Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday alleged that “ethnic cleansing is complete" in the Imphal Valley.
The former Finance Minister’s remarks came after reports claimed that the last of the Kuki-Zo people, who had stayed put in Imphal after ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, said were “forcibly evicted” from their homes by security forces.
"According to a report in The HINDU, the last 5 Kuki families in Imphal were forcibly removed from their homes by the authorities. This means that ‘ethnic cleansing’ Is complete in the Imphal Valley that is dominated by the Meitei people," the former home minister Chidambaram wrote on X.
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“A State Government presides over ‘ethnic cleansing’ and the central government claims that the government of the state is being carried on in accordance with the Constitution There can be nothing more shameful than this development. It marks a new low in India's descent into lawlessness,” he added.
According to HT report, 24 Kuki residents were allegedly evicted from their homes in the Meitei-dominated Imphal on Friday night by security officials citing concerns over their safety, two of the residents said in a statement on Saturday.
Thousands of Kukis residing in Imphal Valley have fled to tribal-dominated hills after ethnic clashes broke out in the northeastern state. Similarly, Meiteis residing in Kuki-majority areas escaped to the Imphal Valley in the aftermath of the violence that has claimed at least 165 lives.
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Members from the Kuki community continued to reside in a few areas, such as New Lambulane locality in Imphal West district, under heavy security cover provided by central security forces, HT report said.
However, two people from the Kuki community said all of them were asked to vacate their homes on Friday night.
Security officials, however, said the Kuki residents were asked to leave in the middle of the night as there were inputs of “imminent danger” to them.
