Students committee imposes 'curfew' in Manipur

Imphal, Feb 12: An 18-hour 'curfew' has been imposed by a

' committee in

today to prevent non-Manipuris from transacting business in the state, in protest against the recent attacks, rape and killing of the people of the north east in the national capital.

Convenor of the Joint Students' Coordinating Committee (JSCC) Thangjam Premananda told newspersons that all non-Manipuri people in the state should close their shops, stop transacting business and remain indoors during the curfew which began from 5 A.M.

He said it was "very shocking" that people from the north-east region were "not only ill treated but looked down" in the national capital and blamed the central and Delhi governments tor their failure to protect people from the region.

Stating that a series of agitations would be launched soon if proper measures were not taken to protect the people from the region, he said the death of Nido Taniam, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, rape of a Manipuri girl, assault on two Manipuri youths and two girls showed that mainland people have no respect for the people from this region.

Accusing MPs from the region and Manipur government for their "failure" to put maximum pressure on the central government, he said people in the region would not remain silent while their brothers and sisters were murdered or raped in the national capital.

JSCC has been formed by six major student bodies including All Manipur Students Union, Democratic Alliance of Students of Manipur and Manipuri Students Federation a few days ago.

PTI