IDPs put up demand
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, February 26 2025: Internally displaced people (IDP) from Moreh who were forced to flee their homes due to conflict and violence staged a sit-in protest, demanding an end to the crackdown on village volunteers and the right to return to their homes.

The protest demonstration organised under the aegis of Committee on Protection of Meetei Victims (COPMeV), Moreh at Wangjing Kodompokpi Sports Complex was participated by the inmates of the relief camps set up at the sports complex and Lamding Higher Secondary School at Khangabok.

Speaking to the media on the sideline, COPMeV convenor Thangjam Budha Meitei urged the authorities concerned to take up necessary steps to resettle them at their native villages and to stop the crackdown on village volunteers.

Budha also asked the security forces to take responsibility for their failure to maintain law and order, rather than targeting the village volunteers.

Village volunteers should not be arrested until a lasting solution to the crisis in Manipur is worked out, he urged.

Saying that the Government of India (GoI) should never entertain the demand being raised by Kuki people to disintegrate Manipur, he urged the Government to instead update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the context of Manipur to detect and deport the illegal immigrants.

On the other hand, Leishangthem Tamem, an IDP from Moreh, expressed her desperation and loss of hope after spending 22 months in the relief camp.

Her situation highlights the challenges being faced by other IDPs.

She said that she's struggling to provide even basic necessities for her children.

"The uncertainty of our situation is causing me immense worry about my children's future," she said while appealing to the relevant authorities to formulate a comprehensive plan to facilitate their safe return home.

Placards with inscriptions "Don't arrest village volunteers", "Resettle the IDPs", "We want to return home" and "No separate administration" were displayed during the demonstration.

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