Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 27 2010:
Shopkeepers and locals of Sawombung area have staged a sit-in-protest today at Sawombung Bazar under the aegis of Sawombung Village Authority protesting the huge monetary demand served to small time businessmen and shop owners of Sawombung Bazar.
Placards like 'Withdraw monetary demand to small time businessmen,' 'have mercy on small-time shopkeepers,' 'don't serve unbearable monetary demand,' etc were displayed by the protestors.
According to a protestor who spoke to our reporter, an annual tax of Rs 80,000 is served to around 20 shop owners and vendors of Sawombung Bazar by a particular underground group.
The group also asked them to pay Rs 1,60,000 each for the pending dues for last year and this year's tax.
The particular group has also warned them that the shop owners and vendors should close their business if they failed to pay the amount by January 21, she said.
The shop owner said that it has been seven days now that business establishment closed in the area.
The protestors also urged the group concerned to withdraw the demand on humanitarian ground.