IMPHAL, Jan 23 - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Khumukcham Joykishan was arrested today for defying curfew which was clamped under CrPC section 144 in some areas of Imphal since Friday night.
The MLA was arrested at around 10.20 am when he along with a large number of supporters including womenfolk from his Thangmeiband constituency in Imphal West district staged a protest march to Thangal Bazaar defying the curfew.
However, the supporters staged a sit-in violating the prohibitory orders at Nagamapal RIMS road junction here. Police used water canon and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators when trouble broke out. Around seven persons including five women sustained injury.
Joykisan has been protesting against the construction of a temporary market shed at Thangal Bazaar. �There are lots of places for the construction of market shed. Why the government is choosing the road�, asked the MLA who was later released by Chief Judicial Magistrate�s Court without any condition as there was no criminal charge against him.
On Friday, State Government Spokesperson M Okendra said that the government was determined to complete the construction of the temporary market shed at Thangal Bazaar Road considering the need for immediate rehabilitation of 1,872 women vendors who were displaced when the January 4 earthquake damaged two market sheds in Imphal.
BJP MLA Th Biswajit said the government should take up an initiative to resolve the matter by inviting all the concerned parties.
