Protestors dispersed at Chingmeirong
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 27 2011:
Some womenfolk, who were staging protest demonstration near the Inter State Bus Terminus, Chingmeirong have been prevented from further agitation as police launched crackdown.
Under the banner of Kabow Leikai Nupi Keithel Development Committee, Chingmeirong the women were protesting against the State Government's move to dismantle about 37 shops built on the northern side of the Bus Terminus.
According to the Committee president Ch Khomdonbi from early morning today many women shopowners had gathered to stage the protest against the Government's move.
However, a police team showed up at the spot and asked them to vacate immediately which they eventually obliged.
Khomdonbi stated that previous intimations to authorities of department concerned for providing an alternative site to enable the shopowners sustain their source of earning failed to evoke positive response.
Rather than consider the justifiable proposal and take into account plight of the small time traders the Government used police force to disperse the peaceful protest, she maintained.
Khomdonbi also claimed that at the time of laying the foundation stone for the Bus Terminus construction Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had assured that the row of shops would not be touched.
Sadly, on his (CM) recent inspection visit of the Bus Terminus early this month instructions were given to relevant officials to remove all the structures, the Committee president alleged.
Further informing that since 1980 the shopowners were allotted document (patta) of plot ownership, she expressed strong resentment that neither an alternative arrangement has been made nor had any amount of compensation provided to the shopowners.
While decrying the callous attitude of the Government, she cautioned that failure to provide an alternative site ahead of dismantling the structures would compel the Committee to launch various forms of agitation.