SFs using SoO group cadres for extortion
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 23 2013 : Some per-sonnel of Assam Rifles and Manipur Police Commando have been using cadres of some groups currently under suspen-sion of operation (SoO) pacts with the Government for ex-tortion and in committing many other crimes in Manipur.

This was stated by Thou-dam Umakanta s/o Th Chaoba of Khurai Thoudam who is currently in the custody of RPF/PLA during a press meet at a hideout of the outfit in one of the hill districts.

Umakanta joined RPF/PLA in 1997-98 .

He left the party and came back home a few years back.

After coming home, Uma-kanta came into contact with one Chingkhei who identified himself as PULF's deputy fi-nance.

The duo under the pro- tection and instruction of Ma-jor Jiteshwor of 30th AR Chingarel post, SI Premchand of Singjamei posted in Imphal East District Commando and SI Phulchand of Top Khong-nangkhong started delivering demand letters, extortion, planting bombs and committed many other crimes.

For all their criminal acti-vities, Umakanta and Ching- khei were given trifling amounts in the form of pocket money.

Former RPF/PLA cadre Thoudam Umakanta, who surrendered as a KYKL-MDF, speaks to newspersons at a hideout of the RPF/PLA in a hill district area

The two commando SIs and the AR Major were in possession of a variety of let-terheads belonging to KCP, PULF, RPF, PREPAK etc.

Computer print-outs of these letterheads were taken as and when they were need-ed and the duo using seized bombs and guns extorted mo-ney from businessmen and other people.

While committing all such anti-social activities, Uma-kanta and Chingkhei were given security coverage by SI Premchand and SI Phulchand after due communication with Assam Rifles.

It was at such places where Premchand and Phulchand were on duty that the duo de-livered demand letters to dif- ferent people.

The two SIs were directly involved and it was under their command that some people were pulled up from Keirao, one civilian was pulled up from Tendonyang after branding him as KCP, two women of Keirao were pulled up from Pheidinga, PLA's bombs were seized from Keirao Litan Makhong and triggered a bomb blast at Porompat in front of JNIMS, Umakanta disclosed.

After committing several rounds of such criminal acti-vities, Umakanta surrendered to the Government as a cadre of KYKL (MDF) which is under a peace process with the Government.

By virtue of being a former cadre of RPF/PLA, he was appointed commander of the group's temporary designated camp within the Chandel camp of 42 AR.

At the designated, Umakanta in cahoot with leaders of KYKL (MDF) and security personnel hand picked some cadre from amongst 68 cadres accommodated there and the selected group committed a number of crimes such as extortion, abduction etc.

With 20 AR took over the Chandel camp from 42 AR, Umakanta and his band were put under immense pressure to identify UG cadres or people having links with UG groups.

Of all the cadres of different groups which are under some sort of peace process with the Government, only around 5-10 leaders are former cadres of revolutionary groups.

The remaining vast majority are drug addict prisoners, petty criminals and poverty stricken youths who were lured to come within the fold of the particular groups with the false promise giving them jobs in Assam Rifles and Manipur Police.

After pulling up a large number of innocent civilians, Major Brijesh of 42 AR presented several cases of Indian made foreign liquor to concerned police stations in order get the innocent civilians wrongly verified as UG cadres.

This was done to present the innocent civilians as UG cadres at staged managed surrender dramas.

Some of the KYKL (MDF) leaders presently accommodated at Chandel designated camp are president Athouba alias Gopeshwar, home secretary Ibobi alias Nongpoknganba, army chief Roy alias Amuthoi, deputy army chief Chinsuba alias Benjamin and publicity secretary Malemnganba alias Sanjoy.

These leaders who are under peace process have set up a faction and the faction is actively engaged in extortion for personal aggrandisement.

In addition, they abducted and brought civilians to their camp.

In some cases, the innocent civilians were killed if there were no complaints.

Umakanta added that there was little risk while going for extortion and other criminal activities as they possessed identity cards given CID for being surrendered cadres besides being protected by security forces.