Villagers thrash four insurgents in Manipur

Imphal, Feb 15 (ANI): In a daring act of defiance people of Itham Moirangpurel village in Manipur's Thoubal District thrashed cadres of a militant outfit who were trying to collect illegal tax from truck owners and other businessmen.

The cadres belonged to the Kuki Liberation Army. The outfit is a signatory to the Suspension of Operations agreement with the government.

"This is not the first time that they were extorting money, and disturbing peace in the village. They often come to the village and trouble us. We cannot tolerate it anymore," said Kaboklei Devi, a villager.

Initially, the militants stopped a truck and extorted money.

Later, they entered the village and served demand letters to other truck owners and businessmen.

After the militants were arrested, the villagers said the latter had been coming regularly to extort money.

"Two people came and asked me whether the truck was for hire. They also asked me whether I had paid money or not? Then they asked me to me to meet them at around 3 but I refused to do so. Later they demanded Rs 3000 in cash but since I had only Rs 2,100 I handed it over to them. They gave me a receipt in the name of KLA,"said singh, another villager.

According to the ground rules set in the Suspension of Operations Agreement between the outfit and the government, the militant group is supposed to stop all insurgent activity in the region.

People in Manipur are fed up with militant groups who disrupt peace. And what happened in Itham Moirangpurel village clearly indicates that people in the region are not willing to put up with militant activities any longer. (ANI)