Dolaithabi locals urge Govt to rebuild their houses
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 11 2023: Residents of Dolaithabi village have urged the government to rebuild their houses which were burned down by Kuki militants and allow them to resettle in their original village.

In a press meet held at Manipur Press Club here on Friday, a Dolaithaibi local Puthem Muhindro said that the village is located close to Dolaithabi barrage.

On May 3, Kukis started burning the houses in the area and the villagers had to flee and sought refuge at relief camps.

When the locals requested to have a glimpse of their destroyed homes, personnel of 18 Assam Rifles deployed in the area are preventing them from returning, stating that the bridge of Dolaithabi barrage is a buffer zone.

Condemning the restriction on visiting one's own village, Muhindro urged for removing 18 AR from the area and replacing them with state force, since the AR's biased attitude is in question.

In addition, the AR personnel have not prohibited the Kuki militants from taking away the villagers' livestock including poultry.

The Kuki militants are acting as they please in the areas burnt down by them, which is ultimately due to lack of attention on the part of the government, he said.

Recounting that the Kuki militants set fire to Dolaithabi village a total of four times since May 3, Muhindro asked how long the displaced people are supposed to stay in the relief camps.

Dolaithabi village does not border any Kuki village but is located at a distance of 3-4 km from some Kuki villages.

Thus, he urged the government to rebuild the houses in the village and allow the villagers to return to their homes, in addition to deploying state forces in the area.

Even if the government is unable deploy state forces in the area, the villagers are ready to defend their own village, he added.

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