212 Who Took Refuge In Myanmar Return To Manipur, Chief Minister Lauds Army's Role

A total of 212 individuals, both men and women from Manipur, who had sought refuge in Myanmar following ethnic clashes that erupted in the northeastern state on May 3, have now returned safely to Manipur, according to a statement by Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.

All 212 individuals are members of the Meitei community and hail from Moreh, a town situated along the Myanmar border.

The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the Indian Army for initiating and successfully executing the mission to bring these people back to Manipur. Singh took to Twitter to convey his relief, stating: "Relief and gratitude as 212 fellow Indian citizens (all Meiteis) who sought safety across the Myanmar border post the May 3 unrest in Moreh town of Manipur, are now safely back on Indian soil. A big shout-out to the Indian Army for their dedication in bringing them home. Sincere gratitude to GOC Eastern Command, Lt Gen R.P. Kalita, GOC 3 Corp, Lt Gen H.S. Sahi and CO of 5 AR, Col Rahul Jain, for their unwavering service."

The turmoil on May 3 had led to violence erupting in Churachandpur district, particularly affecting Moreh, when a protest rally organized by the Kuki-Zo-Chin tribes escalated due to the Meiteis' demand for Scheduled Tribes (ST) status.

Moreh had been home to a diverse population including Kukis, Meiteis, and Tamils with historical roots. The unrest had created uncertainty about the Meiteis' return to their properties in Moreh or their potential relocation to the Imphal valley.

In the aftermath of the ethnic conflict, the Kuki-Zo-Chin tribes voiced their desire for a separate administration carved out of Manipur, asserting that coexistence with the Meiteis was no longer feasible.

Conversely, certain Meiteis previously residing in Kuki-majority hill regions have called for secure arrangements for their return home.

As security forces maintain "buffer zones," demarcating areas where movement between Meiteis and Kukis is restricted, the timeline for the internally displaced people's return to the hills and valley remains uncertain.