Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 29 2010:
Troops of 33 Assam Rifles under Loktak Brigade of Red Shield Division arrested three women today for their alleged involvement in extortion activities on behalf of UG groups.
A PIB (DW) release identified the arrested three as Ningthoujam Bokullei Devi (45) w/o N Mani Singh, Chouba alias Devla (25) w/o Shamkanhai and Bimla (40) d/o Houbijam Yaiskul, all from Keibul Lamjao Mayai Leikai.
Based on disclosure by an active OGW of KCP-MC (Lanheiba group) namely N Biren Singh (35) s/o Ningthoujam Chaoba Singh of Keibul Lamjao Mayai Leikai, who was arrested by the AR troops on April 28, the three women were rounded up from Keibul Lamjao Mayai leikai and Takmu Keibul Lamjao by a joint team of 33 AR and commando team accompanied by women police personnel of Kumbi police station, the PIB release claimed.
The arrest of the three women OGWs shows the increasing involvement of women in extortion activities in Manipur, where women have been traditionally in the forefront in the society in raising their voices against injustice and in support of equality and social reforms, expressed the PIB (DW).
Observing that involvement of women in extortion activities is a disturbing trend in Manipuri society apart from bringing to the fore reliance of UG groups on women OGWs, while exploiting their apparently clean image, in progressing their nefarious designs, the release pointed to past instances of arrest of women for involvement in extortion and as courier of weapons to reaffirm its contention.