ILP actvists put pressure on Manipur

The agitation for Inner Line Permit (ILP), a special pass for ‘outsiders’ to enter Manipur, has once again gathered storm in the state capital Imphal and adjoining areas.

An umbrella group demanding an Inner Line Permit in Manipur resumed its anti-migrant agitation on Wednesday and said workers from outside the state who do not have work permits will be handed over to police.

“On the first day of resumption of the campaign, we pasted posters in many parts of Imphal town asking people not to sell land to migrants, hire them for construction and other odd works,” said Kh Ratan, convener of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) which had spearheaded last year’s movement in demand of the special law.

“Our volunteers have started checking the identity cards of migrant workers. Those who want to work in Manipur should have work permits from the labour department,” Ratan added.

The movement has been renewed after Manipur government remained silent over the implementation of the law it had passed along with two others in August last year.

There was widespread protests in the hill areas against the against the “anti-tribal bills” in Churachandpur district. Nine protesters were killed in police firing after angry people torched the houses of their MP and MLAs. The bodies have not been buried since the tribals wanted all the three law, including that the one on the ILP, withdrawn.