Kuki militants force farmers off fields
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 07 2023:
Many Meitei farmers who went to their paddy fields at Thamnapokpi, Imphal East district under Yaingangpokpi police station were threatened by Kuki militants and forced to run back, abandoning all their farming tools.
Meitei farmers were tending to their paddy fields located at Maibi Lok near Thamnapokpi ground and to the western side of the Veterinary Dispensary when Kuki militants shouted from a little distance away and threatened to kill all of them.
The Kuki militants shouted to the farmers, "You cannot tend to your paddy fields; go back, if you want to live" .
On hearing the Kuki militants' threatening call, the farmers hurriedly left the fields, abandoning all their tools.
Notably, Kuki militants have been repeatedly attacking many surrounding villages of Yaingangpokpi including Shantikhongbal, Thamnapokpi, Sanasabi and Sabungkhok Khunou.
Most of the villagers are still taking refuge at safer places.
Pressed by the ripening paddy, the villagers started going to their paddy fields to harvest paddy since three days back before Kuki militants threatened to kill them today.
Notably, Central security forces are stationed at Thamnapokpi community hall, not far away from the paddy fields where Kuki militants threatened the farmers.