Imphal, July 30 2009: Suspending their normal activities for the day, women vendors in different parts of Greater Imphal area today demonstrated in protest against the killing of a pregnant woman and causing injuries to five other persons in the July 23 shootout at crowded BT Road here.

In Khwairamband Bazar, the women vendors organised a mass protest demonstration at the temporary shed of the market.

Owing to the protest demonstration of the women vendors, the biggest commercial hub of the town wore a deserted look affecting business transaction.

Since early morning the agitated women vendors attired in their traditional mourning dresses, public leaders and commoners started arriving at the temporary market sheds of Khwairamband Bazar to stage the protest demonstration.

As arrangements were being made for the protest demonstration, a team of State Police forces arrived and tried to disperse them.

However, the women vendors had their way and continued to demonstrate without any banners or placards.

Similar protest demonstrations were also witnessed at Singjamei Bazar and at Kongba Bazar where the women vendors displayed placards inscribed with slogans strongly denouncing the incident at BT Road.

Meanwhile, Manipur Keithel Phambi Apunba Lup, Khwairamband Keithel Semgat Sagatpa Lup; Street Vendors' Welfare Union (Khwairamband Bazar) and Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Sinphatn Amadi Saktam Kanba Lup have joined submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister today demanding judicial inquiry into the incident and action against the Police Commandos involved in the shoot-out.

A copy of the same memorandum is also expected to be submitted to the Governor tomorrow after seeking an appointment.

As the women leaders were coming towards the Chief Minister's bungalow, to submit the memorandum in the evening, police personnel stopped them on the way.

However, after an agreement, two representatives were allowed to go and submit the memorandum to the Chief Minister.

Later talking to media persons.

The women leaders conveyed that institution of judicial inquiry in the incident, punishment of the involved police commandos, withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Manipur and to stop the fake en counters are among the demands highlighted in the memorandum.

The women leaders further informed that �they are prepared to launch intense agitations against the Government if these demands were not considered.

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