The indefinite curfew has been relaxed for 13 hours from 5 AM tomorrow in Imphal East and Imphal West districts in Manipur even as the state today observed a 12-hour bandh to press for introduction of Inner Line Permit in the Assembly.
Relaxing the curfew, an official order said other restrictions under section 144 of CrPC would continue to remain in force.
Curfew was clamped in these two districts after a class XI student deied in a clash between protestors and police on July 8 on the issue of passage of the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVTMW) Bill, 2015, in the Assembly.
Normal life remained affected throughout the state in response to the 12-hr bandh called by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) demanding introduction of the Inner Line Permit Bill in the state Assembly immediately.
All business establishments, shops, markets, were closed in Imphal. Inter-state, inter-district passenger vehicles, were off the roads but some private vehicles were seen plying in the outskirts of Imphal, police said.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had told an emergency sitting of the Assembly yesterday that a new bill on the Inner Line Permit would be introduced in the house within three months after unanimously withdrawing MRVTMW Bill, which triggered protests.
Meanwhile an all-party meeting, chaired by the chief minister, during the day decided to constitute a drafting committee to prepare a new bill for protection of the indigenous people of the state in one month.
Naga People's Front (NPF), Manipur People's Party (MPP) and BJP boycotted the meeting which was attended by Manipur State Congress Party, Trinamool Congress besides ruling Congress and the Left.
