Meetei Society lays down demands
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 14 2023: The Meetei Society, Churachandpur has placed three demands before the State and Central Governments including restoration of ancestral lands to displaced Meeteis.

According to a press release issued by M Thoiba Singh, president, Meetei Society, Churachandpur, these demands are i) put a stop to unknown miscreants removing land markers such as boundary walls, drains etc from Meetei localities in Churachandpur and attempting to use the land as per their wishes, ii) make provisions for safe passage into Meetei villages to assess the damages inflicted on property with the participation of Meetei Society leaders and other notable political leaders and iii) to ensure that the ancestral lands of the fleeing/displaced Meetei families are restored to them.

The Meetei Society also provided an account of the violence from the perspective of the Meetei villagers.

It stated that around 6.30 pm of May 3, huge mobs began vandalizing property and setting fire to houses at various Meitei localities in Churachandpur following the Tribal Solidarity March.

The villagers asked the police for help but before their arrival, unknown miscreants from the mob began firing from their sophisticated weapons, the statement shared.

The volunteers of Meetei Society reportedly nabbed a perpetrator along with his weapon.

Afterwards the police picked up the man and assured the villagers that they will return with additional security forces to safeguard the people.

The villagers also asked the Assam Rifles for help and upon arrival, the AR personnel persuaded the villagers to evacuate to their camps for safety.

They also assured the Meetei villagers that after escorting them to their camps, they would return to safeguard the houses and properties from the frenzied mob, according to the statement.

The following morning around 11, the villagers received information from non-Meetei residents of neighbouring villages that certain groups had once again began vandalizing the Meetei houses despite the AR's assurance to protect their property.

The statement went on to allege that the mobs looted their houses and loaded the items they wanted onto trucks while setting fire to the rest.

Their pleas to the Army regarding these incidents reportedly fell on deaf ears.

Around 4 pm of the same day, the looted houses were burned by the mobs and the following day, on May 5, the burning and looting of left over Meetei houses resumed, Meetei Society claimed.

It alleged that the mob picked out and specially targeted Meetei houses to unleash their violent acts.

The statement also raised questions on the alleged inaction of the Army and police as the mobs continued to wreak havoc in Meetei villages.

Further, the Society has claimed that altogether eight religious sites were destroyed during the spate of violence.

Thus, Meetei Society has expressed strong dissatisfaction and anguish over the series of incidents.

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