Sit-in, rallies demanding ILPS in Manipur

Sit-in protests were staged and rallies were taken out by the people in Greater Imphal area today demanding implementation of the Inner Line Persmit System (ILPS) in Manipur.
Today's protests were in response to a call given yesterday by Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), which is spearheading the movement for implementation of ILPS in the state, which asked the people of Manipur to carry out different democratic forms of agitation every day and night till their demand was met.
As a result of the protests, the main business centre of Khwairamban bazar was closed, while inter-district and inter-state vehicle kept off the road.

Police said rallies were held on Imphal-Silchar road at Sagolband, Imphal-Dimapur road at Chingmeirong, Imphal-Ukhrul road at Khurai Lamlong, Indo-Myanmar road at Singjamei area.
Besides, sit-ins were held at almost all the villages in places like Thangmeiband, Uripok, Sagolband, Keishampat, Singjamei, Wangkhei, Khurai, Mayang Imphal, Khwairamban market and Babupara, police said adding many protesters formed human chains to press for their demand for implementation of ILPS.
A release issued by JCILPS media coordinator Md Kheiruddin Shah Moijingmayum said the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVTMW) Bill, 2015 was basically aimed at ensuring safely and security of non-local people rather than protecting the common interest of the indigenous people.

It was passed by the state Assembly on March 16 last and withdrawn by the government on July 12.
The release also said in order to protect the indigenous people of the state the cut off base year for identification of non-locals should be 1951 and they should not be allowed land ownership in Manipur.
Yesterday, protesters stormed the private residences of the Manipur Law Minister Th Debendro Singh at Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai in Imphal East district but police intervention prevented any loss.