Kukis occupy abandoned Meitei houses at Ikou: committee
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 05 2023: Several houses of displaced Meiteis at Ikou in Imphal East district have been occupied by Kukis, said an apex committee of locals of several villages who have fallen victims to "armed Kukis' war for separate administration".

With the Meiteis forcefully displaced due to "rampant attacks" carried out by armed Kukis, some of the houses belonging to the people of the community (Meitei) at Ikou have been occupied and inhabited by Kukis, said the Apex Committee of Victim Villagers of Ikou, Sadu Yengkhuman, Dolaithabi and Leitanpokpi Meirenpat Awang Leikai.

Ikou in Imphal East district is under Khundrakpam Assembly Constituency.

At the official residence of Khundrakpam AC MLA MLA Thokchom Lokeshwar at Babupara today, the committee's convenor, Koijam Sharat Meitei said people of Ikou and nearby villages of Sadu Yengkhuman, Dolaithabi and Leitanpokpi Meirenpat Awang Leikai have been displaced and they are taking shelter at relief camps.

While Kuki settlement areas and their houses in Imphal valley are protected by the security forces, Meitei villages in the fringe areas of the valley have been left unguarded.

Meiteis have never occupied and inhabited their [Kuki] land and their houses, but Kukis have occupied and inhabited several houses at Ikou and other areas in the peripheral areas of the valley, he said.

This news that Kukis are living in some houses at Ikou has infuriated the displaced people of the village who are currently staying at relief camps.

The Government and the security forces' failure to evict the Kukis from the Meitei villages and houses is akin to inviting more trouble that would land Manipur in a bigger conflict, Sharat said.

If the Government and the security forces fail to evict the Kukis from the Meitei village of Ikou, the villagers along with the people across the State will be forced to storm Ikou and take back "what is ours" from the Kukis, he said.

Sharat said the villagers want the Government to deploy at least one company of State force at Ikou.

On the temporary houses being built for displaced people, he said the committee and the villagers want the Government to build temporary shelter at Makeng Dolaithabi Gram Panchayat area so that they can look after their original settlements and take up agricultural activities in their nearby fields.

Sharat continued that MLA Th Lokeshwar has also offered land in the area for construction of the temporary houses.

He said the MLA had earlier expressed the same to the Governor during a meeting yesterday.

Members of the committee led by MLA Th Lokeshwar met with Governor Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhavan yesterday and called on her to address the plight of the people of four villages who have been displaced, he said.

"During the meeting yesterday, the Governor gave her assurance that the plight of the displaced villagers would be addressed through measures being taken up by the Government.

The committee is grateful to the Governor for assuring assistance," Sharat said.

Meanwhile, the committee's co-convenor, Longjam Basanta said Ikou village was burnt down by the Kukis not long after houses belonging to the Meitei community were burnt at Churachandpur on May 3 .

"With the houses burnt down, Kukis have even occupied the agricultural fields belonging to Meiteis in the area.

While the Govt had promised to deploy security forces to safely take up agricultural activities, this has not been realised.

Kukis are tilling our fields," he said.

The displaced people at relief camps are facing difficulties on many fronts.

They have no income and they have been hurt financially.

While the Government is providing healthcare and some medicine for free, many types of medicines are being borne by the individuals concerned, he said.

The future of the displaced students is uncertain, he added.

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