Security enhanced at petrol retail outlets in Manipur to thwart extortion threats

In a move to thwart extortion threats to the petrol pumps, Manipur police have enhanced security by deploying security forces at strategic locations.
Anti-extortion mechanism was also enhanced, an official source said on Tuesday.
The state police took up the enhanced security measures after petrol pump dealers threatened to suspend operations if the government failed to take concrete action against extortion demands they received.
The petrol pump dealers, under the aegis of Manipur Petroleum Dealers Fraternity (MPDF), recently set a week (December 28) deadline to the government to translate into action regarding their security, while alleging they were not in a position to operate their retail outlets due to extortion threats.
However, the proposed suspension of operations was postponed after the state police department assured security arrangements for retail outlets, in a meeting with the representatives of the MPDF at state police headquarters. The meeting chaired by additional DGP (law and order) and attended by the district SPs reviewed the existing security in place.
During the meeting, the police department assured that additional security measures, including vetting of all employees of the retail outlets (ROs) would be done.
Accordingly, the police department deployed mobile police teams at strategic locations to ensure the safety of ROs besides enhancing anti-extortion mechanisms to thwart the threats to the ROs of petroleum products, the police said.
Regarding the recent bomb threat to a RO in Imphal, the police have also arrested two persons allegedly for extortion threats to a petrol pump, the police added. It may be noted here that the MPDF had submitted a memorandum to the Governor recently seeking his urgent intervention against what it described as escalating threats to life and property of the dealers.
In the memorandum submitted on December 10, 2025, the MPDF informed the Governor about the persistent bomb threats, extortion, and exorbitant illegal demands received by them.
Alleging that no positive or concrete action was initiated from the state authorities till date, the MPDF announced that operations of all the ROs across the valley districts and peripheral areas would be suspended from December 29, if no positive response came up by December 28.