IMPHAL, May 5: The agitating street vendors who were arrested yesterday while trying to submit a memorandum to the Governor of Manipur, have been sent to judicial custody for 15 days by the CJM Imphal today.
In the meantime, undeterred with the development the streets vendors before leaving the court complex informed the media persons that they would resort to launching an indefinite hunger strike until their demands are fulfilled and if necessary will continue till they die.
Altogether 27 women folk were produced before the CJM Imphal this afternoon of which 25 were sent to judicial custody for 15 days while two were granted PR bond on medical grounds by the court.
The women folk mostly comprises of representatives of three vendors`™ bodies of street vendors functioning in and around the Khwairamband market.
Y. Rita Leima, president of Khwairamband vendors Nupi Yaipha Lup, who was among the agitating women sent to Jail, while talking to media persons in the court said that all the women protestors were arrested while they were taking out procession to submit a memorandum to the Governor as a reminder to their demand.
It is very unfortunate that the police instead of arranging for an alternative way of approaching the Governor harassed and locked the vendors up, said Leima. She lamented that it was disheartening that a young lady police officer, the DSP Traffic, without any regard for the women community manhandled her elders who could be of her mother`™s age.
Leima also disclosed that they were granted bail however they did not accept the parole adding she warned that the agitating vendors would resort to take up indefinite hunger strike inside the Jail until their demands are fulfilled and if necessary till death.
A large crowd of supporters and fellow vendors showing solidarity blocked the police vehicles carrying the arrested women out side the Cheirap Court, Uripok, and demanded a mass arrest. However the crowd was dispersed by the police later on.
The street vendors have been launching a series of protests against the cabinet decision taken on April 25 regarding their vending space. The rally that was foiled yesterday by the police was the second attempt in the series of protest launched so far by them.