Mao people stranded in Dimapur airlifted by spl flight

Over 60 passengers belonging to Mao community, stranded at Dimapur in view of Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) bandh were airlifted on Tuesday by a chartered flight arranged by Manipur government. The special flight from Dimapur with 64 Mao citizens, mostly students and working professionals, landed at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport here in the morning.
It may be mentioned that SAPO had announced banning Mao citizens from entering Southern Angami areas with effect from December 5, 2022 vis-à-vis land dispute at Kezoltsa.
Leaders and members of various civil society organisations (CSOs), including Mao-Imphal Market Co-ordination Committee including local MLA (Mao Assembly constituency) Losii Dikho, were present at the airport to receive the stranded people.
The government took the initiative to bring back those stranded at Dimapur after CSOs and Mao-Imphal Market Co-ordination Committee submitted a memorandum on December 17 to Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh.
Talking to reporters at the airport, convener of Mao-Imphal Market Co-ordination Committee Khuraijam Athouba thanked the chief minister for his swift action and hoped that the government would arrange more flights to bring back the stranded people before Christmas. He also urged the state government to find a way to resolve the land dispute at the Manipur-Nagaland border so that no unfortunate incidents arise.
Dikho informed that the state government has been working out to resolve the issue in a peaceful manner.
Dikho said: “The dispute should be resolved in a peaceful manner as we have to remain as good neighbours.”