By Gita Konthoujam
Imphal, July 13:
State government measures to assure full-proof security to farmers during cultivation turns as a flop show at many places as farmers are still not allowed to enter at their respective paddy fields after armed Kuki militants threatens them by firing towards the paddy field. The deployments of some Para military central forces at the periphery are of no use to the farmers as they allegedly let those armed militants free to threatens and attack the farmers visiting the field.
This reporter when visiting Pukhao area in Imphal East was shocked to found many villagers and the cultivators at Pukhao area in Imphal East near their paddy field standing helplessly looking at their paddy field which they cannot start cultivation as they felt the armed militants belonging to the Kuki community are aiming their guns towards them. Even those security personnel from the Central forces including the JAT regiment deployed in the periphery area are of no use as they told the farmers not to enter the paddy fields.
Shortage of rainfall has already worried the farmers and the restriction imposed by Kuki Militants and the Paramilitary forces to their respective paddy fields. Some of the villagers watch their paddy fields in Pukhao area with tears rolling down their cheeks, as they were left with no choice.
Pointing towards the Wakan Makha Hill, a lady farmer told Imphal Times that the armed Kuki Militants started actively present in the area soon after a Central Forces have been deployed in the area. The unfortunate part is that whenever the Kuki armed militants threatened them of dire consequences if enter in the cultivation site, a villager told Imphal Times.
A farmer told Imphal Times that in addition to the problems being faced by the farmers, many cattle that were sent out for grazing at Wakan Makha and the adjoining hill range have not returned back.
“We suspect that many of our cattle have been killed by the armed Kuki. Some are still not returning and the farmers have no means to get back their cattle”, a farmer of Pukhao told Imphal Times. He urged the government to provide adequate security so that they can bring back their cattle home.
There are over 200 hectors of paddy fields in the area, and the villagers see no hope of going there for cultivation.
