IMPHAL, Jan 19 - At least four persons were injured when a 13-hour general strike in Imphal market, called by the Thangmeiband Kendra Development Organisation against the Government�s decision to construct a temporary market shed in the busy Thangal Bazar Road, turned violent today.
The incident took place when a large number of strike supporters tried to move towards Thangal Bazar temporary market shed construction site through Kasturi Bridge where security personnel put up barricades, sources in Imphal said. L Somorjit, S Dhaneshwar, Ayo Hungyo, all resides in Thangmeiband, sustained injuries when police fired tear gas shells, while a lady police personnel M Aruna (31) was reportedly hit by a stone.
The strike, which began at 5 am today, severely affected normal activities at Thangal Bazar, Dharmasala and MG Avenue � the main business centres here. It, however, failed to affect normal activities at Shamu Makhong and Paona Bazar area, sources said.
Imphal had also witnessed a similar 12-hour shut down on Monday, when supporters of Thangmeiband constituency BJP legislator Khumukcham Joykishan opposed the State Government�s move to construct temporary market sheds at Thangal Bazar Road after two market complexes were damaged in the January 4 earthquake. Joykishan had claimed before media-persons that neither any tender was floated nor any subsequent work order was issued by the Government for the construction of the said temporary market.
State Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar said the construction of the temporary market sheds was taken up only in the interest of those displaced women vendors who were affected by the closure of two market complexes following damages caused the recent earthquake.
