Meetei villagers live in fear as Kuki militants unleash terror
Source: Chronicle News Service

Jiribam, September 15 2024: In a harrowing ordeal, residents of Mongbung Meetei village in Jiribam district continue to live in constant fear as Kuki militants launched a fierce attack on Saturday night, using high-calibre weapons and bombs.

The attack, which began around 7:30 pm and lasted for nearly four hours, saw police and local volunteers engaged in a fierce gunfight with the perpetrators.

A media team visiting the village the following morning encountered heart-wrenching stories of the villagers' plight.

One woman recounted the relentless attacks on her village by Kuki militants.

"We are wary of staying in our own homes.

We feel unsafe and abandoned," she said with helplessness.

The villagers have repeatedly pleaded with the government to replace the Assam Rifles with state police for better protection, but their cries for help have gone unanswered.

With Assam Rifles stationed on the village roads, they feel unsure of even venturing out.

"We live like refugees in our own homes," she said.

"Leaving isn't an option.

Who will protect our homes and our properties?" she asked and suggested "If the government cannot protect us, they should kill us and end bur sufferings" .

The lack of political response has added to the villagers' frustration.

The woman questioned the absence of the local MLA Md Ashab Uddin, saying, "He has never set foot in our village, despite our plight" .

This latest attack is part of a series of assaults on Mongbung Meetei village by Kuki militants.

On September 11 and 12, the militants launched attacks from their strongholds in Mongbung and Seijang Kuki villages, setting fire to a Meetei house and a primary health centre in Borobekra sub-division in the wee hours of September 13 .

Villagers now live in constant terror, unsure of when the next attack will come.

As the gunfire fades, the scars left behind by the violence remain fresh, deepening the sense of despair among the residents.

Despite their resilience, they continue to feel abandoned, living each day with the uncertainty of whether they will see the next.

Comment