No Sign of Life in This Manipur Village

By Ratnadip Choudhury
Life after ambush: Ever since attack, people have fled in hundreds

Tucked in between dense gurgles and undulating hillocks, Paraolon is now almost a ghost village.

Chandel (Manipur), Jun 15 : The spell of staccato of fire is still in the air; on June 4 just at stone throw distance from this remote village in Manipur’s Chandel district, a joint action unit of militants groups from the North-East ambushed troopers from 6 Dogra regiment who were passing their village as a part of their de-induction.

The attack left 18 Indian Army Jawans dead. The Army claims to have carried out at at least two clinical strikes and inflicted significant casualities.

Now what remain in Paraolon is a heavily armed security picket, domestic animals loitering around without food and with no signs of the local villagers. Ever since the attack they have fled in hundreds, Ten days have elapsed, yet not a single person has returned back to the village.

When journalists reached them on Sunday, some 30 km away in Ralringkhu village near Chandel town, they rubbished government and security agencies claims that confidence building measures are being taken in the border villages on the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur. Paraolon villagers have raised serious security concerns and not a single villager have gone back to their village, since they apprehend’ threat to their lives.

“You have been the first media to find us out. We have been watching in TV so many new things about the militants and the Army counter attack, but no one is bothering about us. We fled in one cloth. Infact most of the villagers were in Chandel owing to the June 1 ADC polls. We had to cast our vote since there was an independent candidate from our village. While over 200 people were in Chandel, only 10 remained in the village when the attach took place. They came here the next day.

We have tried to reach out to the government asking for more security but to our dismay the government did not sent any official to us. The Army and the Assam Rifles never came. Even media went on reporting that we have started moving back, while the reality is that we are in deep fear and apprehend fresh attacks,” said village chief of Paraolon ADC village James Dilbung.

Officially Paraolon has a population of 412 people, but at any given time only 200 odd people live there since oters remains out of the village in search of work and education. Inhabited by the Lamkang Naga tribe, the village has very basic infrastructure. It takes them sometimes two hours to reach the district headquarter in Chandel town, electricity is almost never available and the village Public Healthcare centre (PHC) only has one nurse assigned who comes only once or twice a year. 

The village is dependent on Jhum (shifting cultivation), cutting firewood from the forest and fishing for a living.

Paraolon is the last Naga inhabited village near the Indo-Myanmar border, the border being about 25 Km away. After Paraolon, the village till the international border is dominated by the Kuki tribe. In fact this is not the first time Paraolon has seen violence.

“On April 15, 1993, during the Kuki-Naga ethnic clashes, our village was attacked by suspected Kuki militants. The entire village was torched, 5 people died in that attack. At that time the Manipur government did not help us, this time around the government even does not bother where we are,” says village elder S K Larsing, Many, who lost their houses in 1993, have once again been forced to take shelter in other villages and they fear more attack.

Mizoram Efforts To Bail Out Affected Farmers

Aizawl, Jun 12  : Mizoram agriculture department has made efforts to bail out farmers in Myanmar border Champhai district affected by deficient rainfall last year, said an official statement on Thursday.

The farmers, mainly engaged in Wet Rice Cultivation (WRC) suffered as the yields from the cultivation dwindled due to deficient monsoon during last year.

At least 99 power tillers were provided to the cultivators at a highly subsidised rate while 188 pump sets were also provided to the farmers at a subsidised rate.

The power tillers were provided as most of the buffaloes used for tilling the cultivation areas were killed by the spell of drought last year, the statement added.

Mizoram: Lifting of prohibition spells bad news for wineries

Following the lifting of prohibition, the vineyard growers’ societies of Mizoram, who also own the twin wineries at Champhai and Hnahlan, have suffered a huge hit.

For the majority of consumers, too, any form of alcohol would do; choosing between spirits and wine was a luxury only for wetter places.

By Adam Halliday

Champhai, Jun 12  : It was an overcast July afternoon last year when Mizoram’s legislative assembly decided to replace an 18-year-old prohibition law. The lifting of prohibition unleashed a cocktail of sentiments. Many in the state opposed it, but just as many were happy and excited to drink legally after a generation had been deprived of this, save through the bootlegs and moonshine route.

