Post Thangal bazar bandh, TAKDO announces complete shutdown of market areas today
Shops down shutters, vehicles stay off the road
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 18 2016: After imposing a bandh at Thangal bazar area today, the Thangmeiband Kendra Development Organisation has announced a total bazar and Thangmeiband area bandh tomorrow from 5 am till 6 pm.

This was declared by Heisnam Jamuna, secretary of TAKDO said while addressing a press meet at Khoyathong Keithel Macha today evening after a meeting with the State Government failed to make any breakthrough.

Jamuna Devi said that four members of TAKDO led by its president and two other members met Chief Minister O Ibobi at his official residence at around 4.10 pm today.

Some of the Ima Keithel women vendors were there when TAKDO members went to meet the CM today.

Works Minister Kh Ratankumar and MLA K Ranjit were also present during the meeting.

Post Thangal bazar bandh, TAKDO announces complete shutdown of market areas today

The Govt representatives reportedly told TAKDO delegates that the temporary market shed is being constructed to accommodate vendors of Ima Keithel who were displaced due to partial damage of the building in the recent earthquake.

Sharing the hardship faced by the women vendors, the TAKDO representatives urged the Govt to stop building the market shed in the busy and congested Thangal bazar area, Jamuna said.

They urged the Govt to construct the temporary market shed at other suitable locations, she said.

The CM reportedly did not show any concern to the demand of TAKDO members, she added.

Jamini further said that TAKDO along with other organisations of the State will launch intensified agitation if the State continues to forcefully construct the temporary market shed in Thangal bazar area.

A stand off took place between angry locals of Thangmeiband and Ima Market shed vendors when a large number of locals of Thangmeiband today stormed Thangal bazar area where the State Govt is taking up construction works of a temporary market shed.

As per the announcement made by the Thangmeiband Kendra Development Organisation (TAKDO), people of Thangmeiband AC imposed a Thangal bazar bandh from 5 am to 6 pm today to protest alleged tarnishing of the image of MLA Kh Joykisan by some women vendors and speaking against the people of Thangmeiband Assembly segment.

A large number of bandh supporters came out and enforced the bandh by placing various hard objects and by forming a human chain along the various important junctions.

All vehicles stayed off the road during the bandh hours and shops and other business establishments along the Thangmeiband road and Khoyathong market remained closed during the bandh.

All shops in Thangal bazar too remained closed during the bandh today.

Police personnel were deployed at various important junctions to prevent any untoward incidents.

The angry locals of Thangmeiband who imposed the bandh marched from Khoyathong side up to Kasturi bridge where the ongoing construction works are taken up.

When the bandh supporters reached Kasturi bridge they were stopped by a large number of Imphal West district police personnel led by SDPO A Ghanashyam.

The bandh supporters overpowered the police personnel.

A confrontation ensued between the police and the bandh supporters.

In the course of the confrontation, two women bandh supporters fainted while one VDF personnel received minor injuries.

The two women protesters were taken to RIMS hospital for treatment.

Even as the police put up strong resistance to the marching bandh supporters, some sneaked through the galis of Thangal bazar and reached the place where the construction of temporary market shed is going on.

On reaching the spot, a stand-off took place between the bandh supporters and the Ima Keithel women vendors near the construction site.

However, timely intervention of police prevented a major showdown.

Some of the bandh supporters alleged that they were attacked with stick and stones by Ima Keithel women vendors.

Soon after, S Ibomcha Additional SP (Law and Order), Imphal West arrived at the spot and pushed back the protesters and women vendors.

The police tried hard to bring the situation under control and asked four individuals each from both sides to come up for talks and negotiations.

The women vendors stated that they will talk with MLA Kh Joykisan only but not with the angry bandh supporters.

Meanwhile the constituent clubs of Thangmeiband United Club and meira paibis of Thangmeiband held a joint meeting at THAU ground and adopted four resolutions.

As per the resolutions adopted during the meeting, TUC and the meira paibi lups decided to urge the Government to stop the construction work of the temporary market shed at Thangal bazar and shift the women vendors to another place.

The meeting also strongly condemned the nonchalant attitude of some womenfolk who derided the people of Thangmeiband on January 16 and adopted the decision that unless they tender a public apology due action would be taken up against them.

TUC and the meira paibis also decided to initiate discussion with the women vendors and accordingly thrash out a solution acceptable to all.

Lastly the meeting also decided to extend support to the 'Mass Rally For The Common Future of Manipur' being jointly organised by AMUCO, CCSK and UCM on February 6 .