Tales of horror roll out from CCpur/Moreh survivors
Source: The Sangai Express
Bishnupur, May 21 2023:
A relief camp inmate who fled from his home in Churachandpur Khuga Tampak has questioned the State Government's lack of rehabilitation efforts for displaced families from Churachandpur.
He further said that if the police had sent two or three loads of Gypsy personnel when the clash first occurred, then the unfortunate incidents of violence and arson at Churachandpur and Bishnupur might have been prevented.
Recalling the incidents of the day, he went on to claim that many individuals with sophisticated weapons also joined the rally while others began chanting slogans of "Our warriors have arrived" in their own dialects upon seeing them.
Around 5 pm, they began shooting at the houses and then setting them ablaze, he said.
The villagers attempted to chase them away by pelting stones at them for a short while.
Then they contacted the police and the fire service for help, but were told to handle the situation by themselves for the day.
He went on to say that the villagers were fortunately evacuated to Churachandpur Mini Secretariat around dawn.
The Mini Secretariat was flooded with more than 3000 Meiteis fleeing from various localities in Churachandpur.
The people were not provided with adequate essential items and during the entire seven days of their stay, neither any NGO from Churachandpur nor the State Government extended any form of assistance to the thousands sheltering there, he recounted.
Following this, they shifted to a relief camp at Moirang.
The most heartbreaking part throughout this ordeal, which has lasted 17 days so far, has been the lack of assistance from the Government, he said.
The Government has not enquired after the well-being of the relief camp inmates, the burned houses and the lives lost, he rued.
Expressing anguish over the matter, he questioned if Meiteis from Churachandpur are not citizens of Manipur to be met with such unfair treatment by the State Government.
He further claimed that so far over 1263 houses and 10 temples have been burned and 8341 individuals displaced by the communal clash in Churachandpur alone.
Further, commenting on the reportedly ongoing attacks committed by Kuki militants and the alleged bull dozing of Meitei houses carried out at Churachandpur, he called upon the State Government to arm the civilians so they can reclaim their land and properties and safeguard themselves.
Lastly, he appealed to the Government and the public to take up concrete steps to help the displaced families rebuild their lives.
Another relief camp inmate from Mandop Leikai stated that on the night of May 3, mobs started setting houses on fire one after the other at Khumujamba, Thengra Leirak etc.
She added that they escaped the violence by crossing the river to take shelter at the home of a Hmar family.
Stating that this is the toughest ordeal she has ever faced, she added that the houses in Meitei villages in Churachandpur continue to be demolished by Kuki miscreants with bulldozers.
She questioned if security forces cannot be deployed to protect these properties.
Further, she denounced the silence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh on the matter.
The relief camp inmate also shared that all their clothes, food and other essential items have been provided by the relief camp but added that this arrangement cannot be a permanent solution.
Lastly she appealed for abrogation of the SoO pact.
Comment
