Imphal, April 19 2009: Noting the plights of the villagers in and around Loktak area caused by the ongoing Operation Summer Storm launched by the Army with an objective to flush the militants out from Loktak area, four social activists of Moirang area including an ex-Minister and ex-MLA of Thangmeiband AC have urged the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to persuade the concerned authorities to end the operation and to compensate the dislocated villagers due to the operation.

A memorandum addressed to P Chidambaram, jointly singed by social activists of Moirang area, H Kangjamba, ex-Minister, M Bharat Singh, ex-MLA of Thangmeiband AC, N Sanayaima of Thangalawai, and O Tomcha of Sabal Leikai raises possibility of causing harm to the endangered Sangais in the ongoing Operation Summer Storm launched by the Army.

There is possibility of losing domestic animals � the only source of income for the people living in the area � by the people who have fled their homesteads due to fear of suffering casualty amidst the thundering sounds of rocket shells and gunfire, the representation notes while urging for adequate compensations for the losses.

It also observes that around 2000 villagers who fled their villages have been camped at relief camps nearby run by villagers.

The representation urges the Home Minister, P Chidambaram to deal with the plights of the villagers and persuade the concerned authorities for immediate ending of the Army operation in the area.