Imphal, Aug. 11: The banned Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) has imposed a blanket ban on restaurants and cafes having dimly lit cabins and partitioned rooms with effect from today.

The outfit said the ban was imposed following popular demand. However, restaurants with open common rooms, where at least eight tables are placed together, can continue doing business.

The announcement has given a shot in the arm to women crusaders who have been on a concerted drive against seedy restaurants that were “encouraging” pre-marital sex among young boys and girls by providing them with dimly lit cabins and partitioned rooms.

A group of women activists from Singjamei in Imphal East had launched the campaign on July 30. They raided several restaurants, tore down partitions and curtains of the cabins and even beat up boys and girls caught in compromising positions. The women took up the cudgel following the report that a pregnant woman was bludgeoned to death by her lover, a restaurant worker.

The restaurant owners were infuriated by the campaign and had closed shop for three days last week in protest against the raids. But the women activists got support from various sections of the society. The trend of clandestine courtship had been worrying parents.

The KYKL said innocent girls were falling prey to boys from wealthy families. Besides, these restaurants where immoral activities were committed had become a major factor in spread of dreaded diseases like the HIV/AIDS.

Acknowledging that most restaurants and cafes were opened by many to generate self employment, the outfit said their decision was not aimed at depriving people of their means of earning, but for the general well-being of the society. It warned that drastic action would be taken against owners of those restaurants which were found violating the ban.

The outfit said the ban was imposed as part of its campaign codenamed Operation New Kangleipak.

The operation aims at bringing quality education in Manipur. The outfit has enforced a dress code for girls in schools and colleges. It has banned jeans and other dresses alien to Manipuris inside campuses and told the students to wear phanek, the traditional dress for Manipur women in schools and colleges. Majority of the student organisations have hailed the dress code.