Imphal, December 14: Even though the security force has managed to lay siege at Sajik Tampak ever since the deployment of troops last year, a large number of refugees are still holed up at the relief camps opened at Sajik Tampak.

Though villagers holed up at the relief camps at Sajik Tampak, following the confrontation between the underground outfits and the security force last year, have slowly started returning to their villages, about 200 villagers from IC village, Bethel and Aijiyang are still taking refuge at the Chakap relief camp at Sajik Tampak.

With the relief initially provided by the State Government not reaching the relief camp in the last two months, the refugees are facing untold sufferings.

Village leaders informed that ever since the security force started occupying the area, they have not been able to till their land.

With the harvest season over, the villagers have been left in the lurch as they had no opportunity to venture out and work in their fields, they said.

With the security force prohibiting the free movement of the villagers, they cannot even go out to fish or hunt in the jungle, said the villagers adding that they also cannot ply their trade of selling char coal, which is in great demand now that winter has arrived.

"There is just no earning avenue with all the restrictions imposed on us," they lamented.

Permission from the Army post is a must if the villagers want to venture out to go fishing or hunting they said and added even then they have to be back before sunset, which has greatly inconvenienced them.

The restrictions may have been imposed as the security personnel do not want any civilian casualties in the event of an encounter with the militant groups, opined some of the village elders.

At the moment there are four Army posts at Sajik area.

The posts are at Gelngai, Paldai, Sajik proper and St Mary Chnrch.

A village chief complained that the Army often used the Shaktimans of the villagers without paying any hiring charges.

This point however could not be confirmed from the side of the security force.

The Army is still strictly monitoring the movement of goods into Sajik area and no one is allowed to transport in large quantity of food stuff.

Even though the distance between Sugnu and Sajik Tampak is a mere 24 kms it takes at least five to travel the stretch by bus due to the number of checks conducted at all the Army posts along the route.

There are about 7 Army post along this stretch.

The posts are opened at Sugnu, Toupokpi, Chajkpi Karong, Sallup, Gelngai, Paldai and Sajik.

The Army started moving into Sajik Tampak area from last year and at the moment the 44th Brigade has been opened at Chandel.

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