77 migrants from Manipur still residing in Shillong: EKH admin

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 11, 2023

A total of 77 out of 365 migrants from Manipur are still staying in Shillong.

Informing this on Tuesday, East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner RM Kurbah told reporters that there were about 365 migrants from Manipur who are staying in Shillong, following the violent incidents during the month of May.

Most of them belonged to the Gangte, Vaiphei and Zo people from the Kuki tribe of Manipur and have come to Shillong to take shelter. They were accommodated by churches and associations.

“(As of now) most of them have gone back to Aizawl, Manipur and some have gone to Bangalore, Guwahati and New Delhi,” Kurbah said while giving a status report on the refugees affected by the Manipur violence incident.

Additional district magistrate (ADM) Ronnie Wahlang said as of today, there are only 77 people from Manipur, who are still staying in Shillong and majority of them are presently residing either in their relative homes or friends or extended families whole few managed to get hostel accommodation since they students pursuing their studies in the different institutions in Shillong.

He informed that meetings were also convened at Madanrting police station and with the dorbar shnong of Lapalang.

During the meeting at Madanrting PS, the representatives of the three communities expressed gratitude to the dorbar shnong of Madanrting and also to the police for providing protection to the migrants who had arrived in Shillong.

The Seng Kynthei of Madanrting had also extended all possible assistance particularly to women, old and the infirm.

He said the district administration has assured all possible assistance to the migrant communities.

“Till date we are in constant touch with them and therefore, the numbers as has been provided by DC has dwindled. Today the numbers stand at 77 and this is based on the submission that has been made by the representatives of these three communities and the two church denominations – the Chin Baptist Association (CBA) and Evangelical Baptist Church Convention (EBCC). The pastors of these two institutions have also submitted reports to us stating that there are no longer any migrants that live in the church institutions,” Wahlang informed.

“We would also like to place on record our sincere gratitude to the dorbar shnong Lapalang which in the initial stage of the migration of these affected families to Shillong particularly into Lapalang locality had even provided them dry rations. On having interacted with them, we understood that most of them were looking forward to going back (to their state),” he said.

The ADM further informed that the SP of East Khasi Hills had also facilitated the safe return of the migrants from Manipur who have resided in Shillong through the safe passage.

East Khasi Hills SP Sylvester Nongtnger said that the state police under the leadership of the DGP had convened a meeting with the Meitei and Kuki communities and asked them to maintain peace, law and order as long as they are residing in Shillong. He also assured security and protection to both the communities.