NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
With less than a week to go for the first phase of polling to Manipur's 60-member assembly, threats and extortion demands by militant groups have cast a long shadow over the electoral process.
Almost every candidate who looks like a winning prospect has received an extortion note demanding payment of amounts ranging between Rs 300,000 and Rs 500,000, sources in various political parties revealed.
Veteran Congressman and three time chief minister Rishang Keishing says: "Extortion by militant groups has always been a part of Manipur politics. But this time, the level of demands has gone up tremendously."
"I have been asked to pay up Rs two million each by two different militant outfits. Where will I get that kind of money?" he asks.
Though other candidates are not so forthcoming, in private most admit to having been served with demand notices.
"All political parties keep such demands in mind while fixing their campaign budgets so that their candidates can safely contest elections," a politician, not willing to be named, said.
Manipur has at least 18 militant groups but only three - United Liberation Front of Manipur (UNLF), the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) - are considered dangerous.
This time, Keishing said, the Congress has come in for special treatment by the militants. "At least three of our candidates have been attacked and our party office in Imphal locked up," he complained.
The Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) is also facing threats from an underground group. Th Bira Singh, brother of former Union minister and sitting MP Th Chouba Singh, has been threatened by the KYKL (O).
The underground group accuses Bira Singh of being a dummy candidate for his brother in Nambol constituency.
Another group, the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) on Thursday gave a call to boycott BJP leaders, especially those who come from outside the state.
While BJP president Jana Krishnamurthy and Union Minister of State for Home I D Swamy are scheduled to campaign in Imphal on Thursday and Friday, a host of middle-level BJP leaders are expected to follow them in the coming days.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi is expected in Imphal on Saturday to address two public meetings.
With all these high profile campaigning, the state administration is struggling to cope with the security arrangements.
Of the total requirement of 294 companies of security personnel, Manipur currently has only about 60-odd. Half of them, say police officials, are engaged in static duties like guarding vital installations.
Rest of them have to be deployed for escort duties, they say, leaving very few personnel for security at polling booths.
More reports on Manipur
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
Call India
