Imphal, January 29 2010: Extortion activities of the underground outfits greatly affected the growth of private enterprises in Manipur which in turn adversely affected the economic development of the state, according to a Home Ministry report.

Taking serious note on the extortion activities and functioning of the frontal organisations (funded by various separatist outfits), Manipur Chief Minister, O Ibobi today held a discussion with top brass of the Central and state security forces including police involving in the counter insurgency operation, on need to curb increasing extortion menace and activities of the frontal organisations.

Chief Minister held a meeting of the Combined Headquarter and discussed on the cross border smuggling of weapons in Manipur, movement of insurgents and activities of the frontal organisations funded by the insurgent outfits and their extortion activities, a highly placed official source disclosed.

After a prolong deliberation, reportedly involving tabling the list of frontal organisations, it was decided to check activities of the frontal organisations of the separatists and intensify counter insurgency operations to check the increasing activities of the undergrounds, the source said.

In the meeting held at the Chief Minister's Bungalow under the chair of the Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh, GOC 3 Corps, GOC of 57 Mountain Division, IGAR (S), IGs of CRPF and BSF attended apart from state Chief Secretary, DS Poonia (Chairman of SOG) and Manipur police chief, Y Joykumar.

The meeting started at 11 am lasted for about two hours and ended at around 1 pm.

Combined Headquarter under chairmanship of the Chief Minister is commanding the Strategy and Operational Group (SOG) comprising Army, paramilitary forces (CRPF and BSF), semi-paramilitary force (Assam Rifles) and state security force and police.

The meeting was called by the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh to review law and order with reference to the activities of the insurgents, the source said adding that it resolved to intensify counter insurgency operation in view of the recent advice of the Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram to the state Chief Minister and Home Ministry's instruction to provide security to the private entrepreneurs.

Taking serious note on the extortion activities of the underground outfits and repeated disturbances to the private enterprises, Union ministry of Home Affairs instructed the state government to provide security to them, especially to the private mobile phone operators.

State Home Department, following the MHA instruction, had also asked the state police department to intensify counter insurgency operations to crackdown on extortion networks of undergrounds.

During the meeting between the state Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh and Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram in New Delhi in the last week of December last year, the Union minister empathizing with the prevailing situation in the state and extended help in working out a modality to augment the state's capabilities to handle the law and order situation.

In Manipur, Imphal areas have always been the nerve centre and extortion centre of all the underground groups because of the concentration of all government offices and business establishments.

Hence, abduction for ransom or other reasons is a regular feature in the district.

Today's meeting also discussed the cross border smuggling of arms and weapons and fencing of the international border with Myanmar.

Assam Rifles guarding the stretch of the international border in Manipur section have been asked to intensify border vigil in the meeting based on the inputs of a huge consignment of arms likely to be smuggled in by insurgents of the state from Myanmar, the source said refusing to disclose the details of the report added.

It also discussed on the establishment of High Protection Forces, it added.

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