Cops rain lathis in enforcing no parking order at Paona bazar
Cops on bikes break one way norm; Shop keepers cry foul, down shutters, protest to go on
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 16 2011: Literally cracking the whip in enforcing parking norms, a team of police led by Imphal West SDPO N Madhunimai went berserk and vandalised a number of cars besides pushing scores of two-wheelers to the ground along Paona Keithel road this morning.

In protest against the police action, which they termed excessive, shop-keepers of Paona Keithel pulled down shutters and staged a protest demonstration in the afternoon.

According to some shop-keepers, the police team led by the SDPO shattered windscreens and window glasses of at least 20 cars.

In addition, the police team also thrashed some drivers and owners.

The SDPO was encouraged and supported by Imphal West Traffic DSP Victoria by personally flattening tyres of several vehicles.

Even as police went on rampage at Paona Keithel, cars and two-wheelers parked along Thangal Keithel were seen left untouched, the shop-keepers said.

"They may either arrest defaulting drivers or pull up vehicles or impose fines but we cannot imagine any law which authorise police to vandalise vehicles and thrash people in such manner", they said.

Shops closed after traffic crackdown and cops on bikes break the one way rule

In addition to confining their activity to Paona Keithel alone, the police team did not touch any vehicle of security forces or VIPs.

After the shops downed shutters, cops on bikes could be seen speeding around Paona bazar, nonchalantly in violation of the one way norm.

Allotment of parking space at Keishampat has only aggravated congestion of the road.

Moreover, there are reports of lifting even medium vehicles from the same parking space, they complained.

However, SDPO N Madhunimai maintained that there is a standing order of the Government which prohibits parking of vehicles inside Khwairamband Bazar.

Before attacking the vehicles, a publicity campaign was undertaken using loud speakers to remove all the vehicles parked along Paona Keithel road.

Nevertheless, denouncing the police action, shop-keepers running their trade at Paona International Market and BT Flyover Bridge pulled down shutters and staged a protest demonstration.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here in the evening, the shop-keepers said that they would continue with their demonstration tomorrow too.

They have also urged the authority to give parking space for customers coming to Paona Keithel.

With no parking space allotted for customers coming to Paona Keithel, they can park their vehicles just for four/five minutes along Paona Keithel road.

To vandalise such vehicles parked for such a brief period is against law, they asserted.

In the absence of parking lot for customers, sales have declined dramatically in entire Paona Keithel denting their income.