Pharmacies close down to protest assault

Imphal, May 23 (UNI) All pharmacies in Manipur were closed today to protest the alleged assault on a pharmacist by the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel on May 20 near the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).

The All Manipur Chemists and Druggists Association said it might intensify its agitation if the government did not take appropriate action.

The pharmacists demanded an apology from the IRB personnel, suspension of those involved in the incident and reimbursement of the money spent on treatment of the injured pharmacist Th. Noren who was hospitalised after the assault.

Noren was allegedly beaten up by the IRB personnel when he went to enquire about a scuffle between the wife of a senior DIG of Manipur police and a youth.

The chemists association urged the people to bear with the inconvenience and expressed unhappiness over the government's 'failure' to take any action in the matter.

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