Kuki militants fire on villagers gathering firewood
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 22: Locals of Pukhao Naharup have urged the Government to dismantle a Kuki militants' bunker at Uyok Ching and provide them with security during the firewood gathering season.
The locals alleged that they were fired upon by Kuki militants from the bunker while they were gathering firewood at Uyok Ching on March 20.
The militants' bunker, they alleged, is located between two bunkers of 133 Bn CRPF, and accused the Central forces of not intervening and remaining mute spectators to the incident.
Speaking to this paper, locals said Pukhao Naharup has around 338 households and it has been an age-old custom for the residents to gather firewood from Uyok Ching.
Gathering of firewood from the Uyok Ching has been an old practice and many households depend on it for sustenance, they said.
The residents of Pukhao Naharup were allowed to gather firewood from the hill by a Durbar resolution No 10A of 20/7/1932, they said.
The villagers gather dead wood, shrubs but they never fell trees. The gathering of firewood is also carried out in phases to give ample time for shrubs to grow back again. A complete cycle of gathering firewood from the Uyok Ching takes at least 8 years, they said.
The locals usually gather firewood during March-April. At least one person from every household volunteers to gather the firewood. The firewood thus collected are used privately and in many rituals, they said.
While the villagers couldn't collect firewood during 2024 due to the violent conflict, they resumed the practice in 2025.
However, on March 20 this year, the villagers were fired upon by Kuki militants while they were gathering firewood at Uyok Ching, said the locals.
"The Kuki militants fired at us from a bunker located between two bunkers of the 133 Bn CRPF. The Central security forces didn't stop them from firing at us. We had to flee for our lives," said a local.
The locals said, one cadre of the KRA identified as Letkhohao Guite has claimed ownership over the Uyok Ching, prohibiting the Meiteis from gathering firewood.
Hearing the sound of firing, local police rushed to the area, but they couldn't do anything, they said.
While the locals have approached the police, no security arrangement has been made as assured, they added.
The locals said they want the Government and its authorities concerned to take up immediate steps to dismantle the bunker and provide adequate security to the locals during the firewood gathering period.
An official of the Range Forest Office Sawombung said gathering of firewood from forest area is permitted within 1/4th of a mile from the periphery of a village area with permission.
Such permits are usually for gathering dead woods and shrubs, and must be carried out systematically. Felling of trees is strictly prohibited, said the official.
IMPHAL, Mar 22: Locals of Pukhao Naharup have urged the Government to dismantle a Kuki militants' bunker at Uyok Ching and provide them with security during the firewood gathering season.
The locals alleged that they were fired upon by Kuki militants from the bunker while they were gathering firewood at Uyok Ching on March 20.
The militants' bunker, they alleged, is located between two bunkers of 133 Bn CRPF, and accused the Central forces of not intervening and remaining mute spectators to the incident.
Speaking to this paper, locals said Pukhao Naharup has around 338 households and it has been an age-old custom for the residents to gather firewood from Uyok Ching.
Gathering of firewood from the Uyok Ching has been an old practice and many households depend on it for sustenance, they said.
The residents of Pukhao Naharup were allowed to gather firewood from the hill by a Durbar resolution No 10A of 20/7/1932, they said.
The villagers gather dead wood, shrubs but they never fell trees. The gathering of firewood is also carried out in phases to give ample time for shrubs to grow back again. A complete cycle of gathering firewood from the Uyok Ching takes at least 8 years, they said.
The locals usually gather firewood during March-April. At least one person from every household volunteers to gather the firewood. The firewood thus collected are used privately and in many rituals, they said.
While the villagers couldn't collect firewood during 2024 due to the violent conflict, they resumed the practice in 2025.
However, on March 20 this year, the villagers were fired upon by Kuki militants while they were gathering firewood at Uyok Ching, said the locals.
"The Kuki militants fired at us from a bunker located between two bunkers of the 133 Bn CRPF. The Central security forces didn't stop them from firing at us. We had to flee for our lives," said a local.
The locals said, one cadre of the KRA identified as Letkhohao Guite has claimed ownership over the Uyok Ching, prohibiting the Meiteis from gathering firewood.
Hearing the sound of firing, local police rushed to the area, but they couldn't do anything, they said.
While the locals have approached the police, no security arrangement has been made as assured, they added.
The locals said they want the Government and its authorities concerned to take up immediate steps to dismantle the bunker and provide adequate security to the locals during the firewood gathering period.
An official of the Range Forest Office Sawombung said gathering of firewood from forest area is permitted within 1/4th of a mile from the periphery of a village area with permission.
Such permits are usually for gathering dead woods and shrubs, and must be carried out systematically. Felling of trees is strictly prohibited, said the official.