Over 212 Meiteis who were stranded in Myanmar for over three months due to the violence in the state were brought back to Moreh under heavy security on 19th August. As many as two teams of Assam Rifles and Gorkha Regiment escorted the stranded people from the Indo-Myanmar border to Moreh town. The people fled to neighbouring country Myanmar after violence broke out in Moreh town on 3rd May.
Heavy security arrangements were made in Moreh town for the safe relocation of these people. Security forces installed barricades in several locations in the town. The administration also imposed a curfew in Moreh. But it has yet to be disclosed by the administration whether these people will be brought to Imphal or some other relief camps as of now.
212 people, including the President of Meitei Council Moreh and several other leaders, were escorted to a safe location under the protection of the Assam Rifles in Moreh. Regarding the development, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said, Relief and gratitude as 212 fellow Indian citizens (all Meiteis) sought safety across the Myanmar border after the May 3rd unrest in Moreh town of Manipur are now safely back on Indian soil.
A big shout-out to the Indian Army for their dedication in bringing them home. Sincere gratitude to GOC Eastern Command, Lt Gen. RP Kalita, GOC 3 Corp, Lt Gen. HS Sahi and CO of 5 AR, Col. Rahul Jain, for their unwavering service.
Meanwhile, the trial run for the proposed helicopter service in two new routes connecting three tribal-dominated districts of Manipur with Aizawl (Mizoram) and Dimapur (Nagaland) was conducted on 18th August. Civil aviation department Officials said that after a trial run, a report will be submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as well as the concerned state governments.
After the final clearance, regular chopper service would start in the two additional routes — Churachandpur in Manipur to Aizawl, and Kangpokpi and Senapati districts (in Manipur) to Dimapur under the existing helicopter subsidy scheme.
Responding to the demands of the Kuki organisations based in the hill districts of Manipur, the MHA had last week announced plans to introduce helicopter service in two routes connecting three tribal-dominated districts of Manipur with Aizawl and Dimapur.
The demand to start the helicopter service connecting hill districts of Manipur with Aizawl and Dimapur was raised in the meeting with home minister Amit Shah during his four-day visit to trouble-hit Manipur in May. The Kuki organisations further raised the demand in the meeting with the home minister on 8th August in New Delhi.
The MHA, in a letter to Manipur Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi, said: “In principle, approval is granted for additional flying hours to the state in case the existing ceiling limit of 750 flying hours per annum is exceeded due to the operation of these two new routes given the extraordinary circumstances.”
