Alluring bait
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: January 10 2013 -

The seven misled youths recounting their ordeals to mediapersons at Manipur Press Club on Tuesday
Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

Notwithstanding the allegations and counter-allegations flying thick and fast, the reported incident of seven youths, who were lured with promise of job recruitment in Assam Rifles by a 'Maibi', escaping from the post of the Central paramilitary forces at Chandel after realizing that they were being misled and detained for taking part in an alleged 'surrender drama' has raised some serious questions.

Though the Assam Rifles authority has refuted the claim of the seven youths maintaining that the authorities of 42 Assam Rifles did not approach anyone and all the cadres brought by leaders of KYKL (MDF) for the ongoing peace process are verified at multiple levels, following which the all the seven youths were found to be not part of the group and accordingly they were sent home safely, the possibility of some unscrupulous middle men or women acting at the behest of the group leaders could not be entirely ruled out, with or without anyone's knowledge.

From the revelation made, it was cleared that the family members of the seven youths were approached by one Sagolshem Ongbi Purnima, a Maibi and wife of a surrendered UG cadre, with promise of recruiting them as Riflemen in Assam Rifles.

Purmina managed to convince the family members that her husband Gambhirsingh is an officer in the Assam Rifles and the youths would be recruited under his quota.

In a state like Manipur where the scope of employment is limited and it is next to impossible to think of getting a job without connection or money, such promises for job recruitment could act as the easiest bait for alluring anyone who is in desperation of getting employed, that too without any hassle.

In fact, there have been many cases in the past where young boys and girls from the State landing into trouble after they were taken out by some recruitment agencies on false promise of providing them job or for better education prospects elsewhere.

The present case is no different as far as exploiting the gullibility of the innocent Manipuri youths with deception and false promises is concerned.

So, even if the Assam Rifles authority claimed to have approached none to allure anyone to take part in the peace process or for surrendering, the fact that there are people like Purnima and her husband who would do anything for a fistful of money is something everyone should be well aware of.

This brings us to the question, why would any armed UG group which has agreed to enter into peace process with the Government authorities be hiring middle men or women for alluring more people into its fold now?

This is nothing but a desperate attempt to show its strength of cadres before inking the pact.

Why would anybody do that if the group has enough strength already and allow unscrupulous elements to be on the prowl with their alluring bait.

Anyone who would like to bask under the achievement of 'true peace' should not overlook this point.