Extortion in cahoots with goons not ruled out
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 01 2010:
An incident that took place at Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School here today has raised strong suspicion on possible involvement of Police Commandos in the extortion activities of the armed UGs in the State.
The incident occurred when a young man, who is close to Police Commandos came to get the 'demanded amount' from the school by taking advantage of the demand notes served to various educational institutions by one faction of KCP.
The young man has been identified as Mutum Jackie alias Anand (28) s/o Ratan of Bashikhong Kitna Pandit.
Jackie has been taken into the custody of Imphal East Police.
In connection with the incident, which took place during the first period of the school today, the Principal and other teachers of the school informed that for the last 2/3 months, Mutum Jackie alias Anand has been coming to the school and demanding the teachers to pay Rs 5,000 each in the name of KCP (Noyon) group.
As Jackie appears to be a substance abuser and his conduct suspicious, the teachers did not pay any money to him all these months.
Yet he came to the school frequently and after talking to some people on his mobile for long, he always went back, sometime taking Rs 50 or 100 for purchasing recharge cards.
In between, another senior person who identified himself as Suraj of KCP (Noyon) had also come to the school demanding payment of Rs 5000 from each of the teachers.
But the said person assured that teachers that the demanded amount could be reduced in consideration of the fact they are teachers in a higher secondary school.
As no agreement could be reached on the demanded amount, no money has been paid to Suraj as well, said the teachers.
Amid all these confusion, Jackie came to the school today and started threatening the teachers.
He also went to thePrincipal's room demanding to know whether the demanded amount had been given through Suraj or not.
Afterward, some of the teachers took Jackie to the staff room for talks.
At that time, the school bell was rung though the first period was not yet over.
Confused over the development, all the teachers and the students came out of their respective class rooms.
When the students learnt about the matter, all of them rushed to the staff room and chased after Jackie to round him up.
Some of the students informed that when chased away Jackie, he ran inside the toilet and there they heard him talking to somebody over his mobile phone requesting some sending 4/5 Gypsy as the situation is getting out of hand.
Around five minutes after that, they saw police commandos coming in one bullet proof Gypsy, two other Gypsies, one DI and the Apache group.
Even before the gate of the school could be opened, the commandos jumped over the fencing wall to gain entry inside the school campus.
As soon as they entered, the commandos tried to take away Jackie along with them.
Infuriated at the conduct of the commandos, the students confronted them and in the ensuing melee, some of the students were beaten up by the commandos.
The students also recalled that before the arrival of the police commandos, Jackie said that his name is Chaoba and he is under SDPO Imphal West.
But after the police commandos arrived, they came to know that he is only a civilian.
From the mobile phone that the students have seized from Jackie, it has been known that Jackie had made the last phone call to one Nanao, SVDF on the no.9862574186 at 10.48 am while he had entered the school at around 10.45 am.
The students claimed that all the police commandos who came to rescue Jackie belong to Imphal East.