Manipur strife victims urge government for home returns

In the wake of Manipur’s three-month ethnic conflict, distressed victims, currently residing in overcrowded relief camps, are pressing the state government for a swift resolution. Their fervent plea is to return to their original homes.
At the Thongju Kendra Relief Camp, situated at the Ideal Girls College in Imphal East district, several refugees from Tengnoupal and Churachandpur districts conveyed their dwindling trust in the state government’s promises of home restoration. Sanatambi, a resident of the India-Myanmar border town of Moreh, poignantly remarked, “Our people were murdered. We need justice and our homes back.”
Many, like 24-year-old Nganthoibi from Churachandpur, describe the relief camp conditions as inhumane. Recounting the day her house was burned down, Nganthoibi revealed the complete loss her family suffered due to the conflict. Although the government has constructed temporary housing units, she, like many others, is sceptical of the government’s assurances and yearns to return to her own home.
The economic impact of the conflict is evident in Moreh, a rapidly developing town in Tengnoupal district, known for its diverse population and significant revenue contributions to Manipur. Residents like Ingobi Singh, 75, from Moreh, underscore the town’s recent challenges, including the departure of several communities due to ongoing violence.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh clarified that the prefab houses offered to the victims are a temporary measure to alleviate their current hardships. These structures are set up at multiple sites, with a significant number already constructed in various districts.
The roots of the current strife trace back to May 3, following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in hill districts, protesting against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. This led to intense ethnic clashes, resulting in over 160 fatalities and numerous injuries.