'Don't want to stay in shelter home, provide security'
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 10 2023:
While stating that the displaced people do not want to stay in the shelter homes being constructed by the gov-ernment, Makeng Dolaithabi pradhan Khoirom Ashakumar has appealed to the govern-ment to provide adequate security so that the people can return to their ancestral homes.
Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club here Monday, Ashakumar re-counted that on May 3 and 4, the Kukis set fire to 139 houses at Ekou village in Khundrakpam AC, 45 houses at Yengkhuman, 34 at Dolaithabi, 22 at Leitan-pokpi Mairenpat and 10 at Leitanpokpi Sadu Lampak.
The people displaced by the violence have been staying in relief camps for over two months.
He recalled that on the day the violence began, the Meiteis in the area did not disturbed the Kukis in the neighbouring villages.
However, as a large number of Kuki mob thronged the Meetei villages, the residents assumed that it was only mo-mentary and fled with only the clothes on their bodies.
They never thought the vio-lence would escalate to such an extent.
Stating that they have been unable to return to their homes for over two months, Ashakumar urged the elected government to provide secu-rity to facilitate return to their respective homes at the ear-liest possible.
He also posed as how long the government expects the displaced people to continue staying in relief camps, surviving on the gen-erosity of the public.
Joining the media briefing, Makeng Dolaithabi GP former up-pradhan Sapam Ango in-formed that of the houses torched by Kukis in the four villages, 45 were construct-ed under PMAY-G.As such, he urged the government to consider the matter and pro-vide some relaxation.
He then appealed to the Koireng com-munity residing in Dolaithabi and who are not involved in the violence not to set up bunkers in the location, while alleging that Kuki militants have built bunkers in-spite of presence of Assam Rifles in the area.