Kuki militants forced us to take up arms: Farmers
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 31 2023: We were once simple farmers, ploughing our fields peacefully.

However, Kuki militants have now forced us to replace our ploughs with arms and develop the thinking that we must defeat the militants, if we happen to face them during any conflict, so as to protect ourselves and the state, stated a young farmer from Terakhongshangbi, Bishnupur district.

Speaking to The People's Chronicle on Sunday, the farmer recounted that although the ethnic conflict first sparked off from Churachandpur on May 3, our Kuki brethren from Terakhongshangbi and adjacent villages of Leisangbung, Monghat, Tharoilok, Geljang, Phoisenphai and Gothol still came to shop for essential items in the villages on the valley side as usual, for around 2-3 days.

However, after the conflict got worse, they stopped coming.

Later, the Kuki militants from the said villages started attacking the Meitei villages in the area from May 11 onwards, resulting in many deaths and injuries and forcing majority of the villagers to flee their homes.

As such, the farmers, who used to peacefully farm their lands using ploughs; grape hoes and other tools, have now been forced to give up their simple lifestyle and take up arms not only to defend themselves but also their families, the village and the state itself, he conveyed.

The young farmer, who is also one of the many defending the village, further stated that the innocent farmers have also developed a thinking of defeating at least one Kuki militant, who are attacking civilians and trying to disintegrate the state.

The farmer recounted that years ago, our Kuki brethren used to bring various products found/grown in the hills to sell them at the different markets in the valley and feed their families.

The Meitei in the valley used to climb the hills to look for the various hill products as a source of livelihood.

At the time, both communities lived in harmony and moved freely without any fear or suspicion, he added.

However, after the state government began the 'War on Drugs' campaign, many villagers on the either side, particularly those residing on Thangjing hill range of Gothol village who have cultivating poppies for a long time, strongly rejected the campaign.

On top of this, the close relationship started breaking down after they renamed Thangjing Hill, which is one of the most sacred sites for the Meitei, to 'Thangting' .

The state government's move to save Protected Forest areas and the 'War on Drugs' campaign were never aimed at any particular community or take advantage, but for the sake of the future generations of this state, the young farmer stated, while contending that no community should object to the same.

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