As a precautionary measure, a comprehensive curfew has been imposed across all five valley districts of Manipur, effective from Tuesday evening, according to officials.
This decision to cancel the relaxation hours of the curfew in Bishnupur, Kakching, Thoubal, Imphal West, and Imphal East was prompted by a call from the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and its women's wing, urging residents from various parts of the valley districts to remove an army barricade located at Phougakchao Ikhai in Bishnupur district. This barricade is situated a few kilometers away from Churachandpur and the action is scheduled for Wednesday, officials stated.
Currently, there is a curfew relaxation period in all five valley districts, running from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
In a hastily arranged press conference, government spokesperson and Information and Public Relations Minister Sapam Ranjan appealed, stating, "The government appeals to COCOMI to withdraw the proposed plan to storm the army barricade at Phougakchao Ikhai near Torbung on September 6." Sapam also urged everyone to "support the security measures implemented by the government."
The curfew will exempt individuals engaged in essential services, including those related to health, electricity, PHED (Public Health Engineering Department), petrol pumps, schools/colleges, municipality services, media, functioning of courts, and flight passengers, according to officials.
Somendro Thokchom, the COCOMI media coordinator, mentioned that the committee had previously requested the government and the relevant authorities to remove the barricade by August 30. While calling on the public to take action against the barricade, Thokchom emphasized that the state government should bear full responsibility if any unfortunate incidents occur.
Local residents expressed their frustration over the barricade at Phougakchao Ikhai, stating that it prevented them from returning to their homes in Torbung, which they had evacuated following violent incidents that transpired on May 3.
