Singh government with citizens’ bodies and students’ unions preparing to launch an agitation.

The adviser to the Federation of Regional Indigenous Society, K. Birahari, has threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike if the state Assembly failed to take a decision to re-impose the inner-line permit system during the forthcoming monsoon session.

The society has been championing for the cause of re-imposition of the system. It is concerned over the increasing number of migrants in the state.

Quoting census records the society said unless entry of the “outsiders” was checked the indigenous people would be outnumbered in the next few years.

The general secretary of the society, Joy Chingakham, said it would launch a signature campaign and awareness drives on danger of the rising population of migrants in the state.

“If necessary we will impose bandhs and blockades to draw the attention of the government to the problem,” Chingakham said.

The All Manipur Students’ Union also demanded re-imposition of the inner-line permit system. “The state government has not been listening to the demand for re-introduction of the system. The government should implement the agreements signed between the government and the students’ body in 1980 and 1994 on the issue of re-imposition of the system,” the president of the students’ union, Thokchom Suresh, said.

The agreements were signed after prolonged agitation by the students’ body, he added.

The students’ union submitted a fresh memorandum to the chief minister on April 27, urging it to implement the agreements.

The students’ union too threatened to launch an agitation if the system was not re-imposed.

The Centre lifted the inner line-permit system in 1950, one year after Manipur became part of the Indian Union.