Imphal, Jan 28: Health services in Manipur have been hit by the extortionist demands of militants.

Three private health clinics, Imphal Hospital, Shanti Hospital and Langol View Charitable Clinic bore the brunt of militancy threat last week. These hospitals have been shut down, as they could not meet the ransom demand of underground groups.

In a state where the private nursing homes and hospitals provide the best hope for better treatment, their closure has angered the people.

"Medication was stopped as the doctors didn't turned up. This is not the first time in Manipur. It has been a regular feature," claimed Shera Devi, a patient.

Muktarani Devi, another patient, added, "Even in war time, hospitals are not targeted. But in Manipur, there is a sense of fear."

The state has altogether 539 primary health care institutions, 13 hospitals including one state level hospital (JN Hospital) as referral centre and seven district hospitals.

Other nine drug de-addiction centres, TB centers at six districts, four leprosy control unit and six STD clinics are also functioning in the State.

In Manipur, as many as 15 insurgent groups are actively operating but of them, six have been declared proscribed insurgents and the remaining are active groups. They are the People`s Liberation Army (PLA), People`s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), Kangleipak Communist Party
(KCP), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and Manipur People`s Liberation Front (MPLF), an apex body of the first three rebel groups. (ANI)