Manipur Withdraws Controversial Bill, Protesters Stay on Streets

State government withdraws the bill on regulation of visitors and migrant workers after protest intensified.

The Manipur Police trying to disband protestors at a neighbourhood in Imphal. (Photo: Sunzu Bachaspatimayum)

Manipur government has withdrawn a bill introduced in the state Assembly this March, that was supposed to regulate the entry of outsiders into the state, but was rejected by protestors saying it had no teeth, as per NDTV.

Protestors have taken to the streets again defying the curfew imposed in Imphal, TV reports say.

The clashes between the Manipur Police and protesters have intensified and may turn violent, according to Times Now.

Sunzu Bachaspatimayum reported for The Quint yesterday that 16 year old Sapam Robinson Singh succumbed to his injuries after being hit on the face by a police tear gas shell fired in order to quell a student agitation.

Over 20 students were injured in the police action, 9 of them had to be admitted to a hospital in Imphal.

The residents of Imphal at a peaceful protest in their neighbourhood. (Photo: Sunzu Bachaspatimayum)

Thousands of student protestors took part in a rally, which Sapam was a part of, the students were marching towards the in-session Manipur State Assembly, to demand the roll-back of the defective Manipur Regulation of Visitor, Tenant and Migrant Bill 2015 (MRVTM Bill) and the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) System as enforced in neighbouring tribal States of Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

Residents of Imphal spell ILP at a peaceful protest. (Photo: Sunzu Bachaspatimayum)