More than 400 villagers of a remote Manipur village located near the site of the June 4 ambush which left 18 soldiers of 6 Dogra Regiment dead and 11 others injured are still taking shelter at other places fearing further attacks.
Thirteen days after the deadly attack, the villages of Paraolon, Challong, Kotal Khunthak and Thumtam, located about 27km west of the Indo-Myanmar border, were abandoned save for a few domestic animals curiously shuffling around their now empty homes. Two charred trucks of the Dogra regiment were also abandoned at Paraolon — which has a population of about 412.
Paraolon village chief James Dilbung who is currently staying at Chandel district headquarters said: “We’ve submitted a letter to district administration to take up adequate steps to restore normalcy in our village.”
The villagers of Paraolon and other hamlets are likely to return to their homes this week. A meeting with the Deputy Commissioner Chandel was held in this regard, Dilbung said.
Meanwhile a cultivator of Moltuk-a kuki village, about 10km away from the ambush site, claimed they were prohibited from going to their fields by security forces on the ground of conducting search operations. “There is no physical harassment.. But we’ve been facing problems because lack of attention from the state administration,” said Kunkhothang.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile a cultivator of Moltuk-a kuki village, about 10km away from the ambush site, claimed they were prohibited from going to their fields by security forces on the ground of conducting search operations. “There is no physical harassment.. But we’ve been facing problems because lack of attention from the state administration,” said Kunkhothang.
{{/usCountry}}However, Army sources said there is no restriction after the ‘search and clear’ operation which was called off on June 9.