Imphal, April 29: Shopkeepers in Paona Keithel in Imphal today down their shutters in protest against the arrest of a shop keeper for allegedly complaining to a local MLA regarding an unofficial order of the Imphal West district Superintendent of Police.
“Until 1 pm today afternoon almost all shops and other business centers remain open as usual however, after a team of police picked up a shopkeeper identified as Ashok (44) owner of a Readymade garment shop located just opposite to USHA Hall for allegedly complaining about an unofficial order of the SP Imphal West”, said a salesman of a garment shop in Paona Keithel.
He further added that two other salesmen were also severely assaulted by the police team. The two salesmen are identified as Haobam Thoi (aged about 23 years) and Amit (aged about 23 years) both working at a shop at Paona Keithel.
When asked about the unofficial order, the salesman who did not want to disclose his identity said that few days back some police personnel came and directed all the shopkeepers to install electric bulb in front of their shops saying that it was an order from the SP Imphal West.
Some shopkeepers did installed electric bulb but had to switch off after the shops were closed. But the police team again told to switch on the electric bulb even after the closure of the shops, said a shopkeeper.
Some among the shopkeepers directly complain about the matter to RK Imo, MLA of Sagolband Assembly constituency and infuriated for complaining it to the MLA, a police team came and allegedly picked up a shopkeeper blaming him for the complaint at around noon today.
As the arrest of the shopkeeper spread like wildfire, all shopkeepers in Paona keithel down their shutter in protest against arrest terming it as excessive act.