Memories of March 11, 1996 still haunt villagers of Huishu
Go to Hill programme yet to reach the border village of Ukhrul district
Source: IT News / Sh Ajit

Imphal, November 19 2018: Memories of March 11, 1996 incident at which Indian Security force burnt down the entire village still haunts the villagers of Huishu , a village of Ukhrul district, located in Indo-Myanmar border.

There were no motorable road to reach the village which is about 65 Kilometres from the Ukhrul district head quarter.

Talking to correspondent, a Village head man said with tears and trembles recounted on what had happen on that day when the armed rebel group NSCN-IM was yet to sign cease fire agreement with the Government of India.

"I still remember the incident of 1996 March 11", he said.

"There was heavy exchange of fire between the troops of 20 Assam Rifles and NSCN-IM cadres which was once posted at Huishu Village.

The gun battle lasted for around 3 hours", he said.

Huishu , a village of Ukhrul district, located in Indo-Myanmar border

He further stated that the panic ridden villagers who were caught unaware by the burst of rapid fire of the encounter and the subsequent explosive of a few inche mortars in the civilian area ran for safety leaving behind all their belonging to the Church building.

Some villagers manage to reach Ukhrul town and some ran inside the forest and nearby Poi Village due to fear of unwanted consequences.

Villagers who went for medical assistance to the Huishu AR post were beaten up for no reason.

What still haunt the villagers and the Chief till today is the burning of the greeneries of the Villages piled up for the years along with other houses.

"From the Church Building where we were taking shelter we saw all our property burned, we were left with no choice but to watch the happening helplessly", the old man who is the head of the village narrated.

On the other hand Chief Minister N.Biren Singh auspicious project "Go to Hill" turn out to be a joke of Huishu Villagers as they never seen any such programme.

The devastation that took place in 1996 is not the end.

Even as Narendra Modi led NDA government has claimed to have electrified all villages in India, Huishu village , in Chingai Assembly constituency inhabited by around 1800 people in around 200 families never knew that electricity exist even as there was electric connection long time back.

Of course some who went beyond the village knew but those who have been in the village never knew that electricity exist as the Village is not yet connected by electricity.

A resident of Huishu , a village of Ukhrul district, located in Indo-Myanmar border

Health care service is a joke, and government run education institution like Primary school and secondary school are just for name sake.

Thanks to the Christian Missionaries who run one school called "Jon Christian English School" which was established in 2005 .

The road condition from Huishu River to the Village which is about 7 kilometer is in the most dilapidated condition that only two wheeler vehicle with four stroke engine can reach the village.

That too is impossible during rainy season.

Anganwadi Center , which is under Social Welfare Govt.of Manipur is claiming to be successfully running is a fairy tale for Huishu Village as it does not reach the village.

Table work of the department may have report of its existence but the reality is that there is no Anganwadi Center in Huishu Village.

PDS items, development works which are suppose to be taken up under MLA Local area fund is a far away dream for the Huishu Villagers as many did not even know who is their local MLA.

The Villager never saw any MLA in their village.

As of now the village transportation is done by one Shaktiman truck, and one small suspension bridge to cross the river on foot.

During rainy season the river water raised too high that even Shaktiman truck cannot cross the river and the village have to remain cut off from the district head quarter.