Lack of amenities and infrastructure can even make gods out of demons and the outlawed PLA knows it better than the Manipur Government. Taking advantage of the State Government’s inability to provide basic facilities like drinking water, power, roads to the people, the PLA is now trying to emerge as the saviour for the local populace in many far-flung areas of the State. The welfarist garb of the PLA was seen in the anti-drugs crusade launched by the outfit. At the dawn of the New Year, the PLA made a bonfire of heroin worth Rs. 2 crore near the Myanmar border.

PLA seized it the heroin in August last year while it was being smuggled from Thailand. A huge banner hung over the bonfire carried the slogan “Down with heroin and the Indian government”. In fact the PLA goes one step ahead to blatantly blame the security personnel of the Manipur Rifles and CRPF to be in direct connivance with the drug traffickers and contributing in its smuggling and spread.

As a matter of fact, the outfit  has a separate wing to check the  sale and consumption of drugs.  Way back in 1990, the PLA had imposed a ban on the sale of liquor in Manipur - a move that was greatly backed by the people and one which forced the then state government to clamp prohibitory orders.

It’s recent campaign against drug trafficking and consumption has also found support from the people. The PLA hopes to don the image   of the messiah in the eyes of the people through such activities. The PLA strategy is nothing new for the NE underground groups. Earlier, the ULFA also adopted the same strategy to woo the people.
    
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