Extortion still rampant on NHs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 20 2025: Even as the Manipur police have established an anti-extortion cell, it remains questionable whether the authorities can stop extortion and monetary demand throughout the State.

To fight extortion with public help, the Home Department has even installed many hoardings with the message "Let's fight extortion together: Report any demand and extortion calls to the Integrated Anti-Extortion Cell", featuring a helpline number, "18002023326" .

However, extortion remains the biggest issue that the transporters face along the highways .

When The Sangai Express called the helpline number, it was found that complaints regarding extortion and threats are referred to the respective district police for action.

While the Home Department has been taking action to combat extortion in the valley districts, questions remain whether similar measures will be implemented in the hill districts as transporters expressed concerns about extortion along highways.

Some transporters, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Sangai Express that armed groups are openly making unbearable daily monetary demands from them along National Highway 37 (Imphal-Jiribam) and National Highway 2 (Imphal-Dimapur) .

Saying that they increase transportation costs and bus fares to make up for the money spent on extortion, they added that it's ultimately the people who pay the price by buying things at higher prices.

The transporters said they, however, can't increase the price of LPG and petroleum products, and the authorities don't compensate them despite lodging complaints.

They further said that they had urged the previous State Government (before the imposition of President's Rule) and the Chief Secretary (after the imposition of President's Rule) to stop the extortion along the Imphal-Jiribam road, but to no avail.

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