IDPs make stand clear to PR administration

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 25: A large number of IDPs today  staged a protest demonstration at Sajiwa Relief Camp against excesses committed by Manipur Police against the displaced people from Ikou, Sadu Yengkhuman, Dolaithabi, Litanpokpi, Mairenpat  and Sadu Lampak on November 24, 2025.
The protest demonstration was participated by IDPs staying in the relief camps of Sajiwa and Sawombung.
Speaking to media persons, Koijam Sarat Meetei, convenor of the Apex Committee of Victim Villages of  Ikou, Sadu Yengkhuman, Dolaithabi, Litanpokpi, Mairenpat  and Sadu Lampak said that IDPs staying in different relief camps requested the PR administration in advance not to hold Manipur Sangai Festival 2025.
The IDPs made it clear that the State sponsored tourism festival may be organised after they (IDPs) are resettled at their homes.
However, the PR administration, instead of listening to the IDP’s request, forcibly organised the festival.
As the Manipur Sangai Festival has been organised to portray a false image that peace and normalcy have returned in Manipur, the Government must not be furious when the IDPs raise the demand to let them go and resettle at their homes, Sarat said.
Asking why the State Government and the Central Government have not been  allowing the IDPs to go back home, he questioned the implications of Government’s prohibition on IDPs from going back to their native villages.
It has been quite a long time that the displaced people are not allowed to go back to their native villages through the creation of the so called buffer zones.
While the security forces  have been preventing the IDPs from going back to their villages, the security forces are not saying anything when Kukis mock the Meiteis from the nearby hill ranges, Sarat said.
He said that four people including two teenagers sustained grievous injuries in a brutal crackdown by Manipur Police personnel when IDPs demanded they be allowed to go home.
Sarat said that Manipur Police personnel assaulted the two teenagers in the most brutal manner.
Even as the injured victims were rushed to hospitals/healthcare centres, police blocked the way. They also fired tear gas shells at Sagolmang Community Health Centre, he said.
Sarat said that the IDPs will persist with their demand to let them go back to their native villages.
He also appealed to the PR administration not to obstruct the democratic movements of IDPs.
He urged the Government to take stern action against the police personnel who committed excesses against the IDPs.
Sarat also demanded a clarification from DSP Dhiraj regarding yesterday’s brutal crackdown.
In a separate protest demonstration at Sajiwa relief camp, Imagi Meira convenor Th Sujata also condemned the police action against IDPs.