Gunmen loot 'welfare fund'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 02 2014: In what could turn out to be a distressing end to the endeavour of daily bread winners for economic sustenance, unidentified masked miscreants wielding small weapons decamped with Rs 15 lakh meant for distribution to four draw winners of a welfare scheme.

In an unwanted incident that took place last evening at a private residence close to Shamurou Keithel (bazar), two masked armed men threatened at gun-point women vendors gathered at the house to attend draw of lots for a Keithel Nupi Marup (financial scheme), fired some rounds, confiscated Rs 15 lakh kept inside a steel trunk and vanished from the scene leaving the women highly demoralised.

Recounting the incident at Manipur Press Club today, a Marup agent namely Salam Ongbi Bijeta w/o S Shanta of Samurou Bazar said that 15 agents collect specific amount on a daily basis from the women vendors plying their trades at Samurou Bazar.

with the lucky winners decided on the first of every month the women vendors as usual had gathered at her house yesterday afternoon.

As preparation was on for the draw of lots to determine four lucky winners the two masked men stormed into the house and whipping out small arms asked the women to surrender the marup money, said Bijeta adding that the gunmen fired about four rounds when the women, forced to lie on the ground, did not reveal where the money was kept.

Spotting a trunk in the room the men opened the same and finding the cash (Rs 15 lakh) decamped with it.

Regretting the prospect of the women vendors set to lose their hard-earned money, Bijeta said if the money looted from the women vendors involved any insurgent group the organisation concerned should ensure that the womenfolk do not suffer.

In case the condemnable act was carried out by anti-social elements/hoodlums then law enforcement agencies should galvanise all their resources and prove that interests of Manipuri women are protected, she said.

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