The Great Escape from the Valley of Death: How thousands of Kuki-Zo were evacuated from Imphal

If the 3rd of May marks the first anniversary of the beginning of the state-sponsored ethnic cleansing campaign against the Kuki-Zo, the 8th of May completes one year of the evacuation of 13,000 Kuki-Zo to Kangpokpi from the "Valley of Death". In fact, out of the more than 20,000 Kuki-Zo stranded in Imphal, about 18,000 were evacuated to Kangpokpi, and the rest to Churachandpur, Chandel, and Tengnoupal districts. Some others also had their escape route through flights.

From day one in the relief centres in Imphal, the long for our hills was incomparable. The fear of possible mob attack and lack of food and medical facilities for thousands of inmates in the absence of the state, or rather the communal Meitei government turning its back, was too painful to bear.

The Indian Army and Paramilitary Forces, who were flown in since 4th May 2023 to assist the state in maintaining law and order did not provide much relief. The unverified news about the imposition of Article 355 and the appointment of a senior IPS officer as security advisor too did not help ease the situation either. Meanwhile, the hope for the imposition of the President's Rule (under Article 356) or the removal of the Meitei Chief Minister dies a slow death each passing day. In short, all the hype about normalcy and justice to the innocent victims vanishes within a few days from the day on which the current ethnic violence broke out.

On the other hand, the attack on Kuki villages by the Meitei militants such as the Arambai Tenggols, Meitei Militants and VBIGs with the help of the Manipur Police Commandos had continued unabated. News about the increase in the number of casualties and burning of villages keeps pouring in. Though there were also reports of casualties on the side of the Meitei Militants and mobs attacking Kuki villages, the official number was much smaller compared to that of the Kukis.

It was under such circumstances that the community leaders and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) belonging to various Kuki-Zo tribes have been putting their heads together to evacuate those stranded in the relief centres in Imphal. In contrast, the communal state government has been trying all its resources to evacuate the 5000 Meiteis kept in the mini secretariat of Churachandpur, and did everything it takes to obstruct the evacuation of the Kuki-Zo from Imphal.

For those few people who could afford to get Airplane tickets with the help of their near and dear ones outside the state, the price of which had already skyrocketed, the Army reached them reached the Airport. Early in the morning, probably before the Meitei mobs could gather on the streets of Imphal, an Army convoy would pick them up with their Bullet Proof Casspirs and Trucks, and drop them at the Airport. But, for those who couldn't afford to buy air tickets, our only hope was to wait for the vehicles arranged by our community leaders.

However, evacuating the 20,000-strong Kuki-Zo from Imphal was not an easy touch. First, there was a concern for security as the unruly Meitei mobs could waylay or obstruct the convoy anywhere. Second, the communal state government was adamant, and kept obstructing the evacuation of Kuki-Zo from Imphal. Third, it was also a huge burden for the Kuki leaders to arrange enough vehicles to evacuate such a large number of people since other communities wouldn't easily take the risk of giving away their vehicles for hire under such circumstances.

While the inmates of relief centres were eagerly waiting for a miracle to happen, a tragic incident happened on 5th May 2023. On that day, there was information that the Meiteis stranded in Lamka would be evacuated with the Indian Army assigned with the task of escorting them to Imphal. But the Kuki-Zo leaders decided that they wouldn't allow them to leave till their kinsmen in Imphal were evacuated. However, the Army officers in-charge of the evacuation said that it was an order from the chief minister, and hence they ought to perform their duty.

The Kukis were not against the evacuation of those  Meiteis from Lamka but they had the apprehension that once the Meitei people were allowed to leave, the lives of 20,000 Kuki-Zo in Imphal would be at risk. So, it was the only bargaining chip the minority Kuki-Zo community had at that point in time.

Ultimately, a stand-off broke out between the Army and the womenfolk of Lamka which resulted into an unfortunate incident in which at least three women were killed and about 50 sustained bullet injuries. On that night, the air was filled with grief as the Kuki-Zo community never expected such a drastic action against women protestors who were simply trying to prevent the evacuation. However, it shouldn't be forgotten that these brave women have sacrificed their lives to save their brothers and sisters in Imphal.

Around the same time, the Indian Army and the Assam Rifles had initiated a plan to evacuate the Kuki-Zo in batches. In one such evacuation mission on 6th May 2023, a convoy ferrying a few thousand in about 20 vehicles including buses and army trucks encountered a huge mob near Sekmai, about 10 km. from Kangpokpi district boundary.

In this unfortunate incident, a number of vehicles were partially destroyed and many got injured as the mob attacked the convoy with stones and other materials. To shorten the narration, it was due to the experienced and able leadership of the Indian Army leading the convoy that they could reach Kangpokpi with minimum destruction and injury. However, the Indian Army personnel had to resort to firing multiple rounds in the air to disperse the unruly mobs.

The scariest part of that incident was the two private cars that broke down following the mob's heavy attack on the vehicles. The occupants of these two cars had a narrow escape as they somehow managed to get into the Army trucks but the two vehicles were soon burnt down as soon as they left the place. The victims of the mob attack near Sekmai narrated that it was only because of the Army's exemplary call for duty, and blank fire in the air to scare them that a huge calamity was avoided. Otherwise, there could have been heavy casualties since the intention of the mob was to incur maximum casualty on the Kuki-Zo for trying to escape from the "Valley of Death."

Everyone knows how dangerous it was for them to travel even with the Army personnel escorting them, but the Kuki-Zo people stranded in Imphal had no other option. For them, it's better to face any eventuality on the way to the land of freedom than remain in Imphal where their days were being counted every day.

On 8th May 2023, the day most of the Kuki-Zo were to be evacuated, security was tightened, and the journey was planned during the day, unlike the previous evacuation which was usually in the late evening. There was also a plan for the exchange of the Meiteis in Lamka with the Kuki-Zo of Imphal on that day. Therefore, though the journey was as scary as it was two days ago, no untoward incident happened on that day. And about 13,000 strong Kuki-Zo from almost all the districts of Manipur were safely escorted to Kangpokpi.

Now, while the story of this massive evacuation is being told, the Kuki-Zo community can't forget the role of the Indian Army/Assam Rifles for taking such huge risks to save the lives of thousands of innocent Kuki-Zo people from Imphal. We are all indebted to them for rescuing us when the communal state government in Imphal had turned its back and abandoned us.

The same credit also goes to all the Kuki leaders, intellectuals and CSOs who mobilised hundreds of vehicles including Buses, Trucks, and other medium-sized vehicles, and coordinated the evacuation mission with the Indian Army/Assam Rifles and other agencies. In the case of Kangpokpi district, it will be worth mentioning the crucial role played by Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills (KISH), Kuki Students' Organisation Sadar Hills (KSO-SH), Thadou Inpi Kangpokpi (TIK), Thadou Students' Association Sadar Hills (TSA-SH) and others including officers, military personnel, MLAs/Ministers, for extending all possible help for the success of the evacuation mission. If it were not for the yeoman service rendered by them, the fate of the Kuki-Zo people could have been decided by the communally charged Meitei mobs. Last, but not the least, we are also highly indebted to all the prayer warriors for their constant moral support and prayers to save the Kuki-Zo people from Imphal – the "Valley of Death."

By Anthony Shongthu

(Courtesy: KSO Bulletin, Thingkho le Malcha, Issue No. 230, 8 May 2024).