Our Correspondent
IMPHAL, AUGUST 9
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s part of strengthening the ongoing agitation demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System (ILPS), Manipur women bodies staged a sit in demonstration at various parts of the state.
Manipuri Muslim bodies here have also announced to join the ILPS agitation in the state. All Manipur Muslim Organisations Co-coordinating Committee, United Manipur Muslim Women Development Organisation, All Manipur Muslim Students Organization and Muslim Advocates’ Legal Services organization organized a day long discussion on ILPS at Manipur Press Club today.
The gathering resolved to take series of resolution to extend full co- operation in the ongoing demand for implementation of Inner Line Permit system in Manipur which was delayed due to Ramzan month and to organize and extend the ongoing agitation program in Muslim (MeeteiPangal) inhabited areas of the state in a democratic way.It also decided to propose the state government to seal the border areas of Manipur with proper care and protection.
Even though there was no sign of abatement in the ongoing public movement for implementation of ILPS in Manipur to check unregulated entry of outsiders, Thoubal District Transporters Union has announced its support to the demand and said that it would suspend service from 5 am to 5 pm on August 11 to show its solidarity to the public movement.
Secretary of the Union L Devkumar Singh observed that one-fourth of the total population in Manipur is now made up of outsiders as a result of the abolition of the restrictive system which was in place in the State back in 1950. So, re-introduction of the Inner Line Permit system is essential to protect the indigenous people from the onslaught of unchecked and unregulated influx of outsiders.
Meanwhile the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) today observed World Indigenous Day by holding a discussion programme under the theme “Bridging the Gap: Implementing the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” at THAU ground community hall in Imphal.
Executive Director of Human Rights Alert (HRA) BabalooLoitongbam and SapamDilip of LMS Law College delivered lectures as resource persons during the discussion.
Father of social worker ThIboyaima, Retired Director Audio Visual Research Centre of Manipur University Prof LokendraArambam, Former Minister RV Mingthing, Secretary Manipur State Minority Commission Prof KhullakpamMd Abdul Hakim Shah, President Kuki Women Union Manipur Mrs Rose MangsiHaokip and Convenor JCILPS H IbotombiKhuman shared the dais in the day’s observation.
In another development all the arrested 27 members of JCILPS, Women Wing, were released from Central Jail, Imphal at around 5:30 pm last evening.
Earlier in the day, the women activists were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West which remanded them to judicial custody till August 22 after they refused to seek bail.
During the production of the JCILPS activists in the court, a large number of women attempted to storm the court complex shouting slogans against the authority.
