Imphal, May 22: Following the physical assault on four pharmacists by IRB personnel in the aftermath of the collision between a car ridden by the wife of a DIG of Manipur police and a scooter, all the pharmacies in the State are pulling their shutters down tomorrow from 5 am to 5 pm.

Speaking to reporters today at Hotel Kristina, general secretary of All Manipur Chemists and Druggists Association Dr RK Ratan Kumar disclosed that the decision to this effect was taken after no positive response was received despite its sincere efforts to work out a compromise.

While appealing to the people to bear the inconvenience that would be caused by closure of pharmacies, he conveyed that the Chief Minister too expressed his desire to resolve the issue in response to their proposal that the errant IRB personnel tender an apology.

Responding to questions from reporters, he negated the allegation that the woman inside the car was molested.

Ratan contended that the allegation was quite unreasonable and illogical in view of the accused being a sick person after undergoing spinal cord operation recently and place and timing of the alleged incident being a public place and day time.

He further questioned as to why the accused was not arrested on the day if the molestation was really perpetrated.

The woman was coming in a red car (Wagon-R) without registration number but no legal action was initiated against them as if these bureaucratic families are not subject to the law of the land, remarked Ratan.

Taking part in the press meet, Thokchom Nolen recounted that the woman pushed against him after which he was beaten blue and black by the IRB personnel.

He rejected the charge of molestation as entirely fabricated for there is no possibility to indulge in such indecencies against a woman in the presence of security forces, even if any one has such evil tendencies.

Only after he clarified that he was a sick man by showing his operational wounds, then the beating stopped, disclosed Nolen.

Moreover, the beating was done without any plausible reason, confessed the IRB personnel after thrashing Nolen, he conveyed.

Disclosing that information on the proposed agitation by the All Manipur Chemists and Druggists Association have been sent to the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists Board, Mumbai, Ratan confided that cooperation would be forthcoming from the National body.

In connection with the incident, a case has been registered in the Imphal police station.

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