Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 12 2010:
In its ongoing mission and determined resolve to weed out extortion and related activities undertaken by UG groups and their OG workers, 4/8 Gorkha Rifles under HQ 73 Mtn Bde of Red Shield Division, arrested Smt Laishram Tombi (46), wife of (Late) L Naocha of Imphal West district, who has been a cadre of PLA, of Nachou Ward No 4 and Smt Oinam Pratima @ Abey (42), wife of (Late) Kunjababu of Ningthoukhong Ward No 6 on April 10, according to a press release from PIB (DW) .
The troops were assisted by Bishnupur Police Cdos and women police personnel belonging to Bishnupur PS.
Extortion letters bearing the letterhead of KCP MC (Lamyanba Khuman) were recovered from the possession of the two arrested women.
The press release said, the arrest of the two women OGWs shows the increasing involvement of women in extortion activities in Manipur wherein women have been traditionally in the forefront in the society in raising their voice against injustice and in support of equality and social reforms.
This is indeed a disturbing trend.
It said, while the arrest of these two OGWs has dealt a severe blow to the extortionist designs of the UG groups in and around Ningthoukhong, it also brings to fore the reliance of UG Gps on women OGWs, while exploiting their apparently clean image, in progressing their nefarious designs.
This has been evident from the arrest in the recent past of many women OGWs who have been involved in extortion activities, and acting as couriers of arms and explosives at the behest of UG Gps, the PIB (DW) press release added.