Manipur: 37 more Tapon villagers evacuated to Senapati, total displaced reaches 82

Another 37 displaced villagers from violence-hit Tapon Namsan (Lower) village were evacuated to Senapati on Friday night, September 4, taking the total number of people rescued from the affected Tapon villages to 82.

The villagers were brought to Senapati district headquarters at around 11.30 pm by Senapati Police and the 16 Assam Rifles. They were subsequently shifted to a temporary relief centre set up by district civil society organisations in coordination with the Senapati district administration.

The latest group comprised nine men and 28 women, including four minors.

Speaking to the media at the relief centre, Tapon Namsan Village Authority treasurer Gladstone Abonmei, 52, recounted the September 1 attack, alleging that armed Kuki militants opened indiscriminate fire at around 4.15 am before setting residential houses ablaze.

According to Abonmei, the firing continued until around 12.45 pm, forcing villagers to flee their homes and hide for safety. He said he was injured during the incident and, along with several villagers, took shelter beneath a large rock while the firing continued.

With their homes and belongings destroyed, the displaced villagers said they were left with nowhere to stay and limited resources to survive.

The villagers thanked Senapati Police and the 16 Assam Rifles for reaching Tapon Namsan (Lower) and evacuating them safely. They also appealed to the authorities and security forces for adequate protection and assistance for the displaced families.

Earlier, 45 displaced villagers from neighbouring Tapon Namguang (Upper) were evacuated to Senapati. Vulnerable persons, including elderly people, women and children, were accommodated at the temporary relief centre, while others took shelter with relatives.

The displacement follows the September 1 attack on three Liangmai Naga villages under T Waichong Sub-Division in Kangpokpi district. More than 30 residential houses, including a church, were reportedly burnt in the violence, leaving several families homeless. The allegations have not been independently verified.