IMPHAL, April 3: An attempt made by licensed women vendors at Thoubal Market to stage a sit-in-protest at the market shed today in protest against the decision to displace them from the market took an ugly turn when large number of women police personnel prevented them from staging the protest resulting in a heated scuffle between them.
The women protesters were made to retreat back by the police personnel from the area. There, a heated confrontation between the two sides cropped up. During the action, two women vendors fainted. They were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Finally, the situation was brought under control when Additional SP (Ops), Thoubal M Madhunimai arrived at the area. Later, the women vendors were allowed to stage the sit-in-protest on the northern part of the market.
Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of the protest demonstration, one of the women vendors said that around 100 women vendors who are selling wares at Thoubal Market are all licensed holders.
She alleged that a plot is being made by Chairperson of Thoubal Municipal Council, Yumnam Bijen to displace all the women vendors from their original shed to South Block D of the market which is unacceptable.
Expressing discontentment on the Chairperson for trying to invalidate the call of the women vendors through the media, she pledged that the women vendors will launch fast-unto-death stir if the Chairperson does not cease his ill plot.
The Chairperson in collusion with the secretary of Thoubal Keithel Apunba Nupi Lup has been trying to create rift among the women vendors. Their attempt will never succeed as all the women vendors will stay united, she said.
Several placards inscribed with slogans against the Chairperson of Thoubal Municipal Council were displayed at the demonstration.
It may be recalled here that large number of police personnel were deployed in and around Thoubal Market since March 30 knowing that the women vendors may agitate any time in pursuit of their demand.