Displaced villagers rue absence of security steps
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 10 2023: With no security arrangement made for resettlement of the displaced people at their ancestral homes, the displaced people of Dolaithabi, Ekou, Sadu Yengkhuman, Leitanpokpi Mairenpok and Sadu Lampak are reluctant to return back to their respective villages due to safety concerns.

Following the attack by Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists, thousands of people left their villages and are staying in the fabricated house constructed by the government and at other safer places.

Though they are eager to return home absence of concrete security measures by the state government the displaced people are in a dilemma of whether to return to their native village which is risky at this juncture or continue to stay in the relatively safer prefabricated houses.

While disclosing that they had already appealed to the state government to provide adequate security, one Pukhrihongbam Tikendra of Ekou village, presently staying in the fabricated house, recounted a meeting held with Imphal East DC, SP and SDO along with representatives of COCOMI on October 25 during which it was agreed that security arrangements would be made to facilitate return of the displaced villagers by November 15.However, no concrete steps have been taken up in this regard as of now, he rued.

Tikendra further stated that despite their desire for re-settlement it is not possible to do so in the absence of security arrangements.

The displaced people can only get re-settled when they feel secured and ensured that no unwanted incidence will occur.

As there is strong possibility of losing their ancestral villages to the Chin-Kuki marauders, the state government needs to do the needful at the earliest, he stressed.

Another displaced person named Konsam Budhi of Sadu Yengkhuman also said that they are ready to return home in case security forces are stationed in adequate strength without which re-entering the villages would be no akin to risking their lives.

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