Imphal, March 31 2009: Assam and Manipur authorities have been urged to extend necessary assistance to the displaced Zeliangrong people who were presently taking shelter in and around Tousem range in Manipur's Tamenglong district bordering Assam's North Cachar Hills.

Leaders of Zeliangrong Students Union Tousem area have urged the concerned authorities to extend the necessary help for those displaced persons.

Ililong Newmai, convenor of ZSU, Tousem said the violent affected villagers mostly women and children who were presently in Tousem area need relief materials as an immediate measures.

"They need food and clothes as they come without enough clothes,so we have been appealing to extend help" Newmai who came down to Imphal said.

Around 345 Zeliangrong residents in Assam's Haflong area under N C hills district have been reported displaced after the recent violence in Haflong.

So far around 350 Zeliangrong people from eight Haflong villages were reportedly taking shelter at Tousem sub-division.

Jacinta Lazarus,Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong District couldn't give the exact number of Zeliangrong villagers taking shelter in Tousem till the filing of this report."As per first hand information, there are around 250 persons.

But the number keep increasing" Jacinta said.

According to her, so far 100 quintals of rice and 4 barrels of kerosene oil has been sent in as an immediate relief materials and a medical team is also expected to reach Tousem this evening.

However villagers are yet to get the relief materials till the filing of this report,a villager revealed.

The Sub-Divisional Officer Tousem sub-division after overseeing the situation in Tousem in the last two days have also rushed back to Tamenglong district headquarter to submit a detail report on the situation this evening.

The State Chief Secretary Rakesh had asked the district administration to submit the detailed report for further action from the government's side.

Meanwhile village authorities of Tousem area have been helping their displaced Zeliangrong relatives by sharing their food and clothes since the last few days.

"The villagers have been sharing their food and clothes.

As they cannot accommodate them all,some of them used to spend their nights on the floor using mats",Haimasuang,a social worker who had been visiting the sub-division by stationing in Tousem Khullen since the last two days informed.

They also found around 182 displaced women and children in Tousem, Mandeu and Njunkuak villages on Tuesday."We're yet to collect the total number of displaced persons" he informed and added,"we'll be able to know it only after we visit remaining villages".

The displaced persons were also taking shelter at villages around Tousem which include Zenning, Phoklong, katiangm Katangnam, New Mandeu and Tagoram.

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