Imphal, September 04, 2023 (PPI-OT): Kuki families have said that they were forcibly evacuated from Imphal city, the capitla of the violence-hit Manupur state of India. A team comprising Indian armies of the Assam Rifles and the Manipur Police have arrived at Imphal’s New Lambulane to forcibly evacuate some of the last Kuki families residing in the area on September 2.
They were relocated out of the capital city to the village of Motbung, 25 kilometres away in Kangpokpi district. It is understood that those living in New Lambulane were the last of the Kuki residents living in Imphal.
A total of 24 individuals from the Kuki community were evacuated from New Lambulane, including infants and people in need of regular hospital checkups. Jamkholal Touthang used to visit Shija Hospital every alternate day for kidney dialysis, but is now wondering what to do.
“More than 50 state and paramilitary central forces came and clearly told us that they are merely following orders from the Indian home ministry,” Jamkholal said. A number of evacuated Kuki citizens when asked by the media if they had asked officials to show them the order from the Indian home ministry. Most said they were afraid. The Indian forces gave them less than an hour to pack all their belongings and they were asked to sit in vehicles without asking any questions, they said.
Mang, one of the Kuki residents who had been living in Imphal’s New Lambulane and have now been evacuated, said, “Right now, we’re at a relief camp in Motbung outside Imphal. The government of India cannot provide us with protection to live in our own houses? It is the failure of the Indian government.”
Most of them left without any money. Mang added, “Most of us left in a hurry, so no one was able to take money. We don’t know how we will manage in the coming days. My passport and Aadhaar are still at my place. I am fearing that sooner or later, our houses will also be burnt down.”
For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Website: www.kmsnews.org