Besides, there were some who did not really protest at the start. In Mizoram’s eastern corner bordering Myanmar, home to North-east India’s only vineyards, the effects of lifting prohibition began to manifest themselves gradually in the form of declining wine sales. “By the end of the last financial year, our sales had fallen to roughly half of what it used to be in previous years (when prohibition was in place),” says C Zohmingliana, assistant secretary of the Champhai Grape Grower’s Society, consisting of 279 families who plant the native American Vitis labrusca grape variety used in making wine.

Following the lifting of prohibition, the vineyard growers’ societies of Mizoram, who also own the twin wineries at Champhai and Hnahlan, have suffered a huge hit. Port wine was the only alcohol exempted from the state’s now-defunct prohibition law. For the majority of consumers, too, any form of alcohol would do; choosing between spirits and wine was a luxury only for wetter places.

Almost immediately after the new law was passed — actual legal sales of alcohol began only eight months later — bootlegged spirit volumes registered a jump and prices dropped. This had to partially do with community organisations opposed to public drunkenness curtailing street patrolling and also government agencies previously tasked with upholding the ban on liquor sales finding themselves in a new role — facilitating its plentiful presence.

The potential market for wine in a dry state was realised quite early even after the enactment of the prohibition law. The Mizo National Front government, in 2007, braved Church opposition to make an amendment to the 1997 Act allowing manufacture, sale and consumption of local port wine. As realisation dawned that wine production could mean a source of livelihood for thousands, even those opposing chose to remain silent.

The government further gave both the Champhai and Hnahlan societies seed funds of Rs 80 lakh each — which they topped up with individual loans of Rs 160 lakh from the Mizoram Rural Bank — to build wineries. Apart from these, they received two 10,000-litre capacity fermentation tanks each two years ago from the state horticulture department. State support, both financial as well the amended prohibition policy, helped in boosting sales of the two wineries. Hnahlan alone recorded annual sales of between 1.5 lakh and 1.8 lakh bottles from 2010 (when actual production began) and the financial year ending March 2014. That translated into an annual turnover of around Rs 2.3 crore for this smaller of the two wineries.

But the lifting of prohibition has changed things drastically. During 2014-15, production rose to over 2 lakh bottles, but more than 80,000 remained unsold. The farmers’ collectives are now struggling to stay afloat. Champhai’s Zohmingliana notes that roughly two-thirds of all the grapes produced by the society’s members are bought by the winery.

The Champhai winery has now started supplying concentrated grape juice to a regional manufacturer for use in its line of liquor brands. In January, the society entered into an agreement with Radiant Manufacturing to supply 3.6 lakh litres per year to the company, which owns the Vinho Porto brand of port wines sold across North-East India and Bhutan. Last month, the first two truckloads of 16,000 litres of concentrated juice were flagged off from the society’s facility. Radiant’s CEO, Bheeshma Chand, informs that his company has been using grape juice concentrate sourced from Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka for its wine manufacturing. Mizoram’s grapes are not only better, but the proximity to Radiant’s facilities makes this an economical raw material sourcing arrangement, he adds.

The Hnahlan growers’ society’s winery, which is 60 km away, has meanwhile sought to experiment with launch of new brands, while also making small batches of grape brandy. The collective, with 156 grower-members, has even hired a new Goa-trained winery manager, PB Lalrinfela, for making aged wine and applying for licences to market them under new brands in the liquor shops that have opened up following lifting of prohibition.

“We can start selling the aged wine in a few months. The grape brandy batches that we have made have all disappeared as sample drinks to visiting officials. We’ve been dry so long, you know,” he laughs.

If fear stays, may leave Manipur: Mary Kom

Being constantly on the move, the 33-year-old mother said she spends a lot of time worrying about the situation at home.

Last Thursday, five-time world champion Mary Kom was exercising here when she heard that 18 Army personnel had been killed by militants in her home state. The news left her troubled, as it brought back memories of past violence. Worried about insurgency in Manipur and the safety of her three children, the boxer has, of late, been thinking of moving out of the state.

