•-With regard to the August 29 incident relating to seizure of ‘fake’ cosmetic items and subsequent write-ups in the media, I, on behalf of Hazi Park Business Welfare Committee (HPBWC), would like to clarify on certain misconceptions and misgivings. At the outset, the HPWC would like to place on record that we have fully cooperated in the August 29 raid conducted by Delhi lawyers along with Dimapur administration, police and one Dimapur Municipal Council advisor.
The shopkeepers also obliged and willingly produced whatever cosmetic items the raiding party asked for; in fact the company agents representing the cosmetic companies did not even enter the shops as the shopkeepers produced whatever was asked.
Unfortunately, when all was going smoothly, one of the two persons assigned by the DMC advisor incharge of quality control assaulted one of the shopkeepers without any rhyme or reason. The person in question picked up an emergency lamp and hit the shopkeeper just above his left eyebrow, causing grievous injury to the latter. It is learnt that the person who assaulted the shopkeeper is neither a DMC staff nor from the police and administration side, but just an individual accompanying the DMC advisor.
This led to resentment among shopkeepers and they decided to close their shops as a sign of protest.
HPBWC would like to impress one and all that the closure of shops is purely because of the unwarranted assault on one of our shopkeepers and not against raiding of shops.
There should not be any confusion in this matter.
While appreciating the public for their concern to check ‘fake’ goods, we also urged them to see the other side of the story and also the real issue behind the closure of shops.
Lastly, HPWC iterates that we will give full cooperation to administration and other agencies in future too.
I.Pihoto Awomi
President, HPBWC
