Meiteis Loot Abandoned Properties of Kukis in Jiribam; Hmar Students’ Association Condemns

After burning down several Kuki-Zo houses located in various localities and town areas of Jiribam on 6th June, 2024, driving the Kukis away from their homes, the Meiteis have reportedly begun to loot all abandoned properties of the Kukis.

The Kuki houses in Kalinagar Hmar veng, where the Meitei mobs could not burn due to the mixed population of Rongmei, Meitei and Kuki communities, have been looted by the Meitei mob in broad daylight since Tuesday.

On June 24th, the houses of Darrochan Hmar, Lalzom Gangte, Zonunmoi Hmar, Henry Joute, HN. Lala Hmar and Soibuong Vaiphei were looted, while homes of Raltawnlui Hmar, Lalneimuong Hmar and H.J Dinga Hmar were looted on June 25, 2024.

The displaced Meiteis have also occupied the houses of Lalvarlien Hmar of Hmarveng, Kalinagar 1; James Thangkhanpau of Kalinagar 1, and C.L Robert Ngaihte of Babupara, Jiribam.

Yesterday at around 10 pm, there was a report that the Meetei arsonists tried to burn Hmar houses but were stopped by Rongmei neighbors. The Assam Rifles later dispersed the Meitei mob and guarded the abandoned houses.

Meanwhile, Hmar Students' Association, Joint Headquarters, in its condemnation statement issued today, stated that Association has come to learn that the Meitei miscreants looted houses abandoned by the Hmar community on the 24th and 25th of June 2024 in a broad daylight.

The houses were abandoned after the 6th of June, 2024 in the aftermath of the arson that took place at Uchathol village wherein the Arambai Tenggol, Jiribam Unit torched several houses of the Kuki-Zo-Hmar community.

In the statement, Hmar Students' Association said it had staunchly supported "Peace" in Jiribam District since the beginning of the ethnic conflict between the warring communities in Manipur, and they have also been vocal in their effort to maintain peace until 6th June 2024.

Condemning the act of looting that has been carried out at various localities of Jiribam District by the Meitei criminals, the student body also vehemently denounced the displaced Meiteis who have occupied the deserted Kuki-Zo-Hmar houses at Hmarveng, Kalinagar-1, Jiribam District.

"This rude and obnoxious gesture of the Meiteis is equivalent to that of a hungry kleptoparasite," it said.

The apex Hmar student body also urged the concerned authority to look into the matter at the earliest time possible and to book the criminals as deemed fit.