Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 19 2009:
To pre-empt the outbreak of anything that could pose a serious threat to peace, disturbance to public tranquility and grave danger to human lives due to the situation arising out of the gruesome killings of the SDO of Kasom Khullen and his two subordinate staff, the Government has imposed curfew from 5 pm today in Imphal East and Imphal West.
Separate orders announcing the prohibitory orders under sub-section 5 of Section 144 CrPC, 1973 have been issued by the District Magistrates of the two districts.
The curfew was imposed ahead of the torch rally proposed to be taken out by the JAC formed in connection with the dastardly killing.
Justifying the imposition of the curfew, the District Magistrate of Imphal East in the order said that the proposed rally is likely to cause serious breach of peace leading to loss of lives and public properties.
Involvement of various organisations in the proposed rally implies that it will not be peaceful and hence the prohibitory order has been imposed, said the order issued by the DM of Imphal East.
The curfew comes a few hours before the 48 hours general strike called by the JAC was to expire.
During the two day general strike, all normal activities were severely affected with commercial transactions coming to a grinding halt.