Hell on Earth: In the Relief Centres of Imphal, Security was the Top Priority, but Food and Toilet Tortured Us Beyond Imagination

Anthony Shongthu

On 3rd May 2023, when an ethnic riot broke out,  and when the whole state machinery turned their back on the Kuki-Zo community, it was the Indian Army, including the Assam Rifle and Paramilitary Forces, who took the lead in saving the lives of thousands of innocent people in the "Valley of Death." Apart from the Military, the Nagas and Muslims (Pangals) along with a few others have also contributed a lot in saving the lives of hundreds of people particularly on the first few days of the communal riots.

The plan to completely annihilate the Kukis from Imphal was well-orchestrated in such a way that a few pieces of propaganda and fake news could indoctrinate thousands of innocent Meitei minds within a few hours and could soon culminate into large-scale destruction, mob lynching, rape and murder of many innocent lives.

As for me, and many others, we reached the 1st Manipur Rifles (MR) in the early morning of 4th May thanks to the Assam Rifles, Indian Army and other Central Forces. At first, we thought we would be leaving for our hometown in the hills on that very day. We were also hopeful that the riots would end within a few days considering the military might of India.

However, in contrast to what we have anticipated, the situation continues to get worse with each passing moment. There was no dearth of thousands of mobs everywhere eager to lynch the "Kukis" or destroy their properties. All the plans hatched by our community leaders to evacuate those stranded in Imphal could not materialize immediately as the Meitei government headed by N. Biren Singh was in control of all the state machinery.

The few top-level Kuki-Zo bureaucrats and police officers were deprived of their powers, and some of them were even lynched mercilessly. So, instead of helping their people, they themselves became as helpless and powerless as the common man.

In 1st MR, even though our lives were relatively secure, there was extreme fear about a possible shortage of food, water and medical facilities to meet any emergency situations for the thousands of inmates. Among them were many in critical condition needing constant medical care. There were also a number of lactating and expecting women not to forget the needs of those elderly people.

As we were convinced that we were unlikely to leave Imphal soon, one of the foremost issues in hand was to manage enough food for all the inmates, keeping aside how good or bad it may taste. Since the staff of the 1st MR kitchen was not in a position to prepare enough food, the members of the lone Church within the Campus, who belong to different communities, generously came forward and opened their kitchen for us.

Now, with two kitchens burning fuel, one in the 1st MR kitchen and the other in the Church compound, the situation has improved to some extent. However, two kitchens with limited staff and utensils were not at all enough to feed the large number of inmates taking shelter there.

The kind of food served was something we can only imagine, yet it was the only kind of dish they could provide. At times, we have to stand for hours in long queues to get hold of whatever is being prepared for us.

On the sidelines, the small canteen and few petty shops open within the campus came to our rescue especially when we couldn't afford to stand in front of the kitchen for hours. In the morning, some hawkers, mostly non-Manipuris and Muslims(Pangals), also frequented us with their sales.

The lunch and dinner provided at 1st MR were horrible, to say the least. The hardly cooked rice and simple boiled daal were the only items we could afford. Many of us had to volunteer ourselves to help with the kitchen work whenever they needed our help.

When we actually think we had a horrible time while eating, we came to know that those in 2nd MR endured a worse situation. Many times, the food prepared for them was not enough. So, some of them had to sleep with empty stomachs. For us in the 1st MR, at least those unseen heroes in the kitchen would continue cooking until they feed everyone.

Those in CRPF Lamphel, IGAR(South), and others had better food supply though they also encountered the same trauma and fear as much as we do.

Apart from the food quality, it is worse to talk about the condition of the toilets. For some of us who have relatives in the residential quarters, it was a relief for a time being. We can go there and get ourselves refreshed.

However, this was soon to be objected to by those Meiteis in the family quarters. The kind of hatred each and every Meitei developed within a few days was simply beyond our imagination. They would often threaten those tribals in the family quarters with dire consequences for allowing us to visit them for our needs. Soon, even mobile charging was to be kept under surveillance. Many of them have been living together as good neighbours for decades, but their animal instincts overcome all the sweet memories they share in a few daysday's time!

During our stay at 1st MR for about a week, Minister Leishangthem Susindro Meitei @Yaima, a close associate of the chief minister and highly suspected to be one of the key leaders behind the ongoing ethnic cleansing campaign, paid a visit once. Along with him were 10-20 cartoon boxes of eatables meant for the kids. A decently good number of local journalists also accompanied him. Maybe, it was for the government's PR purpose.

In fact, the communal government of Manipur never showed its concern for those who were taking refuge in various relief centres. There was neither food supply nor preparation to evacuate them to their hometowns in the hill districts. If at all we were finally evacuated from Imphal, in different batches together, it was purely because of the dedicated service rendered by the Indian Army including the Assam Rifles and other Central Forces with the active coordination of the Community leaders and CSOs. And for this, we will remain forever indebted to one and all for helping us escape from the "Valley of Death."

(Courtesy: KSO Bulletin, Thingkho le Malcha, Issue No. 229, 7 May 2024).