30 Days on, Manipuris Continue Protest Over Inner Line Permit
A compilation of moving pictures of Manipuri women and students standing up to the government.
In Manipur, agitations to implement some form of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) have intensified, and the protest has entered its thirtieth day. In light of the continued protests, a curfew has been imposed in Manipur.
The ILP is aimed at restricting the entry of outsiders by making it mandatory for non-domiciles to acquire a permit to enter regions beyond this line.
The protest in Manipur has entered its thirtieth day.
A curfew has been imposed in the state.
Manipuri women have taken to the streets, practically bring the state to a standstill.
To quell the fresh round of protests, the government had earlier procured water cannons and other equipment to disperse student agitators who have been demanding the institution of the ILP in the state. Students however, refused to budge, rendering the government’s efforts ineffective.
Students came out to the streets, blocking vehicular traffic, including military vehicles.
They refused to budge after police warning.
The police requisitioned water cannons in their bid to drive away the students. The full force of the water cannon was directed at the 25 students who were sitting in the middle of the road for almost half an hour.
Holding hands, the students withstood the pressure of the water.
Ultimately, the police resorted to firing tear gas shells and mock bombs. They managed to clear the streets and held 22 students responsible for the protests. Three students were injured in the clash and were taken to a hospital.
Inner Line Permit: The What and The Why
The Government of India issues an official travel document, the Inner Line Permit, to allow citizens to travel to a protected area for a limited period. Permits are required to travel to Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.
In Manipur, the Joint Committee for Inner Line Permit (JCILP), which comprises a group of civic organisations in the state spearheads the movement demanding that the ILP be instituted in the state. In the course of their protests, they have organised bandhs that have brought life in the state to a standstill.
In March 2015, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh introduced the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill 2015.
However, the Bill was later withdrawn after it earned the wrath of the JCILP, who felt the bill failed to safeguard the interests of the indigenous people.
The exponential influx of foreign tourists, illegal immigration for Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar has aroused suspicions among locals who are concerned about employment and availability of resources, especially since relations between outsiders and locals are strained over limited employment opportunities.
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