Normalcy returns to Manipur valley

Markets opened and transporters resumed their services as people in large number turned out to purchase essentials at various markets across the four valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishenpur and Thoubal.

The curfew was lifted at 6 AM this morning and general strike suspended from midnight of December 24 to midnight December 26 in view of the Christmas festival, official sources said.

Large scale violence was reported yesterday in view of the confusion among some of the strike enforcers with a section maintaining the shutdown was on despite the President of the Film Forum Manipur (FFM) and some other artists associations announcing the relaxation of the strike in view of the Christmas, the sources said.

FFM sources threatened to resume the general strike from midnight of December 26 till the arrest of the Naga militant of NSCN-IM, who had allegedly molested film actress Momoko during a musical concert on December 18 at Chandel and fired at two artists who tried to save her. (MORE)