Manipur plans to airlift Meiteis from Mizoram after caution from ex-militant group

The Manipur government has planned to airlift Meiteis from Mizoram, one of the two communities engaged in violence with the Kukis, from Aizawl.

This comes after an organisation of former militants in Mizoram asked the Meiteis to leave for their home state for their “own safety”.

The organisation stated that there is “anger among Mizo youths” over the incident of two women being disrobbed, paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a group of men on May 4, a video of which surfaced on Wednesday, sparking huge outrage.

The Manipur government is planning to airlift people from Mizoram by special ATR flights operating between Aizawl-Imphal and Aizawl-Silchar.

The Mizoram Police stepped up security arrangements to ensure the safety of Meiteis in Aizawl city, India Today NE reported. Security has been beefed up at Vety College, Selesih; Mizoram University, Tanhril; RIPANS, Zemabawk and ZMC, Falkawn.

“In anticipation of possible development of tension which could threaten the security of Meiteis living in Aizawl, due to the public outrage against the recent viral video of two tribal Kuki – Zo brutally assaulted in Manipur. Security arrangements are made in order to ensure the safety of Meitei in Aizawl,” the letter read.

PLANS TO AIRLIFT
Though the government has planned to airlift Meiteis, however, the details of when the evacuation process will start are not out yet. A few thousand Meiteis, mostly from Manipur and south Assam, live in Mizoram.

“There are plans by the government to airlift Meiteis from Aizawl but when the evacuation will take place, is yet to be confirmed,” a Meitei student living in Aizawl told India Today NE.

In the aftermath of the Peace Accord, MNF Returnees Association’s (PAMRA) statement urging Meiteis to leave Mizoram for their safety, the Mizo Student’s Union (MSU) took a bold step by announcing its plan to conduct a Meitei census at various Mizoram educational institutions.

MEITEIS ASKED TO LEAVE MANIPUR
The Peace Accord MNF Returnees’ Association (PAMRA) in Mizoram has asked Meiteis residing in the state to return to their home state “for their safety”.

“The situation in Mizoram has become tense and it is no longer safe for Meitei people from Manipur to live in Mizoram in the wake of barbaric and heinous acts committed by miscreants in Manipur,” PAMRA, an organisation of former militants in Aizawl, said in a statement released on Friday from Aizawl.

Meanwhile, the Mizoram government on Saturday reassured the Meitei community living in a state of safety and told them not to pay heed to rumours, news agency PTI reported.

State home commissioner and secretary H. Lalengmawia held a meeting with leaders of the Meitei community and assured them of their safety and security, an official statement said.

State principal consultant for civil aviation Wing Commander J. Lalhmingliana said 65 Meitei people left for Manipur by flight on Saturday. He said all tickets for the next flight on the Aizawl-Imphal route on Monday have also been booked.

MANIPUR VIOLENCE
More than 160 people have lost their lives and several others have been injured since May 3, when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis constitute approximately 53 percent of Manipur’s population and primarily reside in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, account for 40 percent and mostly live in the hill districts.