“It’s very difficult to decide whether to stay there or shift to some other state. I have my family there and also my academy. But we cannot continue to live in constant fear. If the problem persists, then let’s see, I may leave the state,” Mary told The Indian Express in Bangalore, where she is training for next year’s world championships which will also serve as Rio Olympics qualifiers.

Being constantly on the move, the 33-year-old mother said she spends a lot of time worrying about the situation at home. “We are all scared. Killings, blasts… nobody likes it. I have children now, but there is always stress and tension. When I was a child, I saw how difficult it is to live in such a situation. Let’s stop killing each other,” said Mary.

“Over the last couple of decades, we have suffered. The constant violence disrupts your life completely. It had reduced significantly for a few years, but is now back again,” she said.

Asian Games bronze medallist Sarita Devi, who is also from Manipur, said the news was “disturbing”. “Such news is disturbing, especially since there was no such thing happening for a long time. This was sudden. We are all peace-loving people (in Manipur), we don’t like these things. We lose sleep. We grew up at a time when our movements were restricted because of this (violence). We hope our children don’t face the same problem,” she said.

Indian Army in hot pursuit of terrorists behind Manipur ambush, enters Myanmar, kills 20 Northeast insurgents

New Delhi, Jun 10 : In a tough, well coordinated and surgically executed operation a few kilometers inside Myanmar, the Indian Army killed at least 20 terrorists belonging to Northeast insurgent groups who had ambushed a convoy of 6 Dogra Regiment in Chandel district of Manipur on June 4.

Sending out the strong message that Army will not hesitate to hot pursuit terrorists who challenge the Indian authority, Special Forces in coordination with the Indian Air Force launched a daring operation to neutralise insurgents near the Indo-Myanmar border. The operation began on Tuesday morning when troops engaged two separate groups of insurgents, one of which was along the international border while the other was based along the Nagaland-Manipur border.

While 20 terrorists have been killed and two camps of Northeast insurgent groups destroyed, the Indian side suffered no casualties.

The operations are still continuing inside the Myanmar border where Army commandos are hunting down other Northeast terror groups. While 20 terrorists have been killed and two camps of Northeast insurgent groups destroyed, the Indian side suffered no casualties.

In a rare press conference by a senior official, Additional Director General of Military Operations (A) Major General Randhir Singh assured the country that "any threat to our security, safety and national integrity will meet a firm response".

Major General Singh said that Army units got intelligence reports that more attacks were going to be carried out in the region and launched an operation to neutralise the threat.

"Following the attack on our security personnel on 4 June, 2015 in Chandel, Manipur, Indian Army has been on a high alert. In the course of the last few days, credible and specific intelligence was received about further attacks that were being planned within our territory. These attacks were to be carried out by some of the groups involved in earlier attacks on our security personnel and their allies," said the Major General.

"In view of the imminent threat, an immediate response based on intelligence, operations were conducted to counter these planned assaults. Early this (Tuesday) morning, the Indian Army engaged two separate groups of insurgents along the Indo-Myanmar border at two locations, along the Nagaland and Manipur borders. Significant casualties have been inflicted on them. As a consequence, threats to our civilian population and security forces were averted," he said.


"Indian Army is in communication with the Myanmar authorities on this matter. There is a history of close cooperation between our two militaries. We look forward to working with them to combat such terrorism. While ensuring peace and tranquility along the border and in the border states, any threat to our security, safety and national integrity will meet a firm response," the officer added.

The ambush on the 6 Dogra Regiment convoy, which was being deinducted from the area, was carried out by terror groups active on the Tengnoupal-New Samtal road between Paralong and Charong villages at about 9 AM, about 80 km from Manipur capital Imphal.

The army truck carrying soldiers and fuel was first hit by a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) following which the terrorists used rocket propelled grenades and automatic assault rifles to pin down the soldiers resulting in the heaviest casualty suffered by the force in over three decades. Eleven other soldiers were injured in the ambush.

Naga insurgent outfit Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-A (NSCN) along with Manipuri outfit Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) claimed responsibility for the attack on the convoy.

Several Northeast terrors group have their camps in Myanmar and they routinely cross the porous border to enter Indian, and target security forces and civilians. After carrying out an attack, the terrorists slip back into Myanmar.

