Are claims of Kukis from Manipur settling in Karbi Anglong fact or fiction? Village surveys will find out

On Thursday, KAAC CEM Tuliram Ronghang had convened a meeting with Kuki gaon buras (village heads), members of the Kuki Students’ Organisation, and other members of the community. In a statement, Ronghang said that the meeting “focused on concerns regarding illegal settlements of some migrants from Manipur in Karbi Anglong”.

He announced that in the meeting, it was resolved to form a task force which would include local leaders, revenue officials and members of the Kuki Students’ Organisation and Karbi Students’ Organisation to “survey and identify illegal immigrants in Kuki-dominated areas”. He said that the meeting had also resolved that “any illegal migrants from Manipur or other areas will be deported to their places of origin”.

The KAAC has jurisdiction over the two hill districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong and governs them under provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. This is a largely tribal region with a mix of different tribes, of which the Karbis – Assam’s third largest tribe and its largest hill tribe – are the largest in number. Kukis and Hmars, which are part of the Kuki-Zomi umbrella and are scattered across different states in the Northeast, including Manipur, are also among the tribes from this region.

Groups such as the Karbi Students’ Association and the Karbi Lammet Amei, a literary body, have approached the autonomous council alleging an influx of Kukis from Manipur and asking that such movement be monitored, following which Ronghang made his earlier statement and called the meeting.

“In the meeting I had questioned where 1,000 such people would even stay in our small villages in the hills. Yes, in May, June, July last year, when the violence began, a few families had come from Manipur seeking shelter, but they have all left and gone to Mizoram now. Since then, no such refugee has come from Manipur. I said in the meeting that if my statement is not enough to convince, we agree to a joint survey team being formed and if needed, it can go from village to village doing surveys but the local gaon buras have to be a part of it,” sain Paolen Kipgen, chairman of the Kuki Gaon Bura Association of Karbi Anglong.

“We also agreed that if any such people are found, they should be returned. I mentioned that in the name of such alleged influx however, the local Kuki community should not be affected and that their lives and properties should be protected. The CEM assured that all communities living in Karbi Anglong will live in peace,” said KSO Karbi Anglong president Lengin Singson.