IMPHAL, October 6: Laikhong Villagers thrashed two individuals who identified themselves as cadres of Kangleipak Communist Party (Lallumba) and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (MDF) for extortion and misbehaving with a girl, according to Laikhong Village Authority chairman, Chingakham Nabakishore.
Both outfits are signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding with the state and central governments, he said.
He identified the two individuals who were handed over to the Yairipok police after being picked up by the 3rd IRB as Hijam Dinesh alias John alias Naoba of Thangmeiband and a cadre of KCP (Lallumba) and Gambhir of Andro Kharam Leikai and a cadre of KYKL (MDF).
The two, who were in an inebriated condition and coming from Moirangpurel upto Laikhong, reportedly misbehaved with a local girl which resulted in a mob thrashing them.
Later, the two confided to the crowd that they had extorted money and seized mobile phones from several persons along the way.
Elaborating on the incident, he said locals on seeing the two extortionists trying to misbehave with the girl, tried to intervene at which one of the two took out a 9mm pistol and threatened the crowd but the pistol misfired at which the crowd surrounded them and thrashed them.
When questioned, the two blurted out that, Dinesh who is a KCP (Lallumba) cadre is camped at the 16th Assam Rifles Yaingangpokpi post, while KYKL (MDF) cadre Gambhir is staying at 16th AR Nongdam Kuki post, further said the village authority chairman.
Further during the interrogation by the locals, they alleged that they had been instructed by the AR authorities that there are reliable information about the presence of armed militants and illegal transportation of rice bags in the area and to check on the two issues, he said.
Further according to their disclosure, the two had extorted Rs 2000 and two mobile phones from a driver identified as Leitanthem Naoba (21), son of Koklei from Moirangpurel Mayai Leikai; Rs 10,000, a mobile phone, vehicle RC book and driving licence and placed a monetary demand of Rs 5 lakhs from another Tata driver Takhellambam Munal (30); a sum of Rs 1000 and a mobile phone from a forester Raghumani from Bamom Kampu who was coming to Bewlahland village to plant tree saplings, he said.
The village authority chairman also said that the two had also extorted a sum of Rs 1500 from Tata driver Rojit of Lamsang who was accompanying Raghumani.
Meanwhile, a team of 3rd IRB arrived at the scene and took custody of the two on the same day, he said.
Later on, the locals unhappy with the development stormed the IRB post at around 11pm the same night and after taking custody of the two, handed them to the Yairipok PS.
He has further appealed to the concerned authorities to look into the issue.