Pro-ILP agitationists in Manipur protest police high-handedness

A woman, who was badly injured while taking part in a demonstration favouring Inner Line Permit (ILP) system for Manipur, has started a hunger strike demanding action against the policeman who allegedly beat her up.

Tourangbam Tarini Devi sustained a fracture in her left arm and injuries on her head and abdomen after a policeman allegedly beat her up on Sunday night while she was taking part in a torchlight procession in Uripok in Imphal West district demanding ILP for the state.

The women activists of the Uripok assembly constituency have also announced indefinite boycott of the local MLA Laishram Nandakumar for being indifferent towards the alleged high-handedness of the police.

"The MLA refused to open the gate of his house when the youths and women activists, who faced police excesses, went to meet him," C. Nalini, the head of the women activists in the constituency, said on Tuesday.

Police sources said a departmental inquiry will be initiated into the charge.

Meanwhile the women's and students' wings of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) are carrying on their agitation.

The ILP is a special permit required to enter certain restricted areas in the country. The system is already in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram.

It was first introduced by the British, restricting entry into these areas to protect their commercial interests.

Acceding to the demand of JCILPS, the Manipur government had last year passed three bills to protect the indigenous people of the state.

One of these bills -- Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015 -- proposes to issue a "pass" to any "non-Manipur person" while entering the state.

The bills have been strongly opposed by some people of the state, particularly Naga tribes.

--IANS

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