Leikinthabi on path to normalcy with no gunfire for 19 days
Source: Chronicle News Service / Thounaojam Brojendro Singh

Imphal, August 08 2023: With no sounds of any gunfire in Awang Leikinthabi area under Sekmai PS of Imphal West district for the last 19 days, locals of the area are slowing returning to their normal life.

Speaking to The People's Chronicle in this regard, one Longjam Thoibi (70) of Awang Potsangbam Khunnou recounted that after the ethnic conflict broke out in Churachandpur on May 3, Kuki militants began attacking the Meitei villages in the area.

Terrified of the endless attacks by Kuki militants, the villagers spend the nights on the roads to guard loved ones for over two months.

However, the sound of gunfire has ceased in the past few days, which has somewhat relieved some of their fears, including concerns on whether they would be able to safely carry out agricultural activities at the farmlands, which are located in the peripheral areas.

Another local named Nongthombam Surjit (57) of Awang Leikinthabi Mayai Leikai said that due to intermittent firing in the surrounding peripheral villages over the past few days, everyone was concerned over whether they would be able to continue to live their lives peacefully and also carry out farming activities at their respective paddy fields.

However, sounds of gunfight have ceased, allowing the locals to complete almost all of their farm works.

Stressing the need for all sections of the society to take on equal responsibility for restoring normalcy in Manipur; Surjit appealed to the authority concerned including the prime minister, union home minister and chief minister to take requisite legal action against any individual or group hindering the restoration of peace and normalcy in the state.

One farmer Heisnam Subhashchandra (50) of Tingri Awang Leikai stated that there is no country in the world where guns or violence have been the solution to any dispute/conflict.

With regard to the on-going conflict in Manipur, leaders of both sides need to sit down and talked out an amicable solution.

While this may seem to be a bit belated, both sides need to work together to come up with a solution to the crisis, he asserted.

Meanwhile, many of the farmers conveyed to this daily that the ethnic violence in the state could lead to the death of human civilisation, as we know it.

All indigenous communities of the state also need to keep aside their differences and sincerely take up their respective responsibilities in resolving the violence between the two communities and restore normalcy in the state, instead of just shouting out words of peace.

Mention may be made here that after the ethnic conflict broke out in Churachandpur on May 3, Kuki militants began firing at the Meitei village from Nongpok Ningthou Ching in Awang Leikinthabi on May 7 .

On June 4, Kuki militants set fire to 17 houses and farms in Cherik Leitong, following which there were reports of continuous gunfight with many fatalities and injuries.

On July 21, central forces set up a bunker at Nongpok Ningthou Ching and guarded both sides.

A team led by the MLA of Lamshang visited the location and the central forces gave assurances of preventing any unwanted incidents.

Since then, no gunfight has been reported in the area.

But the villagers still fear the possibility of the Kuki militants attacking them.

So they have been taking turn in keeping vigil day and night.

Meanwhile, locals have expressed that if state forces are also deployed in the area in addition to the central forces, normalcy could be restored in the area at a remarkable pace.

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