Houses burnt… People attacked in camps: Residents of Manipur’s Churachandpur share ordeal

Waikhom said, was scared a little for their safety but thought things will be fine soon.

But that was not to be.

The 35- year-old, who recently landed at the Kolkata airport where her husband is posted in the Army, said, “Things looked very normal the next day. A rally (tribal solidarity march) was held on May 3 when slogans were raised against us, the Meiteis. The protesters were armed and local residents did not venture out of their homes that day. We still thought that it was not a big issue and normalcy will return to the area soon. Also, we trusted the police force and the fact that our house was located close to the local police station.”

The solidarity march was taken out in the hill districts of the state in opposition to the demand for inclusion of the Meiteis in the scheduled tribe (ST) category. Besides Churachandpur, arson and vandalism was reported in Moirang, Motbung and Moreh on May 3.

On May 3 night, Waikhom witnessed the most harrowing experience of her life — seeing the house where she spent most of her childhood years being set on fire in front of the family and the sheer helplessness of not being able to do anything.

“It was around 8pm that a mob reached the area and set nearly all the houses in the locality on fire one by one. They broke open the locked doors, vandalised and ransacked the shops. We took shelter in our neighbourhood,” said Waikhom while crying inconsolably. The personnel of police and the Assam Rifles played a mute spectators to the violence and arson, she claimed.

Traumatised, her two-year-old daughter has not slept or eaten properly and is having nightmares, she said.

“This trauma is going to haunt us forever. And the worst part was that we were even beaten up in a community hall where we took refuge after being rescued for the first time,” said Waikhom accompanied by her parents and two younger brothers who will be living with her in south Kolkata.

A private bank deputy manager living in a relief camp in Manipur’s Moirang town, nearly 45 km from Imphal, told The Indian Express over phone, “I didn’t sleep even for a second on May 3. I saw my house burning in front of me. All of us felt so helpless.”

He added, “Two lakh people were part of the peace procession which turned violent. The area had been facing one or the other issue since August last year. Why should not we doubt the intention of the Manipur Police? No security was provided by the police. We called up the senior-most police officer of the area at 8pm and we were told that help was coming. The police reached our area at 1.30 am. We were left with nothing by then.”

“We were given shelter by our tribal neighbours. I am not against any community but the houses of Meitei community were burnt down in Churachandpur. Where no media has reached yet? Dirty politics was played. We will file a petition before the Human Rights Commission as why security was not provided?” he asked.

Laishram Emo, another resident of Churachandpur, said over phone, “I saw smoke billowing from houses that were burnt in a row. I knew they were coming to our side. I along with my wife and eight-month-old-son took shelter at neighbour’s house from the tribal community. My house was burnt. We will settle down in some other place but won’t go back.”

Meisnam Ricky, a student from Churachandpur, said, “Within five minutes of their arrival, the mob attacked us. I along with others was beaten up at the community hall. They snatched our money, belongings and even burnt our clothes. This happened in front of Assam Rifles jawans who did not intervene.”

The deputy bank manager said, “A total of 182 people, including 66 women and 48 children, from Churachandpur travelled for 2-3 kilometres. Then we were escorted by the Army and Assam Rifles troops to a community hall. But a mob carrying guns and other weapons followed us. They kept hitting at the gate of the hall. I felt that this was the end of my life.”

Emo, however, wants to go to Churachandpur. “It is my hometown. My family has been living there for long. We will go back once peace is restored in the area.”

Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has launched a helpline number for people in need of evacuation from Manipur. A help desk has also been created at the Kolkata airport for those arrving from Manipur.