As a precautionary measure, a full curfew has been imposed in the five valley districts of Manipur beginning Tuesday evening, according to officials, news agency PTI reported. The cancellation of curfew relaxation hours in Bishnupur, Kakching, Thoubal, Imphal West, and Imphal East follows a call by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and its women wing on Wednesday for people from all valley districts to remove an army barricade at Phougakchao Ikhai in Bishnupur district, a few kilometres away from Churachandpur, officials said.
The curfew is currently relaxed in all five valley districts from 5 am to 6 pm every day.
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Speaking with media, government spokesperson and Information and Public Relations Minister Sapam Ranjan said: “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 requested all “to support the security steps taken up by the government.”
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Officials claimed that anybody working in critical services such as health, energy, PHED, fuel outlets, schools/colleges, municipalities, media, court operations, and aircraft passengers will be spared from the curfew.
COCOMI media coordinator Somendro Thokchom stated that the committee had already encouraged the government and the relevant authorities to dismantle the blockade by August 30.
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While inciting people to attack the barricade, Thokchom stated that the state administration would be fully responsible if anything went wrong.
Locals stated they were unable to reach their Torbung dwellings due of the roadblock at Phougakchao Ikhai, which they had abandoned following the outbreak of unrest on May 3.
