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Police confronting with street vendors in Imphal market on Janaury 28. (NNN Photo)
Newmai News Network
Imphal | January 28
Normalcy activities in Khwairamband Keithel, the business hub of Manipur in Imphal, was disturbed after street vendors rose up in protest against a recent order of the Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC).
IMC, in an order issued on January 16, allows the street vendors to sell their goods between 5 am and 9 am and after 4 pm.
In their bid to disperse the protesting vendors blocking the roads in the heart of the state capital, police resorted to firing mock bombs.
A women street vendor fainted and many other sustained minor injuries which, however, need no medical attention.
When the police began enforcing the order from Tuesday, a large number of street vendors rose up and agitated by blocking all the roads at Khwairamband Keithel. As they continued to block the roads despite repeated warning, police lathi-charged them. The police further fired some rounds of mock bombs towards the protestors who confronted with the police personnel.
Earlier, the street vendors demanded protection of their rights and allow them to vend their goods on the streets as usual.
Talking to reporters, one of the street vendors maintained that as per the order of the government, the hours for the street vendors to conduct their business in Khwairamband keithel is till 9 am while they can continue from 4 pm.
She lamented that the time period given by the government is odd timings where people don't usually come to buy the essential commodities which in turn affects the business of the street vendors. She alleged that the recent order of the IMC was issued sidelining the plights of the street vendors.
Secretary of Roadside Vendors’ Welfare Union, G Lembisana Devi said that the street vendors protested as police started dispersing them from selling their goods following the IMC order issued on January 16.
Since the issuance of the order, they have been pleading higher authorities of the IMC for giving some relaxation until government comes up with an arrangement for the street vendors. When no positive response came forth, they even approached the chief minister and the MAHUD minister to address their grievances. It also went in vain, she further said.
She then charged the government of having a plan to eliminate street vendors while alleging that none of the authorities treated them well while they pleaded them.
G Lembisana Devi also alleged that the street vendors were not allowed to sell their goods since the next day of the issuance of the order, and since then they are running from post to pillar to address their grievances.
