Mizoram Govt not to enlist help from Manipur on IDPs

** The total number of IDPs taking shelter in the state as on Friday, June 2, is 8861 with with Assam border Kolasib district hosting 3266, followed by Aizawl and Saitual districts at 2889 and 2,249 respectively. Champhai has 215, Khawzawl-77, Serchhip-50, Mamit  -33, Lunglei -  63, Hnahthial - 8 and Siaha  -11.

Mizoram Govt not to enlist help from Manipur on IDPs

New Delhi/Aizawl 

Amid growing tension in Manipur and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's four-day visit to the state, the visit by another central minister to the state of Mizoram got neglected by the national and the regional media.

Deserted Manipur towns 

Also it has been hardly reported that the Mizoram government, which is catering to over 8000 internally displaced population from Manipur, has decided not to approach the authorities for 'any help and assistance 'vis-a-vis relief materials and food to the 'displaced' Kukis and other tribes from hilly region of Manipur.

The general refrain among Mizoram government officials and common citizenry is "we will take good care of those who fled the trouble-torn neighboring state as they are all our kindred brothers".

'Nagaland Page'

A senior state home department official said that the state government is yet to receive any communication from the Manipur government.  

“We have not received any intimation from the Manipur state government, neither asking us to let the IDPs return to Manipur nor whether they are safe and sound in Mizoram,” one Mizoram government official commented.  

This sums up the mutual distrust and tension. Meanwhile, civil society leaders in Aizawl say there area good number of Meitei community people - Hindus, Muslims and also Christians - staying in the Mizoramstate capital and other places. "A large number of Meitei people in and around Aizawl are in the motor mechanicand auto-parts business," a source told 'Nagaland Page' over phone. 

The MNF-led Mizoram government has asked the union Ministry of Home Affairs to sanction Rs 5 crore for providing relief to the "thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) from Manipur". 

"Formal proposals seeking funds for providing relief to over 8,000 IDPs from Manpur taking refuge in the state was submitted to the MHA and the state Chief Minister Zoramthanga had written a demi official (DO) letter to the ministry,"the source revealed.

“This is only an initial estimate for providing relief and more funds would be sought if and when required,” they said.

Importantly, Union Minority Affairs Minister John Barla met journalists at BJP state headquarters Atal Bhavan on Wednesday.He said that the centre would provide financial assistance to the state government for aid to the IDPs from Manipur if the state government asks for it.

Barla said that the centre always provided funds for internally displaced people in the country.  

The total number of IDPs taking shelter in the state as on Friday, June 2, is 8861 with with Assam border Kolasib district hosting 3266, followed by Aizawl and Saitual districts at 2889 and 2,249 respectively. Champhai has 215, Khawzawl-77, Serchhip-50, Mamit  -33, Lunglei -  63, Hnahthial - 8 and Siaha  -11. 

In Imphal on June 1 at the end of his visit to the state including violence-hit Churachandpur district,Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Kuki militant groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO) who defy the ground rules will face stringent actions.

He also outlined a series of measures aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region and emphasised the importance of adhering to the ground rules established for militant groups operating under the SoO agreement.

He announced the setting up of a judicial probe panel headed by a retired high court judge and also a CBIprobe to look into the 'conspiracy' angle for triggering unprecedented armed conflict between non-tribalMeiteis and tribals and especially Kukis and other smaller Zo community people.

On May 3 when the trouble began it was essentially taken as a conflict between Meitei and Kukisover the demand for ST status for majority Meiteis but the violence went on unabated for a month now.

The Nagas in Manipur have kept themselves away and isolated from the ongoing conflict.  At the personal initiative of Home Minister Shah, Manipur DGP P. Doungel was replaced on Thursday by a special order from Raj Bhavan, Imphal.Former ADGP Tripura, Rajiv Singh will be the new DGP.

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