People at Manipur relief camps: Divided by violence, united by hope

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Manipur Police, and his family are among the 700-odd people staying at a relief camp here set up in a college where everyone has one hope — return home safely once the situation is normal. They also went through the same trauma — explosions, rioting and mob violence before the Assam Rifles came to their rescue. As many as 238 families are lodged at the Ideal Girls' College here since the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force under the operational command of the Army, brought them from Moreh and Churachandpur.

Th Chanchal, who is staying in the chemistry classroom of the college that has tin roofing, keeps herself busy teaching her kids who have taken admission in a government school. Hailing from Moreh, a town located 107 km from the capital city of Imphal, Chanchal, belonging to the majority community, recalls her experience of May 3 when the entire family was sitting for dinner. «We heard a mob ransacking everything.

There were loud explosions and raining bullets,» she says. «We somehow managed to reach the neighbouring police station for shelter. We were taken to the Assam Rifles camp in Moreh town and the force managed our safe escape to Imphal city,» she recalls, adding her entire family had left everything back at their home.

Running a small business in Moreh town, Chanchal hopes she would return to her home very soon. «Maybe not immediately, but I wish to be back there at my home, in my area where I have been born and raised, provided we are assured that we will be secure,» she says. Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes since May 3 between the majority Meitei community and Kukis.

Meiteis have concentrated in Imphal city while Kukis have shifted to the hills. The violence has claimed over 160 lives. This camp,