Militants hampering developmental work:CM

Imphal, June 2 (UNI) Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today appealed to all militants not to interfere in any developmental projects taken up in the state.

Speaking during a loan distribution function at the Kangla, Mr Ibobi Singh said insurgents have demanded huge sums of money from people carrying goods inside the state.

He further said the NSCN(IM) and other organisations at Dimapur in Nagaland had demanded Rs 6 crores to allow goods being taken in for a sericulture project at Manipur.

''Due to insurgency problems in the state no reputed companies are eager to take up a contract for the construction of womens' market, cultural and capital complex in Manipur,'' the CM said. He, however added that, the government was committed to continue working irrespective of the consequences.

Militants, he said, had threatened officials at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences(RIMS) here and some accounts officers were also kidanpped by them. ''We should not make others feel that Manipur is the land of Yamaraj (God of Death),'' he added.

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