Vendors' union alleges police rowdyism
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 21 2022:
Drawing attention of chief minister N Biren and the MAHUD minister towards alleged ill-treatment and atrocities committed against leaders of Khwairamband Keithel Street Vendors' Welfare Union by police and some women vendor leaders, the Union has warned of launching an indef-inite relay hunger strike while demanding the government to take up necessary measures.
Addressing a press meet regarding the conflict following the shifting of street vendor-s-into the temporary market at Manipur Press Club, here, on Friday, Union president Laitonjam Beda said that it is a registered body and rights of its members are protected by relevant laws.
However, lead ers of some women vendors' association are violating their rights and the Union strongly condemns such acts, she said.
Recounting that the government issued an order on October 17 instructing street vendors to move into the newly constructed temporary market shed by following a certain timetable, president Beda expressed strong resentment that members of some women vendors' asso ciation prevented the street vendors as well as registered members of the Union from entering and plying their wares at the new market shed.
Moreover, police also took their side and forced the street- vender-out from the market sheds in com plete disregard of the order, she said.
Beda strongly decried the act of the women vendors' association, police and IMC dishonouring the govern ment order and violating the rights of the street vendors.
She demanded the govern ment to fesolve the matter at the earliest, while warning that the Union will launch an indefinite relay hunger strike if the government keeps ignoring the matter.