Imphal, July 01 2009: Shops and other business establishments at Singjamei Bazar observed a total shut down today in protest against the picking up a shopkeeper of the market by a team of Imphal east police commandos yesterday.

He was released later today.

Shopkeepers also staged at sit-in protest at the Super market against the picking up of shopkeeper Yendrembam Rishikanta (37) son of Kunjo of Haobam Marak Chongdam Leikai.

He was picked up by a team of the Imphal east police commandos at around 12.30 pm no sooner he had refused to keep something in a packet which an unknown woman request for keeping for sometime.

Rishikanta who was released by the police said that a woman not known to him entered to his shop and insisted to deposit something for sometimes.

When he refused to take possession of the goods, the woman contacted to her mobile phone to some one.

There erupted a hot exchange of words between the two when the women repeatedly asked to keep the goods in her possession.

Later, at around 2.30 pm, some police commandos in civil dress arrived there and strongly charged him of collecting money for payment to undergrounds.

Later, police commandos in uniform arrived and picked up him.

In the sit-in protest staged today, slogans like, "Shopkeepers are not underground, protect human rights, don't harass shopkeepers," etc.

were displayed.

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