One killed as shutdown affects normal life
Newmai News Network
Imphal | May 21
Prices of household consumer items in Manipur have slightly risen in the past few days as there is a dearth of transportation of goods due to bandh and strikes called by different organisations to press for their demands.
If such strikes continue to take place further, the cascading effect of price hike is likely to leave many households high and dry. The daily wage earners are now finding difficult to meet the rising expenditure. Frequent bandh and strikes have an impact on prices of many consumer items in Manipur.
Prices of pulses, potato, onion and garlic have gone up slightly in Manipur which has already been facing flood-like situation in the past few days due to incessant rain.
“A kilo of onion is now being sold at Rs 25. Prices of other items have also gone up moderately,” said Irungbam Ngoubi, a housewife.
But the prices are likely to fall and normalise once the ongoing public protest ends. A 38-hour mass stay away from work, called by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), ended at 6 pm on Saturday.
Roads were blocked during the intensified protest which began at 4 am yesterday. Normal life in the valley districts of the state was affected. The valley witnessed near total shutdown on the second and last day of the strike staged as part of the campaign for introduction of ILP in Manipur.
Many strike supporters obstructed traffic at different places. They braved rain-soaked roads in enforcing the bandh shouting several slogans on the demand of ILP.
Meanwhile, a 43-year-old man died here last night during the strike after his two-wheeler skidded off the road and fell, resulting in a fatal mishap. Reports said he was being chased by a group of strike supporters before he met with the accident at Uripok Tourangbam Leikai in Imphal West around 10 pm.
He was identified as one O Palendro Singh from Pishum Oinam Leikai under Imphal West.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said an all-party delegation was visiting New Delhi soon to use their best endeavours to prevail on the Central leaders to implement the three Bills.
The Chief Minister was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here. “The government is seeking appointment. Hope the Prime Minister and Home Minister will soon allow the delegation to meet them,” Ibobi said.
He said, “The issue concerns all. Everybody has a role. The political parties need to act within the parameters of their own role.”
Ibobi urged upon political parties to help his government in its efforts to fulfill the public demand of introduction of ILP.
