No Kukis in Imphal, separation complete: KIM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal/Kangpokpi, September 02 2023: Twenty-four residents of New Lambulane have alleged that in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, a team of uniformed armed personnel claiming to be acting under directions from the Home Department came to New Lambulane and forcibly evicted the last remaining residents of the Kuki locality in Imphal from their homes.

Meanwhile, Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of the Kuki tribes, has declared 'total separation of Kukis and Meiteis' after the 24 Kuki volunteers staying at New Lambulane were evacuated safely on Friday evening.

In a release issued on Saturday on behalf of the 24 residents, reverend S Prim Vaiphei of 2nd Street and Hejang Kipgen of 3rd Street, New Lambulane claimed that the 24 residents including the two of them were not even given time to pack their belongings and were literally herded into the waiting Casper bullet proof vehicles.

"Many of us were woken up from our sleep and pulled by our arms into the waiting vehicles with only the clothes we were wearing".

"We express our strong displeasure at this high handed abduction like forcible evacuation executed against our will.

We regret that a country like India is unwilling to ensure the life and security of its citizens at the place of their residence, succumbing to intimidation of chaotic forces trying to destroy the society and state," they said.

On the other hand, KIM information and publicity secretary Janghaolun Haokip said that it is aghast at the dastardly act against the last of the Kuki volunteers at New Lambulane amid the intermittent arson and looting by Meiteis.

KIM also entreated the government of India to expedite 'meaningful and honourable' political dialogue with the UPF and KNO under Suspension of Operations (SoO) for justice, peace, and lasting solution along with strongly reiterating its demand for a 'Separate Administration' .

"The volunteers were later escorted by security personnel and safely reached our land despite the dread of the Meitei attack," he continued, while adding that hence, KIM has declared that there is now a 'total separation of Kukis and Meiteis' .

Janghaolun also mentioned that it is imperative that the central government must 'constitutionally recognise' this separation at the earliest without further delay.

He further alleged that besides the compelling evacuation of the people, all the Kuki settlements had been looted, vandalised, and torched by the Meiteis.

"The only viable solution to the ongoing state-sponsored ethnic cleansing against the Kuki people lies in the total separation of the two communities, the process of which has been completed in the aftermath of the evacuation of the remaining Kuki volunteers in Imphal last night," he asserted.

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