Displaced man dies, MLA Lokeshwar hits out at CM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 18 2023: An 85-year old displaced resident of Ikou village in Imphal East district has died on Sunday in a temporary shelter home set up by the government near Sajiwa Jail, where he was staying after fleeing home due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The victim, identified as Mayengbam Birchon, died in the wee hours of Sunday as the family members cited mental trauma as the cause of his death stating that he was a healthy man without any ailment or health condition.

As the family could not return to their home, they had to cremate him in the local crematorium of Kangla Sangomshang after getting permission from the village authority.

Khundrakpam MLA Th Lokeshwar also visited the family at the temporary shelter home on Sunday and shared the grief of the bereaved family.

The MLA told media persons that all the houses Ikou, a Meetei village, have been burned by Kukis and since then, the villagers have been taking refuge in different relief camps before shifting to the temporary shelter home provided by the government recently.

The MLA said that as per rituals, the last rites of a Meetei is conducted in his home's courtyard before cremating in the local crematorium.

Unfortunately, the man could not get the opportunity, which is a sad reality in the current situation.

He slammed the BJP government for compelling the indigenous Meetei people to live like a refugee in their own home and chief minister Biren to come out strong and flush out the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists to restore peace in the state or surrender if his government cannot carry out its duties and responsibilities.

The state is on the verge of a full-scale civil war and it will not bring anything good for the state and its people.

The five Congress MLAs are ready to rally behind the CM if he shows his commitment to restore peace in the state, he added.

Earlier, the MLA asked the bereaved family to conduct his last rites at his (MLA) home.

However, the family refused the offer saying that they would want to tell the world their suffering.

Instead, they requested the village authority of nearby village Kangla Sangomshang and conducted his last rites at the local crematorium with their approval.

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