Imphal, July 24 2010: With the extortion activities of the underground groups on the rise in the state, the operation of Kingfisher Airlines has been suspended even as officials of the Food Corporation of India could not attend duty at its Imphal regional office.

The Kingfisher Airlines has suspended its operation in Imphal following a huge monetary demand of Rs 20 lakh by an underground group to the authority of the airlines in Imphal while the Area Manager of the FCI abstained from attending office owing to militants' threat on extortion demand of Rs 7,00,000, highly reliable sources said.

The operation of the Kingfisher Airlines carried on amid heavy demands for air travel of people going outside the state due to the uncertainty that prevails on both the national highways� NH 39 and NH 53 .

Transporters' and Drivers' Council is imposing restriction on the service of the inter-state buses and freight trucks on NH 39 while due to bad road condition, the traffic along the NH 53 is disruptive.

Official sources said that the operation of the Kingfisher.

Airlines in Imphal was suspended on receiving threats for payment of Rs 20 lakh by KCP (MC-Lalheiba) through the Station Manager of the Airlines in Imphal.

Singjamei police have already registered a case on receipt of a complaint from the Station Manager, Ravi Sharma on June 20 last.

In his complaint lodged with the police, it was stated that one cadre of the KCP (MC-Lalheiba) contacted the Station Manager on mobile phone two times�on June 13 and 15 asking him to pay the amount.

The caller also threatened him to close its operation in Imphal if the private airline fails to comply with the demand by June 20 which had already expired.

The airline manager also received the demand on e-mail from the outfit, the complaint registered with the Singjamei Police stated.

Operation of the flight of the Kingfisher Airlines has remained suspended for about three weeks now due to the demand, the source said.

The suspension of operation of the flight service of the Kingfisher is amid the heavy rush of travellers from the state compelled by the existing uncertainty on both the national highways, NH-39 and NH-53 .

People have no other option but to choose to travel by air as the inter-state bus service is almost non-existent now.

The normal flight which was earlier around 40 in a week was found reduced to around 25 only despite the heavy rush of the people for air ticket and the state government is going to pursue the Union ministry of civil aviation to facilitate night landing facility at Imphal Airport.

People needing go outside the state have been facing immense difficulties while travelling on the two national highways as uncertainty prevailing on these two routes.

While inter-state bus service remained suspended on Imphal-Mao section of NH-39 owing to ban by TDC, people could not travel on the NH-53 as the road is in a highly deteriorated state.

Passengers have to stay on the way for many days as vehicles stuck at many places on deplorable stretch of road.

On the other hand, area manager of Food Corporation of India (FCI) in Imphal could not attend his office at Yaiskul, within the Imphal city area owing to strong pressure from the same underground group, KCP(MC).

The group is demanding Rs 7,00,000 from the FCI, Imphal regional office as per the complaint lodged by the area manager Dr James Singh who stated that owing to repeated phone call from the group to fulfill their demand, he could not sit in the office and attain duty.

He lodged the complaint with the Imphal police station through the Senior SP, Imphal west district on July 12 stating that members of the KCP (MC) demanded amount and threatened of dare consequence if he failed to meet the demand at the earliest.

Comment