In violence-hit Manipur, a village at the edge ‘of the other side’

While Imphal city, 25 km away, is pulling closer towards some form of stability, this region at the border of Kangpokpi district remains far from it. Peripheral areas such as this, at the edge of “the other side” continue to simmer with tension and conflict.

Written by Sukrita Baruah , Jimmy Leivon

Pukhao | Updated: May 11, 2023 07:43 AM IST

3 min read

People rescued from violence-hit areas of Manipur by Assam Rifles personnel under operation ‘Kohima Calling’, at a relief camp on Wednesday. (PTI)

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There are no women and children left in Pukhao Terapur village. All of them have left either for relatives’ homes or special relief camps set up for them in Pangei and Khundrakpam. Only a few dozen young men remain in this foothill village at the periphery of Imphal East district, some of them armed, to defend their village against possible attacks from the hills, they say.

Farmers Sagolsem Ranjit (54) and Laishram Robinson (37) — who are currently camping in a nearby shelter — had ventured to their abandoned village, Pukhao Shantipur, to feed their animals early Wednesday morning. They claim they were fired upon by armed miscreants at around 6 am.

Personnel of Army and Assam Rifles rescue people from the violence-hit areas after tribal groups’ protest over court order on Scheduled Tribe status, in Imphal. (PTI/File Photo)

Following this, an operation was launched by security forces to neutralise what was suspected to be a militant. A jawan of the 18 Assam Rifles was injured in an exchange of fire at Dolaithabi area about 3km away from Shantipur. The injured jawan was airlifted to Leimakhong military hospital. Government spokesperson, Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh, termed it “unfortunate”.

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With the continuing tension in the area, the open community hall at Ahallup village, close to both Shantipur and Terapur, is functioning as a “frontline” base camp for local residents. Every night, at least 30 men — including armed ones — from this village and neighbouring Naharup village station themselves in it. During the day, the numbers are far larger as people gather in it. Vans — with pieces of paper pasted on the windshield stating that they are transporting “relief materials” — flow to the community hall.

The volunteers of a dozen-odd villages in this foothill area coordinate with each other using private wireless devices.

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Manipur Violence