Injured women vendors still undergoing treatment at RIMS
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 13 2019:
Three, out of the six women vendors of Khwairamband Ima Keithel who sustained injuries due to use of tear gas shells and mock bombs during the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 and who had been undergoing treatment at RIM, have been discharged but the remaining three injured women are still undergoing treatment at the hospital and the condition of some of the said women are said to be serious.
The Sangai Express visited RIMS to check up on the state of the injured women who were injured on the evening of February 10.One of the injured women identified as Thounaojam Premila (52) w/o Th Chandra of Mutum Phibou Mayai Leikai, is under serious condition after getting hit by a tear gas shell and sustaining a broken bone as well as injuries to her hip/waist.
She earns her living by selling vegetables and has a son (21) and daughter (18).Her husband is a farmer.
Speaking to media persons, one street vendor identified as Gurumayum Lembisana (47) of Thongju Part II said that on the night of February 10, the protesting women vendors and the police had a scuffle after the Additional SP of City police directed the protesters to pack up and disperse.
Eventually, the police hurled a mock bomb towards the protesters and while trying to escape, she fell down and got injured, Lembisana explained.
On the other hand Ahanthem Ibeyaima (57) w/o A Kerani of New Keithelmanbi, who sells Phanek Mayeknaibi at New Market, suffered hearing complication following the tear gas and mock bomb explosions.
She also lost her glasses during the commotion and as such she has not been able to see properly.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, she decried the police brutality shown on the day of the incident and lamented that if any other unfortunate thing had happened to her, then it would have been only her and her family's loss.
One Aheibam Mema (70) who is vendor at Temporary Market, said that on February 10, during the commotion, she inhaled some of the fumes of the tear gas and mock bombs and as such she suffered some breathing problems.
She lamented that the women vendors were carrying out democratic protests and were not armed but the police resorted to using such brutality as a show of force which is highly condemnable.
It will be best for the police personnel and officers to remember that the women vendors of the Keithel have moulded their sons and daughters to become officers and successful people, not to turn them into such brutal people, she added.
It may be mentioned that a total of 6 women vendors sustained various types of injuries due to police action and were hospitalised.
Out of the said six women, one Roma (55) of Sagolband and one Mangi (64) of Naorem Leikai, were admitted after they fainted following inhalation of smoke and fumes and they were discharged by RIMS doctors today.
Aheibam Mema was also discharged from the hospital today evening.
However, Thounaojam Premila, Gurumayum Lembisana and Ahanthem Ibeyaima, are yet to be discharged and are still undergoing treatment as their conditions are serious.
The women vendors said that the Chairman and Managing Director of Salai Holdings Pvt Ltd, Narengbam Samarjit, came to visit the injured women yesterday with a team, and provided financial aid of Rs 10,000 each to the injured women.
On the other hand, a team from Manipur State Commission for Women, led by its Chairperson Dr Meinam Binota also visited the injured women and provided financial aid of Rs 2000 each.
Other well wishers have also provided financial aid, they said.
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