Manipur: Meetei Council urges PM Modi to settle and rehabilitate people driven out of Moreh since 1991
Meetei Council Moreh has urged the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to settle and rehabilitate all the people driven out of Moreh since 1991.
On January 2, seven security personnels were injured in an attack by suspected militants at bordering Moreh in Tengnoupal district.
Moreh is just 4 km to the west of Myanmar’s largest border town Tamu.
Moreh, which is 110 km south of Imphal, has been restive as a section of people are opposing the deployment of state forces in the area. The area had witnessed a series of violent incidents since May 3.
The Meetei Council, Moreh stated, “Would like to draw your kind attention to the situation of Moreh town in the Indo-Myanmar border for your kind intervention and necessary action.
The Council seeks to clarify the historical composition of Moreh, a border town established by the Meiteis, Tangkhuls, Tamils,Punjabis and Meitei Pangals. The influx of Kukis occurred later, with a significant portion being deemed illegal immigrants from Burma (Myanmar). The ethnic cleansing of the various communities from Moreh by the Kuki Militants and their supporters happened in the post 1991 period".
The Council maintained a firm stance that all individuals compelled to leave Moreh should be not only resettled but also rehabilitated in their rightful place—Moreh. Pending the implementation of such resettlements, it is the Council's position that no Kuki family, including those currently residing in Moreh, should be permitted to continue their stay.
The council added that after independence, the first Chief Minister of Manipur Maharaja Priyobrata Singh visited Tamu and advised to shift the commercial place to Moreh as Tamu was no longer under the jurisdiction of Manipur.
