Extortion drive

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
IMPHAL March 22: The members of Gram panchayats and other local bodies have become vulnerable to the armed groups  which are believed to be after them. It is alleged that these armed persons are asking the members and other office bearers to give money as cuts from various schemes. This is at the cost of the development and the low income groups for whose benefits these schemes had been taken up. Since some members refuse to pay up there had been fire works here and there. Besides Chinese made hand gredes had been lobbed at the houses of these elected members. In the latest instance the house of K. Swarlata, a member of the gram panchayat in Thoubal district was attacked with a grede. Mercifully nobody was injured. On the other hand, such members in the Hills where there is Autonomous District Council the members are in the hitlist of some outfits. A member was gunned down.