The state government appealed to the people to cooperate with the government
Imphal:
The Manipur government has decided to resume inter-district public vehicles plying from Imphal to hill districts under strict security from Wednesday amid a lull in ethnic violence in the state, according to an official order.
This will be the government's second attempt to resume public transport in 19 months in the state that has witnessed clashes between the valley-dominant Meitei community and the Kuki tribes dominant in Churachandpur and some other hill areas .
“The state government has assessed the law and order situation in the state with availability of security forces, response system and feasibility inputs from various agencies and has decided to resume movement of public vehicles with adequate security deployment,” Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi said in an order.
From Wednesday, public vehicles will operate from Imphal to Senapati via Kangpokpi, and from Imphal to Churachandpur via Bishnupur.
While Senapati is a Naga dominated area, Kangpokpi and Churachandpur are Kuki dominated areas. Imphal and Bishnupur are Meitei dominated areas.
The “movement will be restricted to fixed hours and the general public wishing to join the route are informed to contact the respective offices of the Deputy Commissioners,” the order said.
“This initiative of the state government is aimed at alleviating the grievances faced by the general public in the state,” the report said.
The state government appealed to the people to cooperate with the government in this initiative and not resort to violence.
“Anyone without exemption, who is involved in acts disrupting the movement of vehicles, will be dealt with severely and prosecuted under the relevant laws of the land,” the order said.
Manipur continues to be gripped by recurring bouts of violence since ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kukis broke out in May last year. Since then, at least 258 people have been killed and thousands left homeless.
Public bus services between the Imphal Valley and the hill districts also stopped at that time.
In December last year, the government made an attempt to run state transport buses to connect Imphal to Senapati via Kangpokpi and Imphal to Churachandpur via Bishnupur. However, the initiative did not succeed. Nearly empty buses plied between Imphal and Churachandpur, while vehicles from Imphal had to return to Kangpokpi due to barricades erected on the road by protesters.
