The Peace Accord MNF Returnees’ Association (PAMRA) had issued a statement on Friday saying Mizoram was no longer safe for the Meiteis in view of the mounting tension following the “barbaric and heinous acts committed by miscreants in Manipur”. MNF STANDS FOR MIZO NATIONAL FRONT, a Former insurgent, secessionist, underground guerilla Mizo group which was disbanded under its leader Laldenga on June 30, 1986. It was formed by about 22nd. October, 1961. Its members have since surrendered completely to Govt. Of India in 1986, promising to work for National and state peace and progress. Laldenga went on to become the First Chief Minister of Mizoram after signing the Mizo Peace Accord on 30th. June, 1986.
The Manipur government has planned to airlift Meiteis from Mizoram, one of the two communities engaged in violence with the Kukis, from Aizawl. This comes after an organisation of former militants in Mizoram asked the Meiteis to leave for their home state for their “own safety”.
The organisation stated that there is “anger among Mizo youths” over the incident of two women being disrobbed, paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a group of men on May 4, a video of which surfaced on Wednesday, sparking huge outrage.
Officials of airline agencies operating flights to and from Lengpui, the airport near Mizoram’s capital Aizawl, said about 60 people took flights to Imphal’s Tulihal airport.
“Imphal airport authorities said 56 Meiteis landed from Mizoram in an Alliance Air flight. An unspecified number of Meitei people are said to have left Aizawl and other parts of Mizoram by buses and taxis,” the report said.
The Meiteis of Manipur residing in Mizoram have reportedly started leaving the state due to safety concerns prompted by a recently-viral video. According to reports, the former militants’ organization “Peace Accord MNF Returnees’ Association” and the “Hmar Students Association” allegedly asked the Meiteis of Manipur to leave Mizoram for their own safety.
This has led to over 300 Meiteis gathering in Aizawl, while others have sought shelter in local churches. Some have reached Imphal Airport today, with many others still stuck in Mizoram.
There are over 2,000 Meiteis in Mizoram, of which half originate from Manipur, and are working in various sectors, including central government offices. Sources confirm a routine flight from Aizawl to Imphal on Saturday.
The Manipur government had earlier planned to provide a chartered flight to bring Meiteis back home, but it has yet to materialize.
The report quoting sources said the N. Biren Singh government was making arrangements to airlift settlers in Mizoram from Sunday morning to avoid road travel.
According to a Manipur Government estimate, “there are about 2,000 Meiteis in Mizoram, including teachers at Mizoram University. Half of them are from Manipur while the other half are primarily from southern Assam,” the report mentioned.
The PAMRA’s statement on Friday was with reference to a viral video showing a mob parading two naked women, one of whom was allegedly gang-raped at B. Phainom village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district. The incident took place on May 4.
“The Mizoram Government had beefed up security in Aizawl after PAMRA issued its statement in the wake of the viral video. The video was also cited by Mizoram’s Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Lallianmawia in a letter to the commandants of two Mizoram Armed Battalions and an Indian Reserve Battalion. He said the safety of the Meitei people in Aizawl should be ensured in view of the outrage over the video,” the report mentioned.
The report said Mizoram’s Home Commissioner, H. Lalengmawia, held a meeting with the leaders of PAMRA on Saturday, seeking a clarification on the statement they had issued purportedly to threaten the Meiteis.
“The PAMRA representatives said their statement was an advisory requesting the Meiteis living in Mizoram to exercise caution in the light of public sentiments regarding the ongoing conflict in Manipur and was not a diktat or a quit notice to the Meiteis,” a Mizoram Government spokesperson said, as per the report.
It said: “The PAMRA representatives expressed regret that their statement was misconstrued and have assured not to do anything that would affect peace and tranquillity in the State.”
“We also met with representatives of All Mizoram Manipuri Association and assured them of their safety and security and persuaded them to inform their fellow Meiteis, both government employees and students, not to leave the State,” Lalengmawia was quoted as having said.