Imphal, November 08, 2008: EVEN AS 12 underground cadres belonging to different militant outfits operating in Manipur were arrested by security forces over the last two days, Th Radheshyam Singh, Superintendent of Police, Imphal East informed that a new trend of demands and extortions from general public and government offices has been taken up by the militant groups operating in the state; hiring or using widows, HIV\AIDS affected persons, drug addicts at gunpoint to demand money on their behalf.

During a press briefing held at Imphal East police station today, SP Radheshyam made an appeal to the people of Manipur, the NGOs, the Meira Paibies (women folk), clubs and organisations to be aware of such activities and further warned that if the case is not taken care of by the concerned authorities, the people will one day 'submerge together in the ocean'.

Of the 12 cadres arrested, seven were brought before the media.

Narrating of an incident of one of the arrested cadres, N Shanti Devi @ Nisa alias Dr Asha, the police officer stated that N Shanti, a widow, whose husband passed away 13 years ago, was misused by the People�s United Liberation Front (PULF), Umar Qazi faction for handing over a demand letter to a city hospital.

Shanti, a self styled Assistant Project Officer acted as Dr Asha and entered hospitals to leave demand letters in the offices, added the SP.

The SP also pointed out that two of the arrests taking the name of Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) were HIV/AIDS patients on Anti-Retrovirus Therapy (ART).

He however stated that those drug addicts arrested for extorting money in the name of militants were being treated and looked after by the police, even giving them drugs to save their life.

He further mentioned that the general public should be made aware of the consequences even though it might be against the will of the people.

Radheshyam also informed that Nohkholun Haokip, an employee of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) used two civilians, Laishram Jiban and Sanasan Biramangol alias Biramani alias William by handing them 9mm pistol to extort money in the name of Kuki Liberation Army\Kuki Liberation Organisation (KLA/KLO).

In this regards the SP warned that anyone holding funs, whether involved in underground activities or not, would be in danger if caught by security forces and called upon the people to be aware and alert of such kinds of situation.

According to the press statement by the Superintendent of Imphal East District, Manipur, the three cadres of KLA\KNO were arrested on November 7, 2008 at around 2.20 pm at the Jawaharlal Nehru (JN) hospital gate, Porompat in Imphal East.

One 7.65mm pistol and 10 demand letters of KLA from Thethang Haokip under the command of Haopu Kuki were recovered from their possession.

The extorted money from government and private departments were Rs 2 lakhs from Forest Department, Rs 20 thousands from Babina Diagnostic and Clinical Laboratory, Rs 50 thousands from Imphal Hospital RIMS Road and Rs 20 thousands from Dr Ratan of Sagolband Moirang Leirak (child specialist) stated the Sp in the press statement.

And in another incident, four cadres of PULF namely, Md.Abdul Latif (34), son of Md Jallaludin of Phoubakchou Heibungyangbi, Md.Aboy Khan (18), s\o Md.Abdul Latif of the same area, Miss Leihao, widow (24), d\o (Late) Md.Ibocha Of Kshetri Awang Leikai and Nongmaithem Shanti Devi alias Nisa alias Dr Asha, a widow (38), d\o (Late) Ibotombi of Thangmeiband Lairikhanjaba were arrested on the same day at Khurai Lamlong at around 5: 10 pm.

20 (Twenty) demand letters from Md.Abdul Latif and the extorted huge amount of money from general public and government departments were arrested from their possession, added the press statement.

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