One wonders why ‘extortion’ is not a matter of debate at this present juncture, as society goes back to the old days when ragtag armed groups and factions had become ‘a dime a dozen’ and monetary demands were commonplace. In the past, the valley had its share of armed organisations borne out of a revolutionary zeal or in pursuit of self-determination or the oppressive regime of draconian laws and widespread violations of human rights. Like elsewhere in such situations, the baggage of ragtag groups and factions followed thereby muddying up the waters.
The general public, particularly the affluent and middle-class families, have had innumerable struggles in identifying the ‘genuine’ from the ‘pretenders’ and many had lost their lives. Because, every group whether ‘genuine’ or fake have guns and bombs in their kitty and a nuisance value. The business lobby based in the Imphal main market, the contractors and suppliers, the salaried class and even entrepreneurs were not spared in the extortion business. While most of the established groups go for percentages, the ragtag groups and factions would try to extract whatever amount they could and the rate is commensurate with their nuisance value.
For the monied or the affluent families, they at least had their wealth and properties to fall back upon. But it was beyond a burden for the other groups who are included in ‘their’ demand bracket. In the past decade, that kind of ‘free for all’ extortion had come down to a great extent. Even after the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 from the Greater Imphal area and afterwards from the whole valley, extortion had come down giving people a sigh of relief.
Last year, after ethnic clashes erupted in the state the extortion business gradually returned and now it has become a menace to the society. It started with donations for general upkeep and expenses to support the village volunteer forces in the frontlines and in the trenches, to which everyone contributed without any complaints. Some people even went directly to the fringe areas and donated whatever they could. As regards food and lodging, it was taken care of by the host villages. And then, the ‘requests’ for donations towards buying guns, bullets and drones came.
In all these, everyone complied without even a grudge. Suddenly, several ragtag groups which had become more or less dormant sprang up with a gusto to join in the melee. And, it became indistinguishable to many. The demands, threats, bombs and guns came back in a rush. Sometime back, petroleum tankers and LPG bullets went off the road in protest against ‘heavy illegal tax’ on the highways supplemented by demands once again in the valley by different groups and the failure of the state to provide adequate security to the said transporters. On the average, the tankers moving on the highway have been paying a total amount of around Rs 9,30,000 in the form of illegal taxes in a single day.
At this rate, the tankers have been paying Rs 1,86,00,000 in a month and Rs 22,32,00,000 in a year. In the past, a tanker truck had to pay only Rs 500 per trip for transporting POL and LPG to Imphal. This illegal tax has been hiked continuously and it has now reached Rs 6200. It is not only the petroleum transporters but the general truckers also who have had to face illegal taxation and demands besides the treacherous condition of the highways.
Well, that was about the woes of transporters on the national highways. In recent times, shops and market areas not only in Imphal Municipal area but in the districts have resorted to shutdowns in protest against the excessive demand culture. Sadly, the state government seems to have no answer to this extortion menace other than a general threat of AFSPA coming back. It is not the absence of AFSPA but indifference of the government which is exacerbating the problem.
Does the chief minister seriously think that his kind of appeal in the form of a threat is going to work against these groups who have no qualms with regard to the woes of the people. We must also say that his constant ruse of diverting everyone’s attention to the ethnic turmoil while neglecting other ills and problems has become rather stale and it is not going to work any further.
