Sugnu, Serou natives seek to return home
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, July 17 2023: Residents of Sugnu and Serou who are taking shelter in various relief camps in Kakching district today took out a rally and staged a sit-in at Naohal Lai Lampak at Kakching Keithel demanding earliest resettlement at their respective villages.

The rally and sit-in were organised by a committee called "Resettlement of Displaced Victims" .

During the sit-in, the inmates (displaced people) at various held placards inscribed with various slogans including "We want an IRB post at Serou", "Implement NRC at the earliest", "Remove Assam Rifles", "Abrogate SoO with Kuki militants" among others.

They also protested the move to relocate them at Yaithibi Loukol and urged the State Government to allow them to return to their native villages, rebuild their houses and ensure proper security arrangements instead of the interim policy.

Speaking on the sidelines of the protest, a resident of Serou Yumlepam Indu decried the excessive acts of armed Kuki refugees and militants who intruded into the State from Myanmar and disrupted peace.

She also denounced the apparent apathy shown by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister towards the chaotic situation prevailing in the State for more than two months.

"We are extremely perturbed by the fact that the Central leaderships have shown little concern while thousands suffer in the State for more than 70 days," she said.

"It is our earnest appeal that the Central Government come up with a far sighted solution to the issue at the earliest," she added.

Another Serou native Takhellambam Inaocha said his village and Sugnu are now totally deserted following the arson and firing attacks at the height of the communal clash.

Thousands displaced from these affected villages have been taking shelter at various relief camps and many in relatives' houses in Kakching districts and others, he noted.

It is appreciable that the State Government is considering settlement of the displaced folks at Yaithibi Loukol as an interim measure but people of Serou disapprove such an arrangement, he said.

"After so much suffering, what we want now is to return to our native villages with whatever the State Government could provide and assist," he said.

It is their desire to settle at their native places with a sense of security to their lives and properties, he added.

If they continue to remain refugees any longer, they could lose their sense of belonging with their native villages and it will only embolden the non native aggressors, he observed.

The inmates also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister seeking earliest rehabilitation policy, compensation for the losses etc, through DC Kakching.

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