Imphal: Normal life came to a grinding halt in Manipur today (November 13) in the indefinite curfew, imposed since the recovery of the body of a minister's daughter, and the 18-hour general strike by All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) to protest it.

Road links between Manipur and the rest of the country snapped as transport services between the state and its North Eastern neighbours were cancelled in view of the indefinite curfew clamped yesterday (November 12), transporters said.

The capital town of Imphal and surrounding areas wore a deserted look with markets, shops, business and entertainment houses closed and people remaining indoors, official reports said.

Normal life was severely affected particularly in the valley districts of Imphal East and West, Bishenpur and Thoubal where the curfew was in force. All offices remained closed and hardly any civilian was seen on the streets.

In the hill districts, left out of the curfew, attendance in Government offices was almost nil, while markets and business houses downed shutters to protest against the brutal killing of the 8 year-old schoolgirl. Road communication was severely hit as transporters cancelled services following the sudden imposition of the curfew.

The child's father and Manipur Minister for General Administration Francis Ngajokpa hails from the hill district of Senapati.

The bullet-ridden body of 8 year-old Lungnila Elizabeth, kidnapped for Rs 15 lakh ransom on November 4, was found by the police bundled inside a sack in a pond near Little Flower High School, where she was a student of standard three.

PTI