Former militants unleashing reign of terror

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

IMPHAL, May 11: The militants who had come overground after signing the ceasefire pacts with the government have become a threat to the people. There have been demands from many sections to shift the desigted camps elsewhere. It was alleged that some inmates had resorted to stealing small items from the villages. Besides, police had to arrest some of the inmates on charges of trying to extort money from the members of public. In the latest incident, some militants of the Kuki tiol Liberation Front who had surrendered to 9 Assam Rifles at Moreh and are now staying at a desigted camp at Simol under Khengjoi police station have gone amok throwing all ground rules of the suspension of operation to the wind. Talking to reporters and some activists of KSO on Sunday in the office of the BDO at Khangbarol  village, the terror stricken villagers of Sehao, about 2 KM away from the desigted camp, said that they will not return to their village until the desigted camp is shifted elsewhere. They said that all these years they have been browbeaten and harassed by these surrendered militants.

The militants threatened to extermite the villagers if they dared to go to police or media regarding their excesses. On Saturday night, the terrified villagers slept in the camp of Dogra Regiment located nearby and on Sunday morning they came to the office of the BDO. Latest reports said that the personnel cordoned off and searched the desigted camp and arrested two cadres of the KNLF. They were handed over to police along with arms.

On Saturday night, four drivers and one assistant driver, engaged in a road construction work, were beaten up by KNLF militants while they were returning to their shacks.

On hearing the news, the chieftain, Seimang Haokip and four others came in a vehicle to rescue them. However, all of them were also beaten up by the frenzied militants.

They had put up two demands - the road should not be constructed near their desigted camp and that the contractor should pay Rs 30 lakh to them. The construction of the road was resumed on the assurance by the Dogra Regiment that it would provide protection.

Tension is running high while the villagers are uble to go to their village. They do not know what had happened to their worldly belongings and livestock. Though the incident took place on Saturday night, the government is yet to rush additiol forces to restore law and order there.