Imphal: last of 10 Kuki families shifted to Kangpokpi; members allege 'forced eviction'

Security officials in Imphal, which is predominantly inhabited by the Meitei community, allegedly forced twenty-four Kuki residents out of their homes, citing concerns for their safety on the night of Sept 1, Hindustan Times reported.

Several Kuki families living in Imphal valley moved out of the area following the May 3 ethnic clashes. In a similar move, Meiteis residing in Kuki dominated localities shifted to different areas in view of their safety.

S Prim Vaiphei, one of the volunteers guarding the Kuki locality in the heart of Imphal, said that a "team of uniformed armed personnel claiming to be acting under directions from the Home Department came to New Lambulane, Imphal in the intervening night of September 1 and 2 and forcibly evicted the last remaining residents of the Kuki locality in Imphal from their homes".

Expressing strong displeasure over the "forcible eviction", Kuki Inpi Manipur, the apex body of the Kuki tribes, in two statements, said, they stood "aghast at the dastardly attack against the last of the Kuki Zo volunteers (numbering about 24 men) who have been guarding the houses and properties of the Kukis at New Lambulane. The volunteers were later escorted by security personnel".

Meanwhile, an official said, these families were taken to the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district on the northern side of Imphal Valley early on Saturday, as they had become "vulnerable targets",