After receiving a warning from an ex-militant organization, the Manipur government is planning to evacuate the Meiteis from Mizoram in ATR planes flying between Aizwal-Silchar and Aizwal-Imphal.
The Manipur government has decided to airlift the Meitei people who escaped to Mizoram after violent clashes broke out between them and the Kuki tribe. In the past few days, a viral video of two Kuki women being paraded naked on the streets of Manipur by Meiteis has thrown the country into turmoil. The Manipur government was impelled to take the decision after a former militant group asked Meiteis to leave to ensure their safety.
Owing to these cautionary threats the Manipur government has planned to carry out the airlift in ATR planes operating on the routes Aizwal to Imphal and Aizwal to Silchar. According to India Today NE, the Mizoram police have amped up security to protect the Meitei people in the capital city of Aizwal. But the outrage against the refugees has exceeded all boundaries since the heinous video of May 4th resurfaced on Wednesday.
PAMRA urges Meiteis to leave Mizoram
The Peace Accord MNF Returnee’s Organization (PAMRA) released a statement on Friday. It read that owing to the barbarous acts that followed the outbreak of violence in Manipur, the situation in Mizoram had also become tense and it was no longer safe for the Meitei people to stay in Mizoram. Their statement was misunderstood by many. In a clarification from the PAMRA leaders, it was declared that they never wanted to threaten the Meitei to leave. They wanted to caution the Meitei people about their unpopularity amongst the Mizo youth.
According to PTI, the Mizoram government released a statement on Saturday reassuring the Meitei people of their security and refuge in the state. They have asked the community to not paid any heed to the rumors about the threats. In an official statement, it was recorded that H. Lalengmawia, Mizoram’s Home Commissioner and Secretary held a meeting with the elders of the Meitei community to communicate the state’s security plan for them.
But PAMRA’s cautionary statement has stirred some fear amongst the Meitei people residing in Mizoram. As reported by Wing Commander J. Lalhmingliana, the principal consultant for the State’s Civil Aviation, 65 people from the Meitei community flew out on Saturday. Moreover, the next flight on the Aizwal-Imphal route was fully booked.
Manipur’s Airlift Plans
The plan for the airlift has still not been properly laid out by the government authorities. This has raised anxiety amongst the Meitei people either residing or studying in Mizoram. The evacuation would be a difficult job for both the government and the aviation authorities. There must be, at least, a few thousand Meiteis from southern Assam and Manipur, who currently reside in Mizoram.
What is happening in Manipur?
The North-eastern State of Manipur has been burning since May 3rd. Violence due to ethnic clashes has raised the death toll to nearly 160. Almost 40,000 people have escaped Manipur since then. On Wednesday night, a video clip from May 4th went viral on all the major social media platforms. It showed two women of the Kuki tribe being paraded naked on the streets by a group of unidentified Meitei men.
Initially, the clashes erupted when the hill tribes of Manipur the Kukis and the Nagas began protests to stop the dominant Meiteis from receiving the scheduled tribe status. The Meiteis have been traditionally living in the valleys and consist of nearly 53% of the population.
The situation worsened when the Central government sent paramilitary forces to tackle the situation. The Kuki people have been demanding the resignation of CM N.Biren Singh who belongs to the Meitei community and separate governance for themselves
