Oinam Sawombung adds more teeth to anti-extortion stand
Monetary demands to be met head on
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 13 2024: With cases of extortion and extortion related violence rising in Manipur, locals of Oinam Sawombung have resolved to face any group who serve unbearable monetary demands on them head on.

The resolution was taken during a sit-in protest staged against extortion near Oinam Sawombung Dam under Lilong Constituency today.

Stop mounting pressure on people, especially daily wagers and the poor by serving unmanageable monetary demands to them, shouted the protesters in unison during the protest.

Showing their disgust against extortion, the protesters also displayed a placard which read "Don't act like gangsters" .

Notably, extortion activities by armed groups and miscreants have been increasing across the valley districts and along National Highways post May 3, 2023, prompting the police to establish a special anti-extortion cell to tackle the growing menace.

Though police have arrested dozens of people in extortion related cases after the establishment of the special cell, bomb threats and monetary demands continue to haunt Manipur's valley districts targeting business establishments and residential places alike.

There, however, is no report of the security forces cracking down on miscreants or arresting miscreants who collect illegal taxes from transporters along the National-Highway despite repeated appeals by transporters to stop the illegal activity.

The Sangai Express had also published a story on how Kuki militants openly collect illegal taxes at Gamgiphai, Kangpokpi on December 12 .

Speaking to the media at the site of the protest, one of the protesters said that they are against all forms of extortion.

She continued that people in Oinam Sawombung have been donating whatever they could, be it rice, money or essential commodities to help the village volunteers who are in the frontline protecting Meetei villages and the internally displaced people (IDPs) since the onset of the crisis in Manipur.

Saying that the majority of the families at their locality however are poor, she appealed to all concerned to not give extra burden to them by serving monetary demands.

She said that people in Oinam Sawombung are prepared to stand against all forms of extortion in their area.

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