Imphal, September 06: The people of Mayang Imphal area in Imphal West District, majority of whom are earning their livelihood through fishing activities, are in a difficult position of carrying on with their trade with security forces imposing various restrictions on them.

This was disclosed by spokesman of the Joint People�s Committee (JPC) Ch Chidananda while addressing a press conference at the Manipur Press Club here today.

The JPC was formed during a public meeting held at Mayang Imphal Konchak Model Junior High School today in connection with the firing incident by security forces on the intervening night of Sep 4 and 5 which leave two people dead.

Chidananda informed that the fishing activities of the people have been restricted by 22 Maratha Light Infantry posted at Mayang Imphal from 6 am to 5 pm daily for the last five months.

The security personnel are also not allowing disallowing the fishermen to spend the night at their respective fish farms like earlier.

Such restriction has caused lot inconveniences to the people who sustain their lives mainly on the fishing activities, he lamented.

The fishermen have to usually get up early in the morning to gather their catch from the net spread out the previous night and again have to rush back to the market to sale their catch.

Sometime they were required to spend the night at the fish farms apart from the fact that the fish farm owners and their caretakers have to look after the farms day and night, he pointed out.

After the incident of killing two fishermen by the security personnel, fish farm owners dare not venture out and look after the farms any more, he claimed.

While pointing out that 4/5 of the population living in Mayang Imphal Constituency directly depend on fish farms spread over more than 10 acres of land located along the Loktak Lake, the JPC members expressed unhappiness over the activities of the armed militants in the area.

In the same breathe, they also appealed to the security forces not to cause inconveniences to the innocent people of the area in the name of counter insurgency.

The JPC representatives have reportedly met CM in-charge Th Devendra to highlight the problems of the people this afternoon.

The CM in-charge also gave his assurance of doing the needful and issued necessary instruction to Chief Secretary and DGP in this connection.

While appreciating the coverage of the news report of the September 5 night incident, the JPC members, however, reacted strongly to dubbing the person with whom the two slain fishermen had argued as an army informer.

It was far from the truth, they said, adding that it has caused confusion among the people living in and around the Mayang Imphal area.

They also appealed to the media for confirming any news before being printed in the newspapers.

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