At least 13 women street vendors fainted and were rushed to hospital after the police used capsigrenade spray to disperse the large group of protesting vendors of Khwairamband Ima Keithel in Imphal on Tuesday.
The women street vendors of Khwairamband Ima Keithel were protesting against the Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) order restricting vending hours at the temporary Ima Market from 6 am to 12 noon.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) on Street Vendors demanded the authorities concerned to withdraw the recent order issued by the Imphal West district magistrate that restricted the vending hours at the temporary market shed.
The street vendors attempted to storm the IMC office but the city police blocked them at BT Road. The protesters continued to demonstrate at the Old Assembly Road from the temporary market side. There too, the police blocked them in front of the Passport office gate by using capsigrenade spray which led to some protestors fainting at the site and were rushed to hospital.
A large number of street vendors held placards with slogans and called for withdrawing the IMC order.
As a mark of protest, various organizations of street vendors closed the temporary Ima Market at Khwairamband Ima Keithel, Imphal.
According to reports, capsigrenade spray is an irritant gas, which causes irritation to eyes, runny nose and even suffocation... it can trigger an attack in an asthma patient.
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Withdraw order on vending restriction at temporary Ima Market: JAC
Women street vendors hold agitation, three injured in Imphal West
