IMPHAL, June 20: The banned PREPAK (Progressive) has opposed both the Highway Patrolling scheme and the Highway Protection Force respectively.
The woes of the travellers on the state National Highways are clear but the question is that whether the proposed HPF would be the long term solution to all the eventualities that may come up among the ethnic communities in the event of introduction of such force, PREPAK (Pro) said in a statement issued by its senior publicity officer, Boby Mangang.
It blamed the government for trying to take up a temporary policy of the highways instead of a long lasting solution, saying it is a futile attempt.
PREPAK (Pro) alleged that most of the looters along the National Highways are from insurgent groups which are under Suspension of Operation (SoO), ceasefire and peace talks with the government.
All the travellers on the two highways know very well that these armed people taking money from passengers and drivers are committing such activities when even security forces are present, the outfit accused.
It accused the state government of encouraging all kinds of blockades and bandhs along the highways by neglecting proper development in the hills that this problem cannot be solved by setting up a HPF.
Opining that the state views development through the security lens the PREPAK (Pro) said, the state is now facing a serious problem of financial crunch due to continuous recruitment of more and more state forces and VDFs.
The outfit also pledged that it will not cause disturbance to the developmental works being taken up in the state but instead it will render help and support to such works.