Imphal, January 05: To neutralise the activities of militants in and around Loktak Lake the State Police Department has seized all the boats of the Loktak Development Authority.

The course of action taken up by the police came to light in a report submitted to the Manipur Human Rights Commission following complaints filed by the residents of Thanga-Karang that their means of transportation have been taken away by the police.

The petitioners approached the MHRC after the Bishnupur Police seized three motor boats of the LDA on November 30 last year.

Following the complaint, the MHRC asked the police to furnish the reason why the motor boats have been seized and the report submitted by the police said that the motor boats are not used by the villagers though the petitioners contended that they have been using the boats since immemorial.

Setting the record straight, the police said that the boats were purchased only in 1997-98 by the LDA for conducting hydrography survey of Loktak Lake and for other official purposes.

The villagers may have used the boats once in a while, added police.

Submitting its case, the police said that it is well known that Thanga, Karang, Keibul Lamjao, Moirang Khunou and Laphupat Tera have become safe sanctuaries of the militants.

"Most of the Government officials are also being summoned to Karang by the militants to extort money," said the police submission adding that some abducted Government officials have also been detained at Karang.

As the State police do not have either country made boats or motor boats for operating in Loktak Lake and since the only available boats with the Government are the three motor boats of the LDA they have been requisitioned by the police, said the report.

In order to effectively neutralise the activities of the militants in and around Loktak Lake, the police took control of the motor boats, said the report and added that this is in compliance with the policy decision taken and passed on November 29 last year.

The action of the police was based on the minutes of the meeting of the Strategy and Operations Group chaired by the Chief Secretary.

Earlier, the petitioners had approached the MHRC stating that the police had seized three motor boats on November 30 from Ningthoukhong Fishery Patton.

The petitioners contended that the motor boats were provided to them by the LDA for the conveyance of the people of Thanga and Karang.

Since time immemorial the villagers have been using the boats for their movements, said the petition and urged the rights panel to direct the authority concerned to release the boats.

The matter was taken up by the MHRC on December 6.

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