Over 3,000 people flee violence-hit Manipur to neighbouring Mizoram
text_fields
Aizawl: A total of 3,583 people from Manipur fled to Mizoram after ethnic violence broke out last week, officials said on Thursday.
They were lodged at temporary relief camps across six districts of Mizoram, while many were also given shelter by their relatives, they said.
A total of 1,351 people have taken shelter in the Kolasib district, 1,214 people in the Saitual district and 934 others in the Aizawl district, a statement said. The remaining 84 people took shelter in Champhai, Serchhip and Khawzawl districts, it added.
Mizoram is already burdened with over 30,000 refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh, state officials said.
Violent clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status leading to the deaths of at least 54 people.
The clashes were preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.
Ethnic violence was brewing in the state for some time as a long history of mutual suspicion between ethnic groups in the Imphal valley and its surrounding hills turned into a simmering conflict after the BJP-led Manipur government started a drive to evict tribal villagers from reserved forests.
The immediate reason for the violence is however, a Manipur High Court order directing the state government to recommend to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry by May 29, an ST status for the community.
On May 4, as the violence escalated, the Centre invoked Article 355 of the Constitution, which is a part of emergency provisions. It empowers the Centre to take necessary steps to protect a state against external aggression or internal disturbances.
In the last few days, convoys of trucks belonging to the Army, the Assam Rifles, the Rapid Action Force, and local police personnel have moved into the state and entered several affected areas.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis, constitute another 40 percent of the population and reside in the hill districts.
The Kukis are represented by 10 legislators, including five BJP MLAs in the 60-member Manipur assembly. The Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA), an ally of the ruling BJP government, has two MLAs.
Over a dozen people have been reported killed in the violence, hundreds have been wounded, and over 9,000 people belonging to the Kuki and Meitei communities, besides others, have been displaced so far.
Defence sources said that around 9,000 people were rescued from violence-hit areas and given shelter. Buildings, homes, and other property, including vehicles, have been destroyed. There is no official confirmation of the number of fatalities so far.
