General strike to protest killing derails normal chores
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 12, 2009: Normal life in the State remained partially affected on account of the 24-hour general strike called by Pangal Students' Organisation, Manipur in protest against the killing of Tata Sumo driver Md Mujibur Rahman.

A half empty Khwairamband Keithel during the general strike period

The general strike came into effect from midnight of September 11. Inspite of the general strike, many women vegetable sellers who have no means of income other than eking out their daily income from selling vegetables were seen at Khwairamband Bazar doing brisk business.

Md Majibur Rahman was among the six alleged UGs killed by a combined team of Imphal West Police Commandos and personnel of 12 Maratha Light Infantry at Awang Khunou under Patsoi Police Station on the night of September 8.However, Pangal Students' Organisation contended that he was an innocent Tata Sumo driver plying along Imphal-Moreh road.

During the strike, passenger bus service between the districts of the State stayed off the road and the oil pumps were shut down.

Educational institutions also remained closed and attendance in Government offices was reportedly thin.

Most of the shops in Khwairamband Bazar downed their shutters though women vendors including vegetable and cloth sellers were seen doing brisk business.

Talking to The Sangai Express, Ibemcha, a woman dry fish seller from Sendra in Bishnupur district, who came to the market along with 10 others after hiring a private vehicle, said, "We know it's bandh but we have come to sell our goods without which there would be no money to buy rice for the day".

She informed that normally they spend just Rs 25 on the fare.

But they hired the vehicle at the rate of Rs 50 per head per trip.

''Today we have to spend another Rs 50 each on our return journey", lamented Ibemcha who had reportedly come after taking dry fishes for around Rs 500/600 on credit from another trader.

Ibemcha's husband had died and she lives with her daughter and a son.

As she cannot afford the cost of education of her children, both her daughter and son have given up their studies.

She further said "On a bandh day, I cannot stay at home.

This would mean piling of the credit taken from others".

Thirty-five year old Inao of Wangoi, who sells fresh fishes, said ''For people like us who live on the earning of daily income, not going to the market even for a single day means no food for the day.

No doubt, we condemn killing of people by security personnel, but calling bandh and general strike every now and then is also equally condemnable".

Inao too has lost her husband.

Her eldest child, a son, is now studying in class XI while the youngest, a daughter, in class IV.

She does not have any idea about how much a kilogram of potatoes or sugar cost nor the price of one quarter of mustard oil.

Because she could never afford to buy a kilogram of potatoes and sugar.

She said, 'Now one kg of rice cost Rs 25.Carrying a 10 rupee note, I buy potatoes and sugar.

While trying to manage and run the family, I could never buy a kilogram of potatoes.

In such a condition, imposition of bandh or curfew is great hardship for poor people like us".

Another woman fish seller was heard muttering, 'The daily travelling fare is just Rs 15 on normal days.

But it is bandh, so we have made to cough up Rs 25.Up and down it would be Rs 50, though there is not much sale".