IMIMPHAL, Dec 17: The 24 hours State-wide bandh called by women vendors of Khwairamband Keithel in protest against violence allegedly unleashed by NSCN-IM completely paralysed the State, particularly the valley districts.
Two women sustained injuries when police fired tear gas shells to control a tense situation that erupted in Chingmeirong area in the evening.
A large number of bandh supporters gathered at Khwairamband Keithel area and enforced the bandh by blocking all the roads leading to and from Imphal city.
Those who came to the keithel defying the bandh were forced to turn back while merchandises brought by some women vendors for selling at the market were scattered by bandh supporters.
Even MLAs and convoys of paramilitary forces were forced to turn back.
Some officers who were moving with CRPF escorts were not allowed to go further from Kwakeithel and bandh supporters forced them to turn back toward Imphal.
A large number of women vendors of Khwairamband Keithel blocked the road in front of Kangla Western Gate.
The bandh was also imposed strictly along Wahengbam Leikai road, Sagolband, Uripok Khoyathong and Thangmeiband areas.
The effects of bandh were also witnessed along Imphal-Dimapur highway from Chingmeirong to Sekmai.
A large number of people came out on the street and imposed the bandh by sitting in the middle of the road and by placing other objects on the road at Chingmeirong.
The bandh was imposed at Sangakpham junction, Mantripukri and Luwangshangbam areas too.
At Mantripukri, Assam Rifles personnel were forced to turn back to their post who were heading toward Imphal.
Saikul AC MLA Yamthong Haokip who was moving with security escorts was also forced to turn back from Luwangshangbam area.
A huge water pipe was placed in the middle of the road to block the traffic movements in front of Khabam NRL petrol pump.
Later in the evening, a misunderstanding broke out at Chingmeirong among the bandh supporters and residents of the area. Some window panes were damaged during the confrontation.
Some of the bandh supporters also attempted to scale the gate of MBC Church.
Imphal West District Police led by Additional SP Operation S Ibomcha immediately swung into action and brought the situation under control.
Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to control the angry bandh supporters who retaliated by pelting stones. Nonetheless, they were driven back by police.
Two women sustained injuries as police fired tear gas shells and they were taken to hospital for treatment.
The injured women have been identified as Pukrambam Thoi w/o of Shyam of Lei Ingkhol (sustained injury on her right thigh) and Ahanthem Thoi w/o Bijoy of the same locality (sustained injury on chest).
The situation was brought under control after police appealed fervently to the bandh supporters not to carry out any activity which can create unrest in the State.
SP Imphal West Herojit also arrived at the scene and took stock of the situation.
All the passengers service vehicles and private vehicles remained off roads and all shops and commercial establishments of Imphal were shut during the bandh.
A large number of people enforced the bandh at Pheidinga and Sekmai. But it was lifted after the bandhs hours (7 pm) and the vehicles stranded there were allowed to move.
The bandh supporters gathered at Pheidinga said that they would start enforcing counter economic blockade there from tomorrow.
The bandh was also enforced at Singjamei, Chingamakha, Tera, Kakching, Keishamthong, Thoubal, Thoubal Haokha, Wangjing, Wangjing Kodompokpi, Khongjom Bazar, Sugnu Bazar, Pangaltabi Mayai Leikai and Pangaltabi Awang Leikai.
Source: The Sangai Express
