Manipur violence | Relief as many stranded in camps return home: ‘Now I know I will live’

She was among the 500-odd people stranded in relief camps in Churachandpur district who reached Imphal at around 5:20 pm on Monday, amid a heavy security cover.

A similar number of people who were stranded in relief camps in Imphal reached Churachandpur earlier in the day, at around 3 pm. This was the first mass movement between the two tense regions since violent clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities erupted in the state on May 3.

The question of the safe passage of primarily Meitei evacuees from Kuki-dominated Churachandpur and of primarily Kuki evacuees from Meitei-dominated Imphal had been a major source of tension in the past few days, and Monday’s development brought a wave of relief to many families.

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)

Another 467 people were also escorted from Moreh to Imphal on Monday.

Around 72 of those who reached Imphal on Monday evening were students of Churachandpur Medical College, and had been housed in a relief camp at a district administration complex since May 4.

“We couldn’t imagine something this scary could happen. We were stuck in our hostel on the night of May 3 and reached the camp on May 4. This morning, the district collector told us we would be taken back to Imphal. There was very tight security so we did not feel scared during the journey,” said 20-year-old Jaishree Salam, a first-year medical student.

Though the day brought relief, they were apprehensive about their future. “We are too scared to go back there. We can’t go back,” said her friend, 21-year-old Farhanaz Sultan.

Khongdongbi (75), a resident of Saikot, Churachandpur, had to be evacuated with her family after their home was destroyed in the violence. Arriving in Imphal with her daughter and grandchildren, she said: “We escaped a war-like situation. At least now I know I will live for sure.”

With just the first phase of such evacuations carried out, the anxious wait continues for many.

Eighteen-year-old Priya arrived in Imphal with her grandfather and dog, Maxi. As she waited tearfully for her brother to pick her up and take her to his home in Moirang, she said: “I lived in Churachandpur with my uncle and aunt. They are still at the relief camp; they were not brought today.”

An Army colonel who was part of the evacuation process said the evacuation of the approximately 5,500 people at camps in Churachandpur will “move rapidly”. “The number of people in camps in Imphal is far larger and that process will take a few more days,” he said.

Meanwhile, Imphal was quiet on Monday after curfew was relaxed for four hours in the morning, but the afternoon saw heavy security deployment ahead of the movement of the evacuees. “Curfew relaxations have been given from two-four hours in various districts,” said Kuldiep Singh, Security Advisor to the Manipur government.