Imphal, February 26 2009: The Special Cell in the state police department which Manipur government decided to set up to control/minimize extortion/threat retaliation carry out by the undergrounds will have its branches in some selected cities outside the state and will work in close coordination with the police of the respective states.

In order to control the menaces of extortion, the state police department is being set up special teams to works closer coordination with the police in Assam, Nagaland, West Bengal, Karnataka and New Delhi etc., official source said.

State government is also planning to deployment of police commandos on the national highways till the completion of the rail-line upto Imphal which is targeted within 2012 or 2015, the source maintained.

Cabinet of the Secular Progressive Front government in Manipur in its one of the meetings held under the chair of the Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh recently agreed to set up a Special Cell in the police to deal with extortion, threats to the general public and government officials by the underground elements in the state.

Outside the state, as per a government analysis reports undergrounds are carrying out their extortion activities by summoning officials and businessmen to specific location in the cities like Guwahati, Shillong, Kolkata, Dimapur, Bangalore etc.

It also said, undergrounds, mostly by the NSCN(IM) are collecting illegal taxes at Dimapur from all goods ferrying vehicles, passenger buses and taxis like Tata Sumo etc.

from Manipur.

Goods brought by train upto Dimapur by train mean for Manipur are not allowing lifting from Dimapur without payment of huge extortion money.

Inside the state, the extortion is carrying out by the undergrounds from the contract works including supply, transportation, contracts, etc.

Apart from this, they are also indulging in carrying out contract works through contractors sponsored by them.

The analysis report further stated that in this forms of extortion, the engineers of the state Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFCD), Power, Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Minor Irrigation (MI) etc.

play a highly dubious and significance role.

Eighty to 90 percent deduction of funds from contractors during the time of bill payment, in connection with contract works including supply/transportation apart from construction works are carrying out by the engineers, it further said.

DDOs and cashiers of the government departments are also deducting 60 to 70 percent or 50 to 60 percent once in three consecutive months from the salaries of the employees is also another scenario of undergrounds extortion in the state, it added.

Collection of fixed percent from the salaries of the employees on a monthly basis, collection of illegal taxes from the earning of the business establishments like shops, hotel, pharmacies etc.

and also from the transporters, bus owners etc, by means of SIM cards (Airtel, Aircel, Reliance apart from BSNL) in factious, the analysis report further revealed.

State police commandos will also be deployed along the national highways till the railway line connect Imphal, the source said adding that state is targeting to complete the construction of rail-line within 2010 to 2015. Others which would taken up under the action plan of the Manipur government includes providing permanent security to important officers, dedicated house guard cum escort for officers posted at vulnerable postings, security coverage to business establishments, Bazar etc., Security posts and coverage on NH-39 and 53 so that extortion by militants/antisocial elements is curbed along the highways, setting up check posts at strategic locations along main routes leading to Imphal and other important towns are other works to be taken up by the state police under the action plan to control/minimize extortion/threats retaliation by undergrounds outside and inside the state.

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