Kukis encroach on IDPs' properties
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 10 2023: Tension erupted at Moreh after Kukis tried to occupy properties of displaced persons who had been driven out of the border town.

After encroaching upon deserted localities, Kukis were trying to construct a new marketplace of their own.

The incident happened today early morning at Moreh Ima Keithel (Community Variety Market) when a large number of Kuki people tried to occupy shops and houses which they had vandalized and burnt earlier.

The Kuki encroachers tried to flatten the local market known as All Community Variety Market.

Kukis encroach on IDPs' properties

The Deputy Commissioner of Tengnoupal district informed The Sangai Express that no heavy machineries like bull dozers were used and added that they were approached yesterday to conduct a social service, which was turned down taking the situation into consideration.

On being asked then why RAF personnel were sent to Moreh, the district DC said that they were sent as precautionary measures and added that the RAF personnel reached Moreh only at 6 pm.

As immediate measure to preempt any trouble curfew was announced, said the DC.

Security forces deployed in the area tried to stop the Kuki people from occupying the market area.

However, the Kuki people instead of listening to the security forces protested.

This was soon followed by heated arguments between the security forces and the Kuki encroachers which lasted till afternoon before the Kuki mob were forced to leave the area.

On receiving reports of encroachment attempt, security reinforcement including RAF personnel were sent to the border town this afternoon.

The security reinforcement reportedly reached Moreh in the evening, sources said.

On the other hand, RAF personnel heading to Moreh were blocked by local villagers at Kakching Lamkhai.

On learning about the blockage, a team of police led by SP Kakching Th Bikramjit arrived at the spot and tried hard to persuade the villagers to give passage to the RAF personnel.

Even though the SP told the villagers that the RAF personnel were going to Moreh at the order of the Chief Minister as there was tension in the border town, he could not convince the villagers.

Subsequently, an emergency public meeting was held there where Chief Minister N Biren spoke to the gathering through phone and tried to pacify the crowd.

After SP Th Bikramjit assured that the RAF personnel would not be stationed in any part of Kakching district nor would they be allowed to indulge in any anti-people activity, the crowd gave passage to the RAF personnel.

Since the violent crisis erupted at Churachandpur on May 3, 2023, all the houses of 14 Meitei villages including temples and religious structures were burnt down to ashes and the deserted Meitei localities were encroached by Kuki aggressors by renaming them.

At Moreh too, around 700-800 Meitei houses were vandalised and burnt and the deserted Meitei localities were renamed with Kuki names.

The Kuki aggressors did not spare even the temple of Kondong Lairembi.

With an obvious design to create their own villages in the Meitei localities, currently deserted, some tribes of Churachandpur have renamed these localities in their dialects.

Mendok Leikai, Churachandpur has been renamed as Gilgang Veng, Lamka and a large signboard has been already put up to this effect.