Kukis build secret track, live in Meitei houses
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 25 2023: Some Kukis have been found living in abandoned Meitei houses apart from building a foot-track to facilitate easy and secret access to the Meitei village.

This was discovered when some Meitei villagers, currently taking refuge in relief camps, visited their houses at Torbung Bazar Mamang along with army personnel.

Thangjam Ramesh alias Abung of Torbung Bazar Mamang told The Sangai Express that the villagers of Torbung Bazar Mamang who have been taking shelter at Phougakchao (relief camp) held a meeting with the troops of 16th Kumaon Regiment in the morning of August 23 .

As agreed at the meeting, four villagers of Torbung Bazar Mamang including Thangjam Ramesh and some personnel of Kumaon Regiment led by a Lieutenant Colonel went for an inspection of the abandoned houses at around 11 am of the same day.

A few metres away from his house, Ramesh climbed up an elevated spot and took a look at his village.

As he saw a man in civilian fatigue living inside a Meitei house, Ramesh conveyed his observation to the Kumaon Regiment's officer.

As the Meitei villagers and the army personnel moved forward, it was ascertained that the man living inside a Meitei house was a Kuki.

One seeing the approaching army personnel, the Kuki man ran away.

Even as the army personnel chased him for a considerable distance, he managed to make his escape good.

As the villagers and the army personnel moved inside the village, a new and secret track which led to Torbung Bazar Mamang from Torbung Bazar through Meijam Lok was also discovered, Ramesh said.

Notably, troops of 10th BSF are deployed near the house where a Kuki man was found living.

Moreover, the particular BSF unit was informed before the Meitei villagers went to make an assessment of their abandoned houses along with troops of Kumaon Regiment.

Ramesh decried that Kuki militants and their supporters were able to attack Torbung Bazar Mamang and burn down Meitei houses because of the complete failure of 10th BSF personnel to perform their duties.

Of around 21 Meitei houses, only five have been left unburnt but parts of these unburnt houses have also been vandalised, Ramesh said.

He said that the army's (Kumaon Regiment) Lieutenant Colonel reprimanded the BSF troops to perform their duties properly when he went to Torbung Bazar Mamang village along with the villagers on August 23 .

Highlighting dereliction on the part of the 10th BSF personnel deployed in Torbung Bazar Mamang area, local villagers submitted a representation to the Commander of 10th BSF, G-Company yesterday.

A complaint letter on the same matter was also submitted to the Bishnupur SP .

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