UG threat forces many to flee
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 23 2011: People of a community settling in Sadar hills of Senapati district have reportedly fled their homes and hearths following threat from KNF (P) charging alleged link with one faction of KCP (MC) .

KNF (P), which is one of the signatories of Suspension of Operation (SoO), a tripartite agreement involving Centre, State Government and Kuki UG groups, has also reportedly held captive 15 civilians of the community, which though a majority in the State is a minority in Sadar Hills.

The 15 civilians were picked up by KNF (P) from different parts yesterday afternoon.

They were, however, set free afterwards.

Talking to mediapersons at Koujengleima Community Hall, Sekmai late in the evening today, one of the civilians, who was among those held captive by KNF (P) informed that out of 15 of them, 6 were picked up from Sapermeina, 5 from Motbung and 4 other from Kangpokpi area.

Those picked up from Kangpokpi area were set freed soon after and the remaining 11 of them were taken to Ebenezer Peace Camp, a designated camp of KNF (P).

At the camp, one leader of KNF (P) leader came out and told them that one non-local man staying at Sapermeina have been held captive by one KCP (MC) faction last Saturday.

The said non-local man is their member.

In case, the said member is not released within two days, all 11 of them would be eliminated.

A group of people who fled Sadar Hills taking shelter at Sekmai

In addition to this, the KNF (P) leader charged them with sheltering armed cadres of the KCP (MC) faction saying that KCP (MC) has been able to operate in the area because of them (the people of the community in question) .

The KNF (P) leader further commanded that people belonging to that community and settling in areas like Kangpokpi, Sapermeina and Motbung should vacate by tonight.

With this warning, all 11 of them have been set freed this afternoon.

Following the threat, they left homes and came to take refuge in Sekmai and other areas.

It is said that of the fleeing community, 51 households are settling in Motbung area, 28 households in Sapermeina and another 70 households in Kangpokpi.

More than 50 people including women and children are currently taking refuge at the Koujengleima community hall of Sekmai.

A group of people comprising mostly women and children were also reportedly fleeing from Motbung area late in the evening today when the personnel of Sapermeina Police Station and 43 Assam Rifles stopped them.

However, when a team of mediapersons came out after meeting the group, the combined security forces was nowhere to be seen.

Similarly, at Sapermeina too, another group of people were trying to flee in a bus when the police stopped them.

At Kangpokpi, members of Kuki Inpi came out to pacify the people from fleeing.

In connection with this development, vice president of United Committee Manipur (UCM) Yumnam Nabachandra said that on receiving the news of the incident, UCM has already brought it to the notice of the State Government.

But the response and the initiatives of the Government is regrettable.

Such incident of threat on innocent people is very unfortunate.

It is the outcome of the failure of the Government to control the SoO signatories.

The Govt should control them from violating the ground rules of SoO, Nabachandra said, while appealing to all maintaining peace.