'Having lost everything, flames of vengeance only grow'
Source: Chronicle News Service / Thounaojam Brojendro

Imphal, October 07 2023: This harrowing tale exceeds one's imagination.

It 's the lament of a man, who after reaping the fruit of his years of hard work in the border town of Moreh, lost everything he treasured in an instant.

His house was the first to go up in flames ignited by the marauding Kuki mobs on the fateful evening of May 3.This is the heartrending story of 54-year-old Moirangthem Somorendro, son of late Babudhon of Moreh Bazar, Ward No 6.After running a small rice hotel, 'Asha Rice Hotel', named after his wife Asha for several years, Somorendro had recently managed to open a furniture shop in Moreh town by investing all his savings.

He had just started gaining some traction in his trade, only to suffer the ultimate loss in a moment.

The rampaging Kuki mob, on May 3 evening, targeted his house, shops, and hotel first.

It was little before sunset, and he helplessly watched the rising flames engulfing everything he treasured.

The roaring inferno not only burnt his properties but also scorched his heart, for he could do nothing but remain frozen on seeing everything he had turning into ashes right before his eyes.

Despite the wretched fate he endured at the hands of Kuki mob, there's still one thing he cherishes - the determination to rebuild his life, trade, and his shat tered family from scratch, no matter the cost.

Amidst the clamour of people seeking refuge and solace at the Ideal Girls' College relief camp in Akampat, Somorendro lives in an unusual solitude.

The air is thick with collective suffering, the weight of loss, and the agony of displacement.

Families huddle together for warmth and comfort, their eyes reflecting the trauma they've witnessed.

Yet, within this struggle for survival, a sense of isolation pervades.

However, this sense of solitude is what drives Somorendro to regain his lost dreams.

In a conversation, Somorendro recounted his early life, growing up in different locations such as Moreh, Kakching, and Lamding until he completed his 10+2.With a strong will to become a businessman/trad-er, he completed B Com from DM College of Commerce in 1993.In order to succeed in trade or business, one needs all types of support, even with the requisite knowl edge.

His parents were daily wage earners, and the family faced financial issues.

Though they lived in a commercial hub of cross-border trade, Somorendro did not have the opportunity to start a business after completing his studies.

For several years, he worked as a private school teacher at different schools such as Chettair English School, Netaji Memorial English School, and All Community Welfare School.

Realising that being a private school teacher would not help realise his dream, he gave up the job.

Using the share of the property inherited from his father, Somorendro built a shed with around 32 beds, providing lodging facilities to traders or tourists visiting Moreh at the rate of Rs 20 per bed per night.

With the savings from this service, he set up 'Asha Rice Hotel' in the name of his wife.

His warm hospitality and kind-hearted nature were loved by everybody, and his small business continued to flourish.

Eventually, he acquired more plots of land and set up a furniture house by employing several skilled woodworkers.

He also sought help from his friends in renovating the rice hotel with the hope of expanding his business.

As his businesses began to bear fruit, he groomed his daughter, Nibard (21), to inherit his businesses, and everything was in their proper places, just as he wanted.

He was leading a happy and contented life, unaware of the tragic fate awaiting him on the fateful evening of May 3, which took away everything he had.

On August 18, 2015, there was a huge uproar from the Kuki community against the ILP demand spearheaded by the Meeteis.

However, they did nothing to the Meetei residents of the border town.

On May 3, the Kuki people organised a rally responding to the call of ATSUM against the ST demand by the Meeteis, and it ended peacefully at around 11 am.

There was no hint of any violent upsurge from the Kuki community, and life went on as usual led by a false belief of normalcy.

However, around 5 pm, large mob of Kuki people armed with sharp weapons and clubs started gathering in Moreh town, shouting anti-Meetei slogans and threatening Meetei residents to leave Moreh.

They started pelting stones at Meetei houses and properties.while some started blocking roads.

His hotel was the first Meetei property targeted by the Kuki mob, as a group of well-armed Kuki kicked open the door of his hotel, hurled a petrol bomb (Molotov Cocktail) inside, and set it ablaze.

His family members and hotel staff ran for their lives with nothing but the clothes on their back.

As the Kuki mob went on the rampage, personnel from Moreh Police station and some personnel of central security forces deployed in the area came out, rescued the Meetei residents, and took them to the police station.

A 45-year-old woman suffered heart attack upon witnessing the violent acts of the Kuki mob, and she passed away on May 7.As the mob continued its rampage, they reached Moreh Prem Nagar around 7.30 pm.

The Manipur Fire Service team rushed to save the burning houses, but they were stopped and de nied entry by the Kuki mob in front of the police station.

Despite the limited manpower, Moreh police tried their best to protect the lives of the Meetei residents.

If only the Assam Rifles posted in Moreh had assisted Moreh police in time, the damage could have been a lot lesser, he opined.

Meetei residents in Moreh could still be living there if Assam Rifles had taken major initiatives in the situation instead of being proactive in evacuating Meeteis from Moreh.

As a result, Meetei residents of Moreh are now seeking refuge in different relief camps in Imphal.

Though the government, private individuals, and NGOs are taking good care of them, the visuals of the May 3 incident are still vivid.

With each passing day without a solution to the crisis, the flame for vengeance only grows, confided Somorendro, who still nurtures hope of rebuilding his lost success.

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