Imphal, June 24 -- A government pledge of no punitive action against those who surrendered weapons is at the centre of a deepening political storm, as women vendors of the Khwairamband Ima Keithel brought the capital's most iconic market to a halt today, refusing to resume business until arrested members of Arambai Tengol who took up arms after being attacked by armed persons are freed within 10 days.
The sit-in, which emptied stalls and suspended commerce across the historic women-run market, came hours after Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam appeared at a sporting event on the city's outskirts and told reporters that the government was doing what it could to prevent further arrests a statement that did little to pacify demonstrators alre...