Shopkeepers protest traffic restrictions
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 31: Along with closure of all shops located along the Khoyathong Road of Thangal Bazar, shopkeepers and traders staged a Wakat Meepham today in protest against restriction on entry of vehicles into Khwairamband Market area which has given a serious setback on business transaction.

Imphal Bazar Community Board has also warned of mass closure of shops in case the Government fails to come up with a definite decision on lifting the ban within the next two-three days.

On the other hand, Senior Superintendent of Police, Imphal West District L Kailun has asserted that entry of vehicles in market area has only been restricted for 'security reasons' and it is not erection of a Berlin Wall to put a blanket ban on movement of vehicles.

Left) Shopowners and traders on sit-in-protest against restriction on entry of vehicles and (right) meeting held to discuss the issue

The State Government has put restriction on entry of vehicles in the main commercial area here as part of its security measures in the wake of the bomb blast at high-security zone Babupara and fitting of a bomb on a rickshaw near Mapal Kangjeibung on April 24 last.

However, the security arrangements put in place by the Government has been resented by the business community on the ground that it has affected their normal business transaction.

With the restriction remaining enforced for the last 45 days leading to an unprecedented slump in their sale proceed and creating a situation in which they would not be in a position to pay even the rent or salary of their sales-staff, shopkeepers and other traders along Khoyathong Road of Thangal Bazar shut down their shops and joined in the protest.

As the protest demonstration commenced, police stopped the aggrieved shopkeepers and traders from gathering together citing it falls under security zone.

Subsequently, the shopkeepers and their staff staged the protest demonstration in front of their respective shops without putting up any banner.

To discuss the issue related to banning of vehicles inside the market area and its impact on business activities, a joint meeting attended by representatives of Imphal Bazar Community Board, shopkeepers of Thangal and Paona Bazar, Senior SP of Imphal West, Additional SP and DSP Traffic was held at Hotel Anand Continental at around 11 am today.

During the meeting, each of the shopkeepers and businessmen, while giving their opinion on the issue, highlighted the difficulties being faced by them since imposition of restriction on entry of vehicles in the market area.

They pointed out that the sale proceed has gone down to such an extent that there are shops which could not even sell goods worth Rs 5 in a day apart from the problem in lifting goods from the godowns.

As a consequence, the shopkeepers are not being able to pay their rent and salaries to the salesmen, they said, while expressing apprehension that after the closure of 16 shops, other shops and business units may follow suit as their business are not doing well.

The aggrieved shopkeepers also drew the attention of the police officers on alleged misconduct of some police/traffic personnel on duty in Bazar area who have no qualm in allowing vehicles to enter if they were given Rs 10 .

This has brought bad name to the entire Police Department, the shopkeepers said, while urging for lifting of the ban on entry of vehicles atleast for some hours during the day.

The shopkeepers/businessmen also pointed out that after the massacre of non-Manipuri labourers, 60 percent of the labourers have departed from Manipur.

Restriction on entry of vehicles has only compounded the problem of shortage of porters in Bazar area, thus leading to hike in prices of commodities.

After listening to all these complaints, Senior SP of Imphal West L Kailun observed that restriction on entry of vehicles in Bazar area is only for security reason and it should not be seen like erection of a Berlin wall.

Vehicles of those who reside in Bazar area and have garage facilities are being allowed besides rickshaws and Thela Garis for lifting goods, the police officer asserted.

Maintaining that herding cattle would be more easier than controlling traffic on the roads of Imphal, the Senior SP noted that vehicle drivers on the roads of Imphal are flouting the traffic norms.

He also assured that necessary action would be taken up against the Police/Traffic police personnel who are allegedly demanding money from the people.

The Senior SP appealed to the business community to keep in mind the developmental works being taken up by the Government and also understand the reason behind imposition of ban on entry of vehicles in Bazar area.

Until and unless, there has been some improvement in the security scenario, the problem on entry of vehicles will be there, the police officer said.

Nonetheless, he assured that the concerns of the businessmen would be taken up for discussion with other senior officials.

Asserting that security is an important aspect, the police officer noted that even if the primary objective of the businessmen is to earn profit, they should think twice about the public service they are rendering before deciding to close down their shops.

The Senior SP further directed that necessary permission should be sought before staging Wakat Meepham as no such demonstration cannot be held without the requisite permission.

As for unloading goods from vehicles, the police officer pointed out that it could be done at night.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, president of Imphal Bazar Community Board Amrik Singh Pahwa categorically stated that they cannot accept the reasoning that restriction on entry of vehicles inside the market area is only for security reason.

If the Govt does not lift the ban along with giving a definite time bound within the next two-three days, all the shops may be constraint to shut down, Pahwa warned.

Interacting with The Sangai Express, Ningthoujam Ibemma who had come all the way from Tendongyang to purchase yarn from Khwairamband Bazar informed that restriction on entry of vehicles has caused lot of inconveniences to people coming to the market.

Expressing the same sentiment, Atom Sonamani of Langjing Achouba said that ban on entry of vehicles inside the market area has caused problem to many people in transportation of heavy goods they purchase from the market.

Meanwhile, according to sources, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is expected to meet the representatives of Imphal Bazar Community Board tomorrow morning to discuss the issue.