Scheduled Caste community approaches Apex Court
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 06 2023: All Manipur Chakpa Lois (SC) Community Development Association has filed a petition with the Supreme Court for protection amid the current violent tension between the Meiteis and the Kukis.

The application was filed by Advocate-on-record, Momota Devi on behalf of the association.

Highlighting the sufferings and damages done to the members of the Scheduled Caste community, the petition sought the Apex Courts' intervention to safeguard the lives, properties and interests of the community.

It may be noted that the Scheduled Caste (SC) communities (Chakpa, Lois etc) who belong to the larger Meitei community mainly reside at the peripheral areas of the valley and have been direct victims of the ongoing violent conflict between the Meiteis and the Kukis.

Koutruk, Phayeng, Tairenpokpi, Khurkhul and Sekmai are some of the worst affected Scheduled Caste areas.

Hundreds of houses belonging to the SC community have been burnt and tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the conflict.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the displaced people of the community, mostly cultivators, have been taking shelter in relief camps scattered across the valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnu-pur, Thoubal and Kakching.

Significantly, on July 17, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes had written to the Chief Secretary, Manipur and the DGP asking them to submit detailed reports on the extent of damages caused to the SC community in the current conflict.

Meanwhile, the application filed with the Supreme Court stressed that serious acts of violence have been committed against the people of the SC community due to their close proximity to Kuki dominated areas.

Mostly cultivators by profession, the people of the SC community reside in the foothill areas adjoining Kuki dominated areas.

With their houses burnt and displaced, many of the people of the community have now lost their means of livelihood and are staying in relief camps, said the application.

The application sought protection and security for the SC community and asked the Supreme Court for a robust Government relief distribution system for the affected people.

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