Correspondent
IMPHAL, May 6: Womenfolk of a village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district whose normal life was severely affected by repeated attacks on Wednesday sought for immediate steps to be taken by the government authorities to ensure security, protect civilians, and restore peace in the area.
Womenfolk of Sinakeithei (SanaKeithel), a Tangkhul Naga dominated village under Litan police station of Ukhrul district held a sit-in-protest in their village today.
Sinakeithei has been in the news since the unfolding of the conflict between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki tribe in February last, resulting in the loss of at least seven lives and injuries on many others. Gunfights between armed rival groups of the two tribes have been recurring in the vicinity of the area since the unfolding of the conflict.
The womenfolk of the village held the protest to highlight the impact on their normal life, education of the children, etc. due to the recurring gunfights in the area. In a video provided to the media in Imphal regarding the protest, a local teacher expressed his strong concern over the prevailing academic atmosphere in the village where children’s right to education is at stake with classrooms falling silent amid fear.
The teacher urged the concerned authorities to conduct a joint verification of land records at Lungteer hill while citing dispute over land ownerships as the key factor of the conflict.
She also sought relocation of camps at Tikamnom and Mount Sinai in Kangpokpi, citing safety concerns.
The teacher alleged that the presence of such camps has created anxiety among residents. The situation could worsen if not intervened timely by the concerned authorities, she warned. Another woman in the video described the emotional strain on families, stating that frequent gunfire has made it difficult for villagers to step out of their village for work.
At the same time, children remain confined to their homes with fear of what would happen the next moment.
She added that children were in a state of anxiety with no normal learning environment since the unfolding of the conflict.
The protester urged authorities, including the state chief minister, to take immediate steps to ensure security, protect civilians, and restore peace in the area.