Life crippled in general strike in Manipur

Normal life in Manipur was crippled today with clashes between police and protestors on the first day of the 48-hour general strike called by the students wing of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) demanding implementation of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in the state.
There were clashes between the police and protestors, who threw stones, used catapults and and slingshots against the personnel of the force in Imphal East and West, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts where the agitation has been underway since July.
Police said the force had to resort to burst teargas shells to quell the agitators. There was no casualty.

The strike supporters came out on the streets since 10 AM, blocked main roads by piling iron pipes, scattering glass shards and by burning tyres, police said.
They staged protests demanding action against alleged police brutality on students, besides implementation of ILPS and blocked vehicular traffic on all the national highways, paralysing traffic on NH 2 Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Moreh road, NH 150 Kohima-Aizawl road, police said.
All inter-state bus services as well as taxis kept off the roads and only vehciles belonging to the security forces were seen plying.

All business establishments including shops, hotels and cinema halls were closed. Women-run markets in Imphal, Tangal bazar, Paona bazar, M G Avenue, Khoyathong, Lamlong, Kongba, Singjamei bazar, Pishum bazar, kwakeithel bazar, Tera bazar, Naoremthong, Lamphel super market downed their shutters.

Attendance in all government offices was low as the employees were stopped by the agitators from reporting for duty.
All educational institutions, including private schools, government schools, colleges and university as well were closed.