Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 03 2009:
Shopkeepers of Wangoi Bazar were joined by local vendors in protesting unidentified persons sealing eight shops of the market place suspected to be in connection with monetary demand.
In denunciation of the unconfirmed action of the unidentified persons a sit-in demonstration was staged at the Wangoi Keithel (market) community hall today that culminated with a public meeting resolving to appeal to all concerned to refrain from disrupting business activities of small time traders.
In addition to condemning sealing of the eight shops the meeting participants also pledged to stay united and extend cooperation to face any activities of disruptive elements.
Significantly, shopkeepers who spoke on the occasion denounced activists of the PREPAK organisation for their involvement in the sealing of the shops which included outlets dealing in grocery items, textile goods, stationery, PCO, video (CD) library, hotel, mobile phone recharge voucher sellers etc.
These shops were suspected to have been locked-up late last night with the unidentified persons also pasting bits of paper at two of the shops enlisting two numerical figures of mobile phones.
Separate locks were found over the original ones sealed by the respective shopkeepers.
Even though the shopkeepers cited ignorance of why the shops had been locked they strongly speculated it might be connected to monetary demand as similar situation had unfolded at the same market place.
In the earlier instance, mobile telephone numbers were issued to the shopkeepers in addition to a grocery shop coming under grenade attack that fortunately did not explode.