AMN /
The government in Manipur has withdrawn the bill on regulation of visitors amid widespread protest. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has said that State Government has decided to withdraw the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 passed by the state legislature on the 16th March last. Speaking to media persons last night at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Imphal, Mr. Ibobi Singh said that state government has decided to convene a special session of the state legislative assembly shortly to withdraw the Bill.
He further said that State Cabinet will meet this morning to further discuss the issue and decide on the schedule of the proposed special session. The monsoon session of the state legislature was adjourned sine die on Friday. It may be mentioned that mass protest has been going on for the last half month in Manipur demanding withdrawal of the Bill and introduction of Inner-Line Permit system in the state legislature to safeguard indigenous people of the state.
One student had died and many others got injured in police action to control the mass agitation. Indefinite curfew was also imposed in the whole area of Imphal West and Imphal East Districts from Wednesday in view of the mass agitation. Meanwhile, the indefinite curfew has been relaxed for nine hours from five in the morning to two in the afternoon today. However, there is further restriction in grouping of five or more than five persons and going with fatal weapons in the two districts during this time. This is the third time that the indefinite curfew is relaxed by the concerned district administrations in six days.