Police bar Ima Keithel vendors from trading wares
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 23 2021: Even though the state government has issued order for reopening of the three Khwairamband markets and the temporary market, police disallowed women vendors for plying their wares at the markets on the ground that the authorities are yet to frame specific regulations for resumption of business activities in the markets.

Subsequent to government's order for re-opening of the markets, many women vendors came from early morning on Thursday.

However, the police did not allow them to sell their items as authorities concerned are yet to take up necessary measures and issue regulations for running the markets.

City police personnel had a trying time to control the women vendors who arrived since early morning.

Speaking to The People's Chronicle, a woman vendor reason that she came to the market as the government has issued order for reopening it.

However, upon reaching the market, police did not allow them to sell their items.

Pointing out that the market had remained shut for more than six months due to the Covid-19 second wave, she said that she has been facing lots of inconveniences but endured them in view of the pandemic situation.

As the government has issued the order for re-opening of the markets, she urged authorities concerned to frame the regulations for selling of items in the market at the earliest.

Meanwhile, police said that there is no restriction on selling items in the market.

However, they simply urged the vendors to sell their items only when authorities issue relevant guidelines.

Mention may be made here that the government closed down the three Khwairamband markets and temporary markets from April 21 so as to contain the spread of Covid-19 second wave in the state.

Meanwhile, Khwairamband Keithel Sinpham Amadi Saktam Kanba Lup has informed that all the three Khwairamband Keithel as well as temporary market will be opened from September 27 as government has given approval for re-opening of the markets.

According to a statement of the Lup issued by its secretary Thin-gujam Rani, the historic all women markets remained closed for almost six months due to spread of second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

However, government issued an order for re-opening of the three Ima Keithel as well as the temporary market and all these markets will be re-opened from September 27 .

Before the Keithel reopens, a cleanliness drive will be conducted on September 25, the Lup said and appealed to vendors, caretaker of the markets and IMC workers and officials to take part in the cleanliness drive.

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