Northeast Desk, 21st October: The Manipur government has extended the curfew timings for the Imphal East and Imphal West districts, allowing people to move from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on October 21, instead of the usual curfew time of 7 p.m.
This change in curfew timings comes in response to the ongoing state-wide violence that started on May 3 and has continued since then. Initially, a total curfew was imposed in several districts, including Imphal West, Imphal East, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and others.
As the law and order situation improved in recent times, the curfew was relaxed, first from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. on most days and later extended to 7 p.m. in Imphal West and Imphal East. However, it was frequently reinstated without prior notice due to new episodes of violence.
The district magistrates of Imphal East and Imphal West issued orders on Friday stating that the curfew is relaxed “due to the improvement of law and order situation.” The extension of curfew timings aims to enable the general public to purchase essential items, including medicines and food.
However, the orders emphasized that this relaxation does not apply to unlawful gatherings, sit-in protests, rallies, or large-scale movement of persons. Essential services, such as health, electricity, PHED, petrol pumps, schools/colleges, municipality, press and electronic media, functioning of courts, and travel to the airport, as well as workers with valid airport entry permits, are exempt from the curfew.
It’s worth noting that Imphal East and Imphal West district authorities had previously extended relaxed curfew timings to 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on September 14, deviating from the usual timing of 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.