Monetary demands from UGs
Brick farms, traders protest, cease work
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 28: In protest against monetary demands slapped on brick farms located in and around Patsoi and Langjing area by various underground organisations, workers of these brick farms suspended their work and staged a Wakat Meepham at Langjing today.

The protestors used placards inscribed with slogans like 'Withdraw monetary demands in the interest of workers', 'Don't deny our livelihood', and 'Don't close down brick farms for the sake of workers' during the demonstration.

Brick farm labourers staging a protest against the UGs demand

It is said that in case an amicable solution could not be arrived at in connection with the monetary demands on the brick farms within June 2, all the brick farms would close down.

According to some women workers who were participating in the protest demonstration, with the daily wagesthey are earning from the brick farms, they have been running their families and taking care of the education of their children, so closing down of the brick farms as a consequent of monetary demands from UG groups would be a great loss to all.

They also appealed to all concerned to come to an amicable solution so that they could carry on with their normal work at the brick farms.

On the other hand, following monetary demand of Rs 10 lakhs by armed outfit KNO/KLA from all the shops in Wahengbam Leikai area, the shop-keepers shut down their shops and staged a Wakat Meepham at Wahengbam Leikai today.

According to information received by the press, on May 10, the ministry of finance of the outfit served a demand note of Rs 10 lakhs to all the shop-keepers setting May 15 as the deadline for meeting the demand.

Even as the shop-keepers were in a dilemma as they are in no possible to fulfil the demand, the outfit left behind bullets in a shop causing fear and panic among the shop-keepers.

Participating in the protest demonstration, the shop-keepers appealed to the outfit to withdraw its monetary demand and allow them to earn their livelihood without any fear and apprehension.