Matamgi Manipur

By Yambem Laba This article was originally published by The Statesman and later by the Imphal Free Press on 18 July 2012 When the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation was enacted by the British in 1873 for “peace and Government of certain Districts on the Eastern Frontier of Bengal” and to pave the way for the introduction of the “Inner Lines” in what is today the North-eastern region of India, Manipur did not figure as it was an independent entity and a trusted British ally. The first notification under Section 2 of the said regulation was issued on 8 March 1876, whereby the Governor General in Council was pleased to “prohibit all British subjects from going beyond the ‘Inner Line’ hereby notified without a pass under the hand and seal of the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district”.

by Yambem Laba The Imphal Free Press, Hueiyen Lanpao, The Statesman August 3 2010 A rumour doing the rounds during the 68-day blockade of National Highway 39 that petrol was available at a nearby pump resulted in a kilometre-long queue of two-wheelers forming overnight, only for their owners to be told early the next morning that it was all a hoax. The non-availability of petroleum products forced schools to close and fields remained untilled because tractors had stalled due to a shortage of diesel. High court lawyers also struck work and even hospitals closed their operation theatres because the stock of bottled oxygen had run out. On the other hand, blackmarketers had a field day, with petrol selling for Rs 150 a litre, diesel for Rs 120 a litre and an LPG cylinder available for Rs 1,800. Also, bags of cement and urea were selling for Rs 750 and Rs 1,000 apiece, respectively. Adding to these woes was the fact that thousands of Manipuris used to travelling by road to the rest of I...