The recent communal riots that erupted in Manipur affected several villages across the state, including the Nongpok Keithelmanbi in Imphal East.
The villagers of Nongpok Keithelmanbi on Tuesday urged the state government and the authorities concerned to provide security for the safety of the villagers against alleged armed militants.
Secretary of Nongpok Keithelmanbi Juvenile Club, Nongpok Keithelmanbi, Imphal East, Nanao Tensubam told the Imphal Free Press that the villagers have been securing the village without state police force and central paramilitary forces since the communal clashes started in the state on May 3.
“From the village, we can see the armed militants within a distance, around half a kilometre,” said
Nanao.
For the safety of the village, the elderly folsk of the village have been shifted to a nearby safe place and the youths are guarding the village, he said.
He also said that some state commando teams arrived to patrol the village, but villagers are securing the village with licence guns against the attack of armed militants most of the time, he added.
Nanao further told the Imphal Free Press that on Tuesday morning, a gun fight took place between the villagers and armed militants; however, no casualties have been reported.
“How long are we going to fight with the armed militants on our own?” Nanao questioned.
On the same day, the armed militants burnt down two four wheelers belonging to the villagers, he added.
He urged the authorities concerned to provide security forces for the safety of the villagers as the villagers want to stay in the village.
Meanwhile, president of Socio-Economic Development Organisation (SEDO) Salam Joy told the Imphal Free Press that SEDO opened a relief camp for the stranded people from Churachandpur and Bishnupur district in connection with the ongoing communal clash.
"With the assistance from some civil society organisation and other local bodies, some relief materials have been received. However, no assistance has been received from the state government till date," he said.
He appealed to the government to provide some necessary essential commodities for the stranded people that are staying at the relief camp.
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