Manipur’s curfew was temporarily loosened on Saturday, providing a seven-hour relief to citizens in four districts: Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching, and Bishnupur. The District Magistrate announced that prohibition orders under Section 163 of the BNS were loosened from 5 am to 12 pm. However, the statement made it clear that “this relaxation shall not apply to any gathering, large-scale movement of persons, sit-in protests, rallies, etc., which are unlawful in nature.” But as inhabitants hurried to stock up on necessities before the curfew was reinstated, the small break caused a spike in market activity. Prices have skyrocketed as a result of this panic buying, further burdening already beleaguered individuals.
Peas are currently selling for ₹250, tomatoes for an astounding ₹140, potatoes for ₹70, and onions for ₹100 to ₹120 a kilogram. The price of mustard oil is ₹220 per litre, and the price of garlic has increased to ₹160 per kilogram. Because perishable goods cannot be kept for extended periods of time under curfew conditions, prices have skyrocketed. Because of the uncertainty, suppliers and merchants are being extremely cautious,” retailer Suraj Chanam remarked.
A local customer named Reena bemoaned the absence of price control. “No one is adhering to the government-set tariffs. People are compelled to purchase anything they can, regardless of the cost, because the curfew is only loosened for a few hours,” she remarked. The difficulties of sustaining supply chains and controlling panic buying during brief curfew relaxations have been highlighted by the state’s continuous restrictions, which have been in effect for the last seven days.
