New Delhi: The Manipur government has announced the creation of a specialized anti-extortion cell within the Home Department. This occurs nearly two years after the ethnic conflict in the state first commenced, and the extortion by armed groups in the Imphal Valley persists unabated.
Manipur Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh acknowledged in a statement on Monday that “unlawful organizations” have issued extortion threats to a variety of individuals, including government officials, via phone calls, messages, and letters.
As per Manipur Police data, over 200 individuals, primarily from the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley, have been apprehended in extortion cases within the past six months.
Singh stated in a statement that these activities “pose a substantial threat to the law and order situation in the state.”
Singh stated that the anti-extortion cell is focused on the development of a “efficient and robust response mechanism to address demands and extortion-related activities, ensuring the safety and security of the public.”
The statement stated that the unit will consist of representatives from the Indian Army, the Assam Rifles, the Manipur Police, and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
According to a source within the Manipur Police, there has been a concerning increase in the recruitment of civilians, particularly young individuals, into armed groups as “volunteers” and “fighters.” These individuals subsequently engage in extortion.
The insurgent organizations, according to the source, operate within the Imphal Valley under the guise of “protecting” the community from “Kuki militants.”
“These groups are extorting money from both businessmen and politicians in order to finance the fight against the enemy community.” Individuals who are unable to contribute funds are requested to send young males to participate in the conflict as volunteers.
“They use their weapons to visit the homes or offices of individuals, including politicians, and send letters, calls, or visits.” The source further stated, “It has evolved into a threat.”
“Requirement for a crackdown”
The Manipur Police source quoted above stated that, despite the fact that extortion incidents had decreased substantially prior to the onset of the conflict on 3 May 2023, they have now surpassed the levels observed during the state’s insurgency peak in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Intelligence sources have informed the source that this has resulted in a significant increase in the number of applications for arms licenses from merchants, government employees, contractors, and even farmers in the valley, as well as from both the Meitei and Meitei Pangal (Muslim) communities.
A senior Manipur Police officer stated to source that the anti-extortion cell is an effort to increase the robustness and efficiency of the complaint process.
“There are individuals who are apprehensive about visiting police stations due to their concern about being identified.” The officer stated that a helpline enables them to contact the organization and submit a complaint while maintaining the confidentiality of their identity. “We must address this threat, but we also need the public’s assistance and encouragement to come forward.”
The Manipur chief secretary also encouraged the public to disclose incidents of this nature in his statement. “The cell will collaborate with the relevant police stations to implement the necessary measures upon receipt of a report.” The statement also recommended that the public refrain from visiting hazardous locations.
It further stated, “The Government of Manipur is dedicated to protecting all individuals from these disturbing demands and extortions and is actively seeking the full cooperation of its citizens in combating these unlawful activities.”
“Money is being employed to exacerbate unrest”
According to documents recovered as “digital evidence” that are now included in a chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), cadres of the insurgent group United National Liberation Front (UNLF) operating in the Imphal Valley reportedly collected lakhs as “donations” from several politicians as the ethnic violence in Manipur raged on in July 2023.
The following individuals were targeted: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs Mayanglambam Rameshwar Singh, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, and Kongkham Robindro Singh, the party’s state general secretary G.S. Premananda Meetei, Manipur Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, and Congress MLA Keisham Meghachandra Singh.
An investigation into the UNLF’s activities also disclosed that the insurgent group spent Rs 13 crore in 2023 on the acquisition of armaments, including INSAS rifles and light machine guns, training cadres, purchasing uniforms, traveling to Myanmar, and procuring drones.
It is also reported that the insurgent group extorted crores from schools, colleges, training institutes, hospitals, and individuals, including serving politicians, under the guise of “donations,” as per the ED probe into a money-laundering case involving UNLF cadres operating in the Manipur valley. It allocated Rs 54 crore to its operations.
“This money was utilized to exacerbate the ethnic unrest in Manipur,” ED stated.
