Imphal : A 24 hour general strike called by Joint Committee of Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS ) demanding check of influx of illegal immigrants and transfer a police officer for arresting members of the committee affected life here on Wednesday.
The strike began last midnight thus disrupting life completely. All shops , educational institutes were closed down.
Streets were completely deserted, oil depots closed down. All passenger services were also closed down. Most of the government offices were manned by skeleton staff. Strike supporters piled up burnt tyres, wood on roads and reports of clashes between police and strike supporters came in from different parts of the state.
So far there is no major incident though police resorted to baton charge to drive away strike supporters.
The Convenor of the Committee, Ibotombi Khuman said Additional SP, Y. Victoria raided office of JCILPS here on Sep 8 last and apprehended 14 persons and ransacked the office, damaging documents, computers.
Immediate release of the arrested JCILPS members and suspension of Additional SP Y. Victoria were also demanded. It was added that the Committee was preparing for talks with the government however due to the action of police talks remain suspended.
Population of immigrants was more than the populace of the tribal population and in the last census it was found that 30 percent of the total population was outsiders. (UNI)