Total of 650 houses torched at Torbung since May 3
Source: The Sangai Express

Moirang, July 19 2023: Kuki militants and their associates have reportedly set ablaze about 650 houses and other structures including religious establishment belonging to Meeteis at Torbung Gram Panchayat which falls under Ngangkhalawai Zilla Parishad-7 since May 3 .

Ngangkhalawai in Bishnupur is adjacent to Churachandpur.

According to well placed sources, there were about 1200 houses belonging to Meetei families in Torbung GP out of which 650 have been torched by the Kuki militants after the violence first broke out on May 3 following the tribal solidarity march of ATSUM in Churachandpur.

There are about 5000 residents, including 3000 voters in Revenue Village no 98 Torbung GP which is under SDO Moirang and SDC Kumbi.

Torbung GP has six Wards.

Total of 650 houses torched at Torbung since May 3

It is further reported that approximately 650 houses, shops, mandaps, club offices, religious places including a site of Umang Lai at Waikhurok, Bangla, Torbung, Kangvai and Phougakchao Ikhai were set ablaze by the Kuki militants on six different occasions.

Speaking to this correspondent, a local of Torbung said that Ward no 5 and 6 of the GP have been occupied by Kuki militants after driving away all the Meetei residents.

Saying that Central security forces don't allow the residents of these two Wards to go their houses and the same has made it easier for Kuki miscreants to loot their belongings, he claimed that Kuki militants have built several new bunkers in Meetei villages specifically to attack the Meeteis other than those at Vaiphei Khul, Phouljang etc.

He went on to claim that two-three bunkers have also been set up on the southern side of Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai.

The Kuki militants have also repaired Kangathei Ring Road to smoothen their movement and transportation of supplies from New Zalenphai towards Ching-kham Heikol and vice versa by passing through Kangvai, the local continued.

The Kuki militants have also built a bunker in a sugarcane farm at the adjoining areas of Torbung Ward no 4 and 5 .

It is said that most of the bunkers of Kuki militants were set up by digging long trenches toward Meetei villages.

He further stated that the violence has taken a heavy toll on farmers as they are unable to go their fields at Waikhurok, Bangla, Torbung, Kangvai and Phougakcho Ikhai due to onslaught of Kuki militants and appealed to the Government to let them resume their works with adequate security cover.

It looks like most of the Central security forces deployed at the areas are poorly informed as they don't know which side is Bishnupur and the other Churachandpur and about the Meetei and Kuki villages, the local claimed.