China and Pakistan have been using and arming the Northeast terror groups to foment trouble in the region.

Repatriation of Brus Cancelled

A camp for identifying bona fide residents of Mizoram was held in North Tripura.- PHOTO: RITU RAJ KONWAR

Aizawl, Jun 9 : The proposed commencement of repatriation of Brus lodged at Kaskau relief camp in North Tripura district was cancelled on Monday as Brus had not turned up for identification at the camp last week.

Additional Secretary for Home Lalbiakzama told PTI that identification of bona fide residents of Mizoram was conducted between June 2 and 4, but not a single Bru approached the officials camping at the Kaskau camp.

Mr. Lalbiakzama, however, said that the repatriation process identification of bona fide residents of Mizoram at Khakchangpara relief camp would be conducted as scheduled from June 15 to June 18. Those who turn up and are identified would be repatriated between June 22 and 26.

“We would undertake the repatriation process as per the time-table set in the Road Map IV for repatriation prepared by the State government and approved by the Supreme Court,” he said.

The Apex Court had last month instructed the Centre and the governments of Mizoram and Tripura to complete the repatriation process of Brus within six months.

Following the court order, the Mizoram government prepared a roadmap for repatriation of around 3,500 Bru families between June to September 2015.

They did not turn up for identification at the camp last week

Mizoram Govt Employee Allege Assault By Policemen in Mumbai

Mumbai, Jun 9 : A 28-year-old youth, employed with the Government of Mizoram, has alleged that he was assaulted by four plainclothes police officers outside a cafe near the Gateway of India here.

According to the youth, he and his two friends were sitting outside the cafe at around 12.50 am when four plainclothes policemen approached and ordered them to go home.

"When we replied that we are leaving in a while, one of them asked me to show my identification card. So I asked them to show their identification cards first since they were in plainclothes," the victim alleged.

"All of them were furious and one of them began beating me up with a baton, even though I told him that I am a government servant. One of my female friends got frightened and she repeatedly requested them to leave me alone, but they turned a deaf ear and continued roughing me up," he said.

"After we began leaving the place, one plainclothes policeman dragged me into a police jeep, took me to the Colaba police station and inspected my identification card," he said.

"Even after assuring them that I am a government servant serving in the Government of Mizoram's guest house in Parel, they detained me in the police station upto 1.40 am," he said.

The victim reported the incident to Mizoram's Resident Commissioner in Maharashtra who is contemplating to lodge a formal complaint.

"Yes, the victim has narrated the incident which is extremely unfortunate. We are contemplating about filing a case against the police atrocity," Resident Commissioner of Mizoram in Maharashtra V Zaithanmawia said.

NIA names leaders of wrong Naga faction in Manipur ambush case

 

Militants armed with advanced weapons ambushed a military convoy in Manipur’s Chandel district bordering Myanmar, killing at least 18 soldiers.

Guwahati, Jun 9 : The case registered by the National Investigation Agency on Saturday against several Naga rebel leaders in the June 4 ambush in Manipur that killed 18 soldiers has mistakenly identified two leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khole Kitovi) as members of ‘NSCN (Khaplang) and its affiliates’.

The NSCN (KK) reacted late Monday night, questioning the NIA’s ‘high-class investigative agency’ tag and wondering how it targeted the wrong group.

NSCN (KK) was formed in 2011 after two senior leaders Khole Konyak and Kitovi Zhimomi fell out with SS Khaplang, chairman of NSCN (K) that abrogated a 14-year ceasefire with New Delhi on March 27. The ministry of home affairs did not lose time in recognising NSCN (KK) and inking a ceasefire pact with it.

A government official in Delhi said the Manipur police, which had initially registered the FIR, had made the mistake: “Since a central investigating agency is required to re-register the original FIR when it takes over a case, the error continues to be reflected in the NIA’s FIR also.”

“The government should have known that the NSCN and NSCN (K) are two separate parties. In spite of NSCN (K) claiming responsibility outright for the Chandel incident, NIA is wasting time implicating the wrong people,” a NSCN (KK) statement said.