Tuesday, March 31, 2009

345 People From 8 Villages Flee to Tousem Sub-Division in Tamenglong

Tamenglong, Mar 30 : As many as 345 Zeliangrong people from eight villages of Haflong force fled and are camping as refugees at Tousem sub-division of Tamenglong district of Manipur. The incident took place after the recent violence in Haflong areas of North Cachar Hill district in Assam in which five persons were killed and another three persons were injured by armed cadres of DHD (Jewel) faction few days back. Out of 345 Zeliangrongs who are taking shelter at Tousem sub-division as many as 220 people are sheltered at Mandeu village, 55 at Tousem headquarters, 50 at Njunkuak village and 20 more at Zenning village. They are staying at their relatives, a source said. Many Zeliangrong organizations, communities, NGOs and relatives have condemned the incident. Among the Zeliangrong organizations, the Zeliangrong Students Union Manipur (ZSUM), Zeliangrong Students Union Tamenglong District (ZSUTD), Zeliangrong Students Union Tousem Area (ZSUTA), Zeliangrong Pui Baudi and Zeliangrong Baudi Tamenglong today condemned the incident of killing of five Zeliangrong men. While speaking to the IFP, Ramning, secretary of the Zeliangrong Pui Baudi said that the lands belong to Nagas and Nagas are originated from there. “We deeply share the hardship faced by Zeliangrong communities and we are trying hard to help,” she added. The Zeliangrong Students Union also stated that due to bamboo flowering and rodent menace the people were really facing a tough life and the burden of Zeliangrong community had been doubled. For victims and refugees at Tousem areas the Zeliangrong Students Union, Tamenglong district also mobilized a relief. ZSUTD also appealed to one and all to reach out a relief in cash or in kind for the victims for which the following mobile phones may be contacted: 9436444124, 9436080912, 9402080038 and 9436444115. The district administration teams will be leaving the district headquarters tomorrow to open the relief camp at Tousem area for the refugees, an official source informed the IFP tonight. As the Zeliangrong Baudi, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland and the Zeliangrong Students Union Manipur requested the Nagaland chief minister, he also granted 10 trucks loaded with relief rice for the refugees at Tousem area, GH Newmeih, chairman of ZSUM informed the IFP. The Naga Hoho is entrusted to monitor the relief rice at Tousem area, he added. The Nagaland chief minister also issued an order for construction of a road from Prent district of Kohima to Tamenglong district of Manipur, the source further said.