Locals fear presence of armed militants in abandoned homes
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 15 2023: It has been 12 days since the communal vio-lence broke out on May 3, but for the displaced Meitei people of Waikhurok, Ban-gla, Torbung and Kangvai villages in the periphery of Bishnupur and Churachan-dpur districts, returning to their homes is fraught with risk as they fear presence of armed Kuki militants in the abandoned house.

So far whereabouts of three persons - Naorem Prakash (33) son of Naorem Chaoba of Terakhongsangbi, Thongam Shyam (38) son of Thongam Achou of Tor-bung Bangla and Leichom-barn Suraj (23) son of (late) L Mohen Meitei of Terakhong-sangbi remain unknown since May 11 after they were abducted by suspected armed Kuki militants while one identified as Wahengbam Mohen sustained injuries in an attack with sharp-edged weapon.

Locals fear presence of armed militants in abandoned homes

According to Mohen, he along with the three went back to their houses at Tor-bung Bangla to collect some paddy from the granary and collect whatever is left from the violence ravaged village thinking that tension has subsided.

However, some armed persons suspected to be Kuki militants abducted them at gun point, Mohen recounted, adding that he was fortunate enough to manage to escape in-spite of sustaining injuries.

In another incident, one Sibu Das (32) son of late Ni-tindro Das of Torbung Gov-indapur got hit on the leg as suspected Kuki militants fired on him on May 12.According to Sibu, who is currently staying in a relief camp at Phougakchao Ikhai Mamang Leikai, around 6 am he went to his original resi-dence to feed the cattle left behind due to the violence on May 3.Local sources said that the shots were fired from Meitei houses which were left abandoned on May 3 and 4 due to the communal conflict.

Meanwhile, in a press meet held on May 11 at Phouga-kchao Ikhai, one Thingbai-jam Deben, representing the locals, informed that during the violence on May 3 and 4, a total of 500 Meitei houses under Tor-bung Gram Panchayat were burnt to ashes and more than 5000 displaced people are taking shelter at various relief camps.

In addition, Ibudhou Pakhangba tem-ple at Torbung Bangla and Ima Panthoibi temple at Torbung Govindapur were also burned down, he added.

Meanwhile, amid the government and concerned stakeholders working to re-store peace and harmony, more Meitei houses at Tor-bung Mamang Leikai were set ablaze by armed Kuki mili-tants, that too in the presence of central security forces on the intervening night of May 13 and 14 .

In view of unabated vio-lence, people of localities not yet affected by the violence have left for safer places.

As the affected villagers are mostly daily wagers their source of sustenance has been curtailed and they are staring at an uncertain future due to the lingering threat from the well-armed Kuki militants.