The Manipur government has shifted the last of 10 Kuki families comprising 24 members from Imphal's New Lambulane area to the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district on the northern side of Imphal Valley early on Saturday, September 2.
The families were taken to Motbung, in Kangpokpi district, some 25 km from Imphal, as they had become "vulnerable targets", an official said.
The ethnic violence in Manipur broke out in May 2023, following the killing of a Kuki youth by a Naga militant group. The violence has since claimed the lives of over 50 people and displaced thousands more.
The Kuki families who were shifted to Kangpokpi district had been living in New Lambulane for decades. They had refused to move elsewhere even after the violence broke out, saying that they were not afraid and that they had nowhere else to go.
However, the government said that it had shifted the families for their own safety. "We have shifted them to a safe place where they can live in peace," the official said.
The families have expressed gratitude to the government for shifting them to a safe place. However, they have also expressed sadness at having to leave their homes and belongings behind.
"We are grateful to the government for shifting us to a safe place," said one of the family members. "But we are also sad to have to leave our homes and belongings behind."
The families are now hoping to rebuild their lives in Kangpokpi district. They are looking for ways to support themselves and their families.
The Manipur government has said that it will provide assistance to the families to help them rebuild their lives.
The ethnic violence in Manipur is a complex issue with no easy solutions. The government is working to address the root causes of the violence and to bring peace to the state. However, it is a long and difficult process.
The shifting of the last of 10 Kuki families to Kangpokpi district is a small step in the long journey to peace in Manipur. It is hoped that this will help to protect the families from further violence and allow them to rebuild their lives.
