A massive evacuation of stranded people in violence-hit Manipur continued for the fifth day on Monday. Thousands of people stranded in, Imphal, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi were evacuated in an effort to restore peace and normalcy in the state, official sources said.
Although the exact numbers of stranded people are yet to be ascertained, as many as three to four thousand stranded tribals were reportedly evacuated in Kangpokpi on Monday with the help of 22 Assam Rifles under the aegis of IGAR (E). The evacuated people from various hill districts in the state also reached Kangpokpi district headquarters at around 3:30 pm.
The Kangpokpi Town Relief Committee, under the aegis of the Kangpokpi Town Committee, welcomed the stranded people on their arrival at Brigadier M Thomas Ground and dispatched them to various relief camps in the district.
Over 10 relief camps have been set up in Kangpokpi town, apart from other relief camps in various villages near Kangpokpi town and in all three assembly constituencies of the district.
As many as 5,000 stranded tribals have been reportedly evacuated in Kangpokpi district since May 5, according to sources. The stranded people included children, men and women, students, and the elderly.
Relief materials were poured in from various communities, including the Gorkhas, other tribal Nagas, and Kukis across the district and neighbouring districts and states.
The Kangpokpi District Core Committee, which was formed to monitor the situation in the district, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the 22 Assam Rifles for evacuating the stranded people safely from Imphal to Kangpokpi district.
It also appealed to the 22 Assam Rifles and other security forces to evacuate the remaining stranded tribal people from the state capital to the district safely at the earliest possible time.
Meanwhile, three critically injured persons were airlifted on Monday to Guwahati with the help of the Churachandpur district administration, a release stated.
The Churachandpur administration said in a release that it facilitated safe passage of approximately 500 people from relief camps from Churachandpur to Imphal, while another 500 plus got safe passage from to Imphal to Churachandpur with with security convoys on Monday.
The district administration said that necessary steps are in place to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential items to the public. At the same time, curfew was relaxed for the third consecutive day. On Monday it was relaxed for three hours between 7 am and 10 am.
Routine flag marches were taken out by the security forces involving Army/AR, CRPF BSF, IRB and the police. Apart from maintaining close security coordination among all forces in the district, the district administration has continuously reached out to civil society organisations, the release stated.
A meeting with local CSOs was held on Monday in its endeavour to keep the situation under control and bring back normalcy in the district, the district administration said in the release.
Relentless efforts have been made to facilitate safe passage to the affected people who are in relief camps led by comission PK Jha and IGP K Kabib, who are camping at Churachandpur since the crisis began, the release mentioned.
Basic amenities such as food, water, healthcare and sanitation facilities are extended to people in the camps with special emphasis on children and vulnerable persons.
The press release stated that currently about 5,000 people are secured at relief centres located at four location including Mini-Secretariat complex.
The district administration urged all concerned to maintain peace and refrain from spreading misinformation so as to prevent law and order issue.
(With inputs from Kangpokpi correspondent)
