Survivors from CCpur see red over insensitivity
Tension mars start of mela
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 22 2023: Tension gripped the launch day of a three day mela (sales event) at Palace Compound today on after some stalls were found exhibiting Kuki attires.

The mela is being organised by the Manipur State Rural Livelihood Mission (MSRLM) under Rural Development & Panchayati Raj at Shumang Leela Shanglen to promote the products being made at relief camps.

The launch function was to be attended by Governor Anusuiya Uikey, RD & PR Minister Y Khemchand, Chief Secretary of RD & PR MH Khan, MSRLM State Mission Director N Bandana and Imphal East Director Kh Diana as dais members but the event got delayed till around 4 pm.

The Governor, RD & PR Minister and some invitees didn't participate in the launch function.

Survivors from CCpur see red over insensitivity

Reportedly, Government staff replaced the festoon of Imphal East with Churachandpur at a particular stall when the stall owners were busy arranging their items before the launch function.

The particular stall with Churachandpur festoon then started exhibiting the traditional attire of the Kukis along with cane items and artificial flowers.

Taking strong exception to the exhibition of Kuki attires and items, several inmates of different relief camps participating in the mela tore down the festoon.

The traditional attire of the Kuki and the cane items at the stall were also scattered by the people.It is further reported that items being made by Kuki people were found selling at another stall too but the same were removed hastily by two persons who fled from the area.

Perturbed over the development, some of the displaced Meeteis threatened to burn the Kuki traditional attires while some others vacated their belongings and chose not to take part in the mela.

The inmates said that the Government opening a stall of Churachandpur and selling Kuki traditional attires and other items at the mela even after knowing the tragedy they had gone through is unacceptable and undermines their interest.

One Athokpam Abung of Napat said that they first thought the stall with Churachandpur festoon to be exhibiting products being made by displaced Meeteis from the district (Churachandpur) .

However, on close examination it was found that the stall was selling Kuki traditional attires and cane items being crafted by Kukis, he claimed.

Notably, Abung is currently taking refuge at Meetei Langol.

Claiming that the items being made by displaced Kukis were brought to Imphal under security cover, Abung asked if the Government can do the similar thing at Churachandpur to encourage the displaced Meeteis at relief camps.

Abung said that he will not take part in the mela anymore.

Wangkhem Ibemcha, an inmate from Churachandpur taking refuge at Konthoujam Makha Leikai relief camp, said that many of them (the displaced) were hopeful of earning some money from the mela.

Saying that they fled from Churachandpur after they were targeted and attacked by Kukis, Ibemcha added that all the Meetei houses at Churachandpur have either been flattened or torched in the course of Kuki aggression.

Exhibiting Kuki attires at the mela has dampened their spirit, she said and asked if the Government is looking down on them (the Meeteis) by taking advantage of their misfortune.

Police came to the site and tried to pacify the situation by talking with the inmates Meanwhile, as per the press statement of the State Mission Director of MSRLM, internally displaced people from 83 relief camps are to take part in the event.