Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 17:
The International Manipuri Apunba Lup, an Imphal based voluntary organization has urged Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to check extortion and looting of state trucks and buses allegedly by NSCN(IM) on the National Highway number 39 and 53.In a memorandum yesterday, the Lup also demanded improvement of the NH 53 from Imphal to Jiribam so that he route could be directed to his highway.
It has also requested the extension of existing rail heads from Jiribam to Imphal.
The Lup charged that the NSCN (IM) has been extorting and looting vehicles at Dillai Gate in Dimapur and near Kohima and Makhan village in Senapati district on NH-39 taking advantage of the ongoing ceasefire.
The extortion point on NH 53 is Nungba in Manipur�s Tamenglong district.
The outfit resorts to looting on the Imphal-Moreh sector as they could not carry out extortion on this route, it added.
Stating that the NSCN (IM) has hiked the rate of extortion fro the range of Rs 2000-15000 per trip to Rs 10000-30000 from July 7 this year, the memo said that the outfit has been collecting money from some 40 buses and 300 trucks plying daily on the NH-39.It said that the main burden of the extortion is being borne by the people of Manipur as the traders have to hike the price of the essential items brought in through this route.
The Lup also charged the Nagaland police with extorting money at four or five places in the name of vehicle entry.