Villagers of Yaingangpokpi on Monday strongly decried the incessant huge monetary demands made by various groups on shopkeepers in Yaingangpokpi bazar.
The villagers expressed that Yaingangpokpi is located in a sensitive security zone and such mindless actions could wedge unnecessary differences within the community.
Speaking to the media at Manipur Press Club, Imphal, Yaingangpokpi village chairman Laimayum Abhiram stated that the event could potentially create unwanted issues and pit the community against each other.
“The unending conflict has taken a toll on all citizens of the state. Amid such distress, placing massive monetary demands on people, specifically in Yaingangpokpi was akin to driving off the people from the area,” he said.
He appealed to all groups concerned to refrain from such actions and assess the ground reality of people in Yaingangpokpi.
Meanwhile, cashier of Yaingangpokpi Apunba Nupi Lamjing Lup Nepram Somola highlighted that Yaingangpokpi was one of the last frontier Meitei villages in the north and that villagers in the area were still witnessing a spurt of violence.
“All livelihood activities in the area including agricultural activities have come to a grinding halt because of the conflict,” she said.
She condemned the unfounded monetary demands placed on the Yaingangpokpi shopkeepers and urged all concerned to sympathise with the situation of people in the area.
She further cautioned that the villagers would resort to a series of intense agitations if such demands continued.
