IMPHAL, Nov 24: Taking strong exception to alleged ill-treatment of two women vendors by street vendors of Khwairamband Keithel, the Hao Keithel Tribal Women Welfare Association has called an indefinite bandh in the hill areas of Manipur with effect from this midnight.
Speaking to media persons at Kuki Inn here this afternoon, Hao Keithel Tribal Women Welfare Association member Ningkho Baite said that two women vendors who came from the hills to sell goods at Khwairamband temporary market were physically assaulted and verbally abused by street vendors on November 13 and November 23.
One Nenem Kipgen from Molhophai was assaulted by street vendors on November 13 on the charge that she picked up Rs 2000 which slipped from a street vendor.
As the matter reached City police station, the OC and Nenem Kipgen gave Rs 1000 each to the woman from whom the Rs 2000 slipped.
In a similar incident, one Akim Baite from Monarjang village was frisked and verbally abused on the charge that she picked up Rs 10,000 which slipped from a street vendor yesterday morning. The lost amount was paid to the vendor with contributions made by fellow vendors.
A complaint was also lodged at City police station regarding yesterday’s incident, Ningkho Baite said.
The bandh should have come into effect from yesterday but it was put off at the insistence of KSO and other student organisations to delve deeper into the matter, she said.
She also appealed to the authority concerned to find out the facts and punish the culprit(s).
Source: The Sangai Express
