IT News
Imphal, Mar 3:
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) staying at the relief camp in Kamakhya Pemton College, Hiyangthang, thronged to the SDC office Hiyangthang protesting against the district administration over the alleged deletion of names from the camp’s official records.
Moirangthem Biren, an IDP who was forced out of Churachandpur following the violent incidents of May 3, 2023, expressed frustration over being treated as refugees in their own land. “We are not refugees, we are Manipuris. Why should we be treated as refugees by our own Meitei officers?” he questioned while speaking to media persons.
Biren recounted the ordeal of IDPs, stating that their houses in Churachandpur had been completely vandalized, burned, and flattened by Kuki groups, leaving them without a home. Since then, they have been shifting between various relief camps set up by the government. “Sometimes we are told to stay at Moirang, sometimes at Kamakhya Pemton College in Hiyangthang. We have been living like birds in a poultry farm,” he lamented.
Currently, 301 inmates are residing at the Kamakhya Pemton College relief camp. On Saturday, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Imphal West visited the camp to inspect conditions. However, after his departure, the Sub-Deputy Collector (SDC) of Hiyangthang reportedly presented a revised list, which excluded 49 names from the records.
Angered by this sudden exclusion, the IDPs thronged the office of the Sub-Deputy Collector, Imphal West-II, at Hiyangthang demanding answers. Their frustration grew when they found the official absent from the office.
Speaking to the media, Biren shared a personal grievance, stating that his daughter’s name was removed from the list because she was absent during the SDC’s visit. “My daughter is undergoing training at Takyel and couldn’t be present at the camp during the visit. I informed the SDC about her, yet her name was removed. My son, who is engaged in house construction work, has also been excluded,” he said.
The IDPs expressed further dissatisfaction after being told by district authorities that they should not send their children to private schools. Many of those whose names were deleted were working or studying but were still residing in the relief camp.
The displaced families have urged the government to restore their names and ensure their rightful access to aid and resources as they continue to struggle with displacement and uncertainty.
