Extortion rises in Manipur: Traders pressured for arms sponsorship
Manipur has many manifestation, the organisation now ask traders and businessman to sponsor nothing less than arms.
During the violence several organization or fringe elements propped up, these organization self style themselves as civil society group. They espouse the cause of fighting for their respective communities and operate like armed cadres of a militia.
A Thoubal based businessman, who do not want to be named told ET, " A got a call from a popular organization in the valley asking me to get AK 47 for it. I told I have no knowledge of arms and how much does it cost. They told me it will cost in the range of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 Lakh. They keep on following up with phone calls. "
Another trader who deals in groceries said, " Some militant outfit have proposed to charge per trucks entering in the valley. They say it is similar to what is being charged by militants outfit in Nagaland. They are charging around Rs 20,000 per truck entering the valley. "
A businessman said that owing to repeated demand notice he has shifted his base from Manipur. " How much will one pay to fringe elements, one group charge for shop other for go downs and other for residential place. Our repeated plea with administration has gone unheard. Police takes away cadres of those elements and within 15 minutes they are out of police custody. Next day they again come knocking at the shop or business establishment."
A trader in Imphal observed" We are pinning our hope if election brings some relief to the violence ravaged people and
