‘1,000 Kukis from Manipur came here’: In Assam’s Karbi Anglong, new claim and new row

On Tuesday, KAAC CEM Tuliram Ronghang told reporters that helium called a gathering with Karbi and Kuki leaders connected November 28 to put to determination retired the Kuki radical who helium said had settled successful the country aft coming from Manipur.

“Today, adjacent to astir 1,000 Kuki radical from Manipur person travel here. Close to 500 families person travel here. I person called the Karbi Students’ Association and the Kuki gaon buras (village heads). I volition person discussions with them truthful that we tin nonstop them disconnected decently and they don’t enactment here. We bash not person a spot present for the recently arrived migrants, adjacent if they are tribal,” helium said portion speaking connected the sidelines of an lawsuit astatine Howraghat successful Karbi Anglong.

A section Kuki person from Karbi Anglong, who has been invited for the gathering connected November 28, said helium was “taken by surprise” by Ronghang’s connection to the media. The allegation that Kukis from Manipur were settling successful Karbi Anglong had antecedently been raised past period by a Karbi literate assemblage – Karbi Lammet Amei. It had alleged that determination was an “exodus” and wrote to the CEM seeking that displaced radical from Manipur not beryllium fixed onshore nether the KAAC, and alternatively beryllium placed successful shelters oregon camps nether authorities supervision.

“When that happened, we submitted a memorandum to the CEM saying this was conscionable an allegation. When the unit archetypal started past May, immoderate radical from our assemblage had travel from Manipur and we had provided them structure with the cognition of the autonomous council. Many of them person present either returned to Manipur oregon person gone to different places, similar Guwahati, truthful that they tin proceed their children’s education. We don’t person immoderate accusation astir a ample fig coming, and the cited fig of 1,000 came arsenic a large astonishment to us. Since determination is simply a meeting, determination should person been a treatment with america earlier specified a statement,” the Kuki person said.

Karbi Students’ Association’s Mirjeng Kro said the radical had raised concerns implicit the substance a fewer months agone with the KAAC and that 2 rounds of talks were held with the autonomous council.

“Our biggest interest is that it mightiness not conscionable beryllium civilians, but besides equipped radical coming and taking structure successful the elevation areas here. We person asked that the recently arrived radical beryllium kept nether surveillance and that suspicious radical beryllium sent away,” helium said.

David Changsan, wide caput of Kuki Students’ Organisation Assam, said determination were nary attempts to settee permanently successful Karbi Anglong.

“Our colleagues successful Karbi Anglong person met the CEM and said that determination are nary caller villages being acceptable up. Whoever came present came lone for immoderate intelligence bid and to question impermanent refuge… So, it shouldn’t go an issue. We are a precise tiny number present and don’t privation immoderate hostility here,” helium said.