Reprisal fear grips ekou villagers
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 06 2011:
With the armed group KRF serving a strong directive after the arrest of its cadre by security forces, locals of Ekou Bazar are apprehensive of their safety.
Ekou Youth Club, in this regard, organised a public meeting today in which representatives of United Committee Manipur (UCM) and National Identity Protection Committee (NIPCO) were also present.
A villager while speaking at the meeting said, KRF served a monetary demand of Rs 1 lakh to one S Ibocha of the locality on June 10 last.
However, security forces arrested the cadre who came to serve the demand note at Sapermeina the same day, he added.
The outfit then accused Ibocha of master minding the arrest and was slapped with another demand of Rs 2 lakhs with July 2 as the deadline.
The armed group warned of 'strong action' if the demand is not fulfilled within the given time that compelled the local club to convene today's public meeting, he added.
Speaking of threats from armed groups and their heavy monetary demands, he said many vendors have gradually disappeared from Ekou Bazar owing to constant monetary demands served by different underground organisations.
He also urged UG outfits not to impose heavy and unbearable burden on the innocent people.
Taking exception of such scenario prevailing in different parts of the State, UCM vice-president Nabachandra urged the villagers to boldly face such threats unitedly instead of running away in fear.
He also appealed the villagers to take help from social bodies like UCM when such crisis arises.
While saying that monetary need is obvious in running an organisation, Nabachandra observed that it would however be wrong if UG outfits think that they can bleed the common people dry.
He also urged KRF to revoke the threat and the extortion notice served on S Ibocha.
NIPCO secretary O Premjit urged the villagers to fight against such diktats instead of capitulating.