Two former insurgents who had come over ground along
with others after signing the suspension of operation, another
nomenclature of ceasefire with the union government, were pulled up by
villagers at Yairipok in Imphal east district for extorting illegal
taxes and allegedly misbehaving with a girl on Sunday. They were handed
over to the police station at Yairipok. Police have registered a case
against them. Local NGOs and women activists were against their release.
There is no immediate comment from Home Minister Gaikhangam Gangmei
although what they had done is in flagrant violation of the ground rules
of ceasefire.
Talking to reporters on
Sunday Iboyaima Khoirom, secretary of Laikhong Youth Club said that the
two former insurgents have been identified as Gambhir of Kangleipak
Communist Party, Lallumba group and Dinesh Hijam of Military Defence
Force. They are lodged along with other former insurgents in the Assam
Rifles camps at Nongdam and Yaingangpokpi respectively. Khoirom said
that both of them were under the influence of liquor when villagers
overpowered them. The villagers held them captive when they were seen
misbehaving with a girl in the village road.
On
interrogation these two former insurgents who were armed with a hand gun
had reportedly told the local club that on October 2 they had extorted
about Rs.14,000 and mobile handset from two truck drivers and a
labourer. One of the driver was threatened to pay up Rs 5 lakh as ‘tax’.
One forester identified as Raghumani had to pay Rs 10,000. During the
interrogation by the club members they reportedly said that they were in
search of insurgents of Corcom. They further said that the truck
drivers were supplying rice and other consumer items to these
insurgents.
There had been instances of police
arresting some signatories to suspension of operations for extortions.
Home Minister Gangmei said that if the ground rules are violated drastic
actions would be taken up. However it is alleged that almost all cases
had been hushed up.
Meanwhile three masked youths
looted a family at Thangmeiband in Imphal on Sunday night. The gun
wielding youths escaped with cash and gold ornaments.
Police have registered a case.
