This article is an attempt to bring out the voices of various innocent citizens caught amidst the conflict.
THIS IS OUR HOME AND IT HAS BEEN FOR GENERATIONS.
Theme- studies, relief camp, not leaving.
K is a young man in his early twenties, born and raised in his home town. He stays with his parents in their home in Churachandpur, he was scheduled to leave for Delhi for his UPSC training but has now cancelled these plans. He says “There is a refugee crisis in Churachandpur. Thousands have fled the areas bordering the district i.e. the villages of Kangvai, Sugnoo and Dampi, and have come to the town and are staying at relief camps. Many of their houses have been burnt down. The women and children are now refugees in Churachandpur town. They are staying in churches, town halls and schools. NGOs are helping them. The only people left in these 3 areas are men who are staying back to protect their village. There is some de-escalation of violence in the bordering villages also in the past few days and the town area is peaceful.”
K finds it challenging to trust that the occasional peace they have seen in the past few days will remain, He says, “It seems like a calm before the storm.” He says, “Some people are trying to get out of the state by road, there are vehicles leaving for the neighbouring states but it’s always full and it is very difficult to get out. But that is not why many of us are not leaving the village. If we leave, it’s not a good sign. This is our home and it has been for generations.“
THE GRAVE DANGER FOR COUPLES IN MIXED MARRIAGES
Theme- mixed marriage
R is from the Meitei community. She was married to person from the Kuki community facing lot of opposition from both the families. Even now family does not accept her easily. Around 16 years ago, her husband went to the market and became a victim of extrajudicial execution under AFSPA.
After her husband’s death, R started an initiative along with widows of Manipur who lost their husbands in extrajudicial execution by military forces under AFSPA. R was staying in her house near Imphal airport. On 3rd May, Her house was looted, Everything including furniture, kitchen utensils, memorials of her husband and her work was stolen.
Big trunk boxes of her work documents, news paper clippings, evidences were burnt. Her house was set on fire. She stays at her grandmother’s place with her son. Her brother comes to visit at times. She describes the happenings “3rd May was scary day. Houses were burnt in the hundreds. We cannot be connected to anyone except over phone call. There is full time curfew where I stay. It is a traumatizing experience. I don’t know how Manipur will be here after. There is so much fear and uncertainty.
I don’t know how my son will take this uncertainty. He is 17 years old now, and is in 12 standard but schooling seems uncertain now. Sending him out for studying is financially difficult. Several single mothers like me are in the same situation. We somehow had started moving on with life accepting absence of our husbands. Now we are at the loss of household again.
We all are innocents who are suffering. I don’t want to blame Meitei or Kuki or any community. We don’t know who to blame. We don’t trust anyone now. There is an FIR filed at police station after my house was burnt. They have promised 2 lakh as compensation. What can I do with 2 lakhs? Also, this is only a promise. People say that it is a scam. How will we rebuild our lives in Manipur again?”
“MAYBE I’LL HAVE TO PICK UP A GUN”
Themes- gun for safety, helplessness
G is a father of young children, caught in the most dangerous situation of his life. G lives in Sugnu which is witnessing large scale violence where many houses have been burnt down. He says “I don’t know how to keep my children safe in this situation. Maybe I’ll have to pick up a gun.”
This story was originally published in VOICES OF MANIPUR Newsletter. We are a collective of concerned Indian citizens, who are deeply disturbed and saddened by the distressing events unfolding in Manipur. We believe that there is a need for obtaining accurate and consistent updates about the situation in the state, not just from the mainland but from every corner of Manipur. This initiative aims to fulfil that crucial need. voicesofmanipur@gmail.com.