The police have seized letters of underground outfits demanding over Rs 40 lakh from two government offices in Imphal West district in Manipur, official sources said on Thursday.

During a search operation at the education (school) and electricity offices at Lamphe in the district on Wednesday, police recovered the letters asking officials to pay up over Rs 40 lakh or give work to people assigned by militant groups.

The letters have been given to senior officials for perusal, they said.

Seventy-six people, who were not government employees but were found roaming around the office complexes were rounded up. They were released after verification late Wednesday night, the sources said.

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The outfits that had demanded money included the Kuki National Front, People's Union of Liberation Front, Kanglei Yawol Kannlup, National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Khaplang faction), Kangleipak Communist Party, People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and Manipur People's Army.