Exodus of Meeteis from Mizoram continues
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 23 2023:
Exodus of Meeteis from Mizoram continue for the second consecutive day following a veiled threat by a group and hollow promises of safety by Mizoram government.
A former militant group in Mizoram, Peace Accord MNF Returnees' Association (PAMRA) asked Meeteis in Mizoram to leave the state for their safety while cautioning of threat from the rising wave of hatred among the Mizo youths and adding that they (Meeteis) will be responsible if any unpleasant occurs to them (Meeteis).
Although PAMRA clarified its threat as a simple advisory, many see the words used in the notice served as a precursor of a potential ethnic cleansing, In the wake of the threat, Mizoram government gave assurance of safety to Meetei people in the state by deploying a handful of policemen in pockets of Meetei inhabited areas.
As the threat triggered sense of insecurity among the Meetei people, Mizo Students' Union (MSU) announced a special census of Meeteis in Mizoram in a bid carry out headcount to identify every Meetei individuals in Mizoram.
Hmar Students' Association, Mizoram also issued a quit notice to Meeteis in Mizoram while cautioning that it is the last warning.
As a result of such series of threats, Meetei residents in Mizoram have started fleeing the state from Saturday.
More than 60 Meeteis arrived via flight to Imphal on Saturday and another batch of over 60 Meeteis reached here on Sunday.
Besides, several Meeteis from Mizoram are also taking refuge in Assam too.
According to the fleeing people, they have been receiving series of threats from different organisations in Mizoram ever since the violence broke out from Churachandpur on May 3.Earlier, most of the threats were verbal but recently, several organisations have started issuing written threats thereby creating a sense of insecurity among the Meetei people living in the state.
They further said that only seven to eight policemen were deployed in institutions where Meeteis work, who would be in no capacity to protect them in the event of a mob attack.
So far, around 500 Meeteis have left Mizoram.
Many are left stranded due to non-availability of flight tickets, they said while drawing attention of the state government to ar range special flights to evacuate the remaining Meeteis.
Some have fled by road and they are taking refuge in relief camps in Assam's Lakhipur, they added.