Militants now targeting labourers in Manipur

Imphal, Aug 8 (ANI): After targeting employees in the education, banking and hospitality sectors, militants in Manipur are now targeting labourers. "Pay Rs 1 crore or your husbands will be killed." This is the message suspected cadres of Kuki groups sent out to three families in Thoubal district of Manipur whose earning members were abducted on July 29. Those abducted were identified as Soraisam Ningthemjao Singh, A Hemanta Singh and Laishram Sarat Singh. They were working at the Itok Dam at Tamengthong in Chandrakhong area. 7 heavily armed cadres of Kuki groups abducted them from their worksite, where they were engaged in the repair work of the dam. On August 1, the laborers were released after 10 days but the reasons and conditions for their release are as yet not clear. "I am very sick and have three children. When I got to know about my husband's abduction, I broke down. I do not know what to do and what to say. What will they get from my husband we are such a poor family. I request them to release my husband safely," said Meghechen, wife of Sarat Singh. "They are demanding one crore in ransom for the safe release of these people. We are poor laborers and just earn a daily livelihood. We cannot pay such huge amounts. Militants should understand that we cannot get so much money," said a labourer. Though militants claim to represent the interests of the people, their actions certainly don't reflect this fact. On the contrary their activities create uncertainty, which affects the growth of progress of the state. (ANI)