Villagers return home
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 21 2009: EVEN THOUGH about 1500 displaced villagers owing to the "Operation Summer Storm" launched by the security forces in Loktak lake have gone back to their homes today, apprehension of resumption of the operation after the Lok Sabha polls lingers to their minds.

Troops of Army and Paramilitary forces were withdrawn from the lake areas from yesterday evening facilitating the hundreds of villagers who left their homes to return to their respective homes.

Womenfolk returning home after nearly 10 days of uncertain life at relief camps

Though the villagers are free to return to their homes, they still have a nagging apprehension of the Army resuming the operation and using them (villagers) as human shield. The villagers who were put up at various relief camps for the last 10 days started heading back home this afternoon around 2 pm.

Salam Maniyaima hailing from Nongmaikhong Awang Leikai, who took shelter at a relief camp opened at Ethai Community hall, said that he saw troops leaving their village yesterday morning around 9.30 am.

He felt that the operation may have been suspended in view of the election.

He expressed apprehension that the operation may be resumed after the election.

Even though, security men did not harass the villagers, they were forced to row boat to any place where the security men believed the insurgents had their camps.

The attitude was not satisfied as it was same like using villagers as human shields, he recalled alleging that on the first day of the operation many male members of his village were forced to row the boats used by the security personnel.

The villagers were not given wages for using in rowing the boats he bewildered expressing doubt of using them again if they (security men) come again to their place for re-launching the operation.

During the 10 days long operations, villagers were not allowed to go to lake for fishing.

Children did not go to school.

Many fishing nets were damaged by the motor boats of the security men Manipyaima revealed and demanded that state government should compensate the loss suffered by the villagers during the operation.

He also drew the attention of the government to find a way not to check using villagers as human shield by the security men while launching operation in the lake area which villagers experiencing frequently.

Another displaced person, Salam Manibabu of the same locality with Maniyaima said his and other nine house of the village were found security men making their stations.

Before leaving the house security men called them and asked to check any loss of their belongings.

No lost of properties found but, there were signs of using materials like TV, DVD by them.

They have also eaten up fish keeping in their pots.

Not only this, rice, edible oils and other vegetable items at the house of one Salam Khamba were found consumed by them, he said.

Reporters who moved round the lake areas today with the villagers also detected many dead fish floating on the water, fishing nets were also found causing damage.

Villagers entered to their respective homes after the personnel of the Kumbi police station conducted checks.

Former MP, Kim Gangte who also arrived has interaction with villagers at refuge at Ethai relief camp where 897 took shelter.

Around 312 villagers complaint of ill-health while staying that the relief camp.

A medical team from the office of the chief medical office including a doctor and four nurses conducted health check up to the villagers.