Last Kuki families “forcibly shifted” out of Imphal; Sources say orders given by Union Government, touchy ahead of G20 event

“We were sleeping when suddenly they came and asked us to leave with them. No questions were allowed, no answers given” said a 30 year old man from the Kuki community who along 35 others were forcibly shifted out of New Lambulane in East Imphal and Imphal during the wee hours of Saturday, an operation that was carried out by Manipur Police along with Assam Rifles, claim highly placed sources within the state Government. 

“They are mostly poor people, associates or help of rich Kuki families who had been living there forever. But after the violence broke out On May 3, the rich owners left Imphal and moved to either Aizawl or Churachandpur but their helps, who too are from Kuki community were left behind to take care of the properties and businesses” said a state government official, unwilling to speak on record. He added that they had clear instruction to carry out the operation before the dawn of Saturday. All those evacuated were first taken to a relief camp of Assam Rifles in Motbung region in Kangpokpi district. 

Around 50 officers including Assam Rifles and state police had undertaken the operation in a very covert manner while there is no clarity as why they were evacuated when then have managed to stay there without being harmed for the past close to four months in a state divided on ethnic lines. 

“The orders came to us from the top, we were clearly told that our top had received orders for his top boss to remove the last few Kuki familes from Imphal and around ahead of G20 summit in Delhi” said a police officer who was part of the operation on condition of anonymity. A government officer close to Chief Minister N Biren Singh told us that the Union Government did not want to “take any chance with International delegates and dignitaries attending the G20 summit in Delhi starting from September 9, fearing if any clashes erupt in Manipur during the G20 event, the Central Government may have to face embarrassment and attacks from opposition parties”. 

Amongst people shifted to Motbung also included a family with need of medical assistance, that they were getting in Imphal and that might not be easy an ask in Kangpopki.