Fear of terror attack by Kukis persists among Naranseina farmers
Vast tracts of paddy fields left untended
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 30 2024: After experiencing terror attacks on unarmed farmers not once but several times, the people of Naranseina are still reluctant to go to their paddy for fear of terror attacks by Kuki narco-terrorists.

Naranseina village located about 40 Kms away from Imphal in Bishnupur district has seen a number of pitched battles fought between Kuki narco-terrorists and village volunteers since the Kukis launched a campaign of violent aggression against Meitei public on May 3, 2023 .

Incidentally, the villagers of Naranseina are dependent on agricultural activities for their livelihood even though women try to augment the family's income by weaving clothes.

Naranseina is a small village with a total population of just over 3000.Earlier, the villagers used to earn some income by fishing in the Loktak Lake.

But this source of income was cut off abruptly after the Government put restrictions on fishing in Loktak Lake since 2020 .

Though poor, the village was living quite peacefully with a fair number of big trees and thick groves of bamboo giving the village a refreshing look until the Kuki narco-terrorists shattered the peaceful atmosphere.

Since the Kuki narco-terrorists launched their aggression, they have attacked Naranseina repeatedly.

Talking with The Sangai Express, 55 year old Khangembam Sarat Meitei said that they could not tend to their paddy fields properly after the violence erupted on May 3, 2023 .

Even though the villagers have started paddy cultivation works this kharif season on some paddy fields located closer to the village, no agricultural works could be initiated so far on vast paddy fields located further away, Sarat said.

After moving into the Khoirentak Kom villages located to the western side of Naranseina, Kuki narco-terrorists repeatedly attacked Naranseina and they even targeted farmers working on paddy fields. Pitched battles were fought in both the high canal and low canal areas of Naranseina last year.

Two village volunteers and two CRPF personnel were killed in these battles, Sarat said.

Naranseina village has around 60 paris of paddy fields.

Before the violence erupted, paddy yield per pari was around 100 bags but last year the yield declined drastically to just around 30/40 bags.

As the villages could not tend to their paddy fields properly for fear of attacks by Kuki narco-terrorists which resulted in a much lower yield, the village economy has been severely affected.

Transplantation of paddy has started on most paddy fields located closer to the village but the villagers are still unable to go to those paddy fields located further away, he said.

There are vast paddy fields belonging to the Meitei people near the hills but these fields are now totally inaccessible.

Kukis are cultivating paddy on these fields, he said.

A group of women was transplanting paddy on the fields located behind the 2nd IRB camp when three Kuki men came down from the hills and reached the paddy field at around 6 am on July 28 .

Villagers chased the Kuki men and managed to round up one while the other two fled away.

The Kuki man rounded by the villagers was taken by the relevant authority.

Facebook posts show that the man is now safe at his home, Sarat said.

Subsequent upon this incident, the path that runs behind the 2nd IRB camp has been closed to all including farmers.

Farmers have also stopped going to the paddy fields located closer to the hills.

Notably, security forces were deployed around paddy fields last year to protect farmers from attacks by Kuki narco-terrorists.

Farmers are worried if they would be able to harvest paddy this year if the highly insecure situation persists.

Last year paddy could not be cultivated properly and if the villagers are unable to harvest paddy this season too, they would land in extreme misery, he said.

He then urged both the Central Government and the State Government to work on bringing an end to the violence at the earliest.

With Kuki militants repeatedly attacking Naranseina, Meira Paibis have been keeping a close vigil round the clock under a roster system.

Some of the farmers who could not tend to their paddy fields last year have been given compensation through the Bishnupur DC at the rate of Rs 22,000 per sangam, he continued.

There is a primary school at Naranseina where village children study up to Class V.For high school and college education, the children have to go to either Moirang or Imphal, said Kh Johnson, another villager of Naranseina.

In terms of healthcare too, there is only one Primary Health Centre.

As such, when there is any serious illness, one has to go to Moirang, Bishnupur or Imphal, Johnson said.

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