S. David, a constable with Manipur Police, and his family are among the 700-odd people staying at a relief camp here set up in a college where everyone has one hope: return home safely once the situation is normal. They also went through the same trauma—explosions, rioting, and mob violence—before the Assam Rifles came to their rescue.
As many as 238 families are lodged at the Ideal Girls’ College here since the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force under the operational command of the Army, brought them from Moreh and Churachandpur.
Th Chanchal, who is staying in the chemistry classroom of the college that has tin roofing, keeps herself busy teaching her kids who have taken admission in a government school. Hailing from Moreh, a town located 107 km from the capital city of Imphal, Chanchal, belonging to the majority community, recalls her experience of May 3.
“We heard a mob ransacking everything. There were loud explosions and raining bullets. We somehow managed to reach the neighbouring police station for shelter. We were taken to the Assam Rifles camp in Moreh town and the force managed our safe escape to Imphal city,” she recalls, adding her entire family had left everything back at their home.
The violence has claimed over 160 lives. This camp, being run by Agriculture Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, has a common kitchen that is managed by three families among these displaced people.
The Army and Assam Rifles, which have been watching the situation, kept 17 columns ready on May 3 to respond to any contingency on short notice. These personnel rescued nearly 24,000 at their regular units and makeshift camps. In view of the magnitude of the tragedy evolving in Manipur, the Army and Assam Rifles lifted more troops to Manipur, and the number of columns was raised to 170 as of this date.
On the first night, within Imphal, 2,300 civilians were evacuated from violence-hit areas of Langol, Lamphel, and Mantripukhri, with another approximate 1,700 in Tengnoupal district, officials said.
In Churachandpur, on the first night alone, 4,600 locals were safely rescued from Khumujamba, Hmar Veng, Saikot, and Mantop Leikai, they said.
