Receding instances of gun firing and armed attacks in peripheral areas is considerably, internally displaced people from Phougakchao Ikhai under Torbung Gram Panchayat in Bishnupur district have begun gradually returning to their original homes. Yet fear and trauma persists in their minds, particularly when night falls.
Since the day the present crisis broke out in the state, thousands of people mostly in vulnerable areas were forced to leave their original home in search of safer places. Amongst them, people under Torbung Gram Panchayat in Bishnupur district also were compelled to flee from their homes either to relief camps or relative’s residences. This changing scenario which is unimaginable in nature had completely shaken their normal lives whereby becoming a refugee like person in their own land. Many properties, houses were burnt down to ashes and lot of things were stolen.
As the saying goes, “Home is where our heart is”. Many internally displaced persons have been yearning to go back their homes despite the fact that complete normalcy is still an unachievable task. Sensing the pain and agonies of displaced people, the state government managed to resettle them even though they are striving hard to douse the turmoil.
The government has intensified security arrangements for facilitating the safe return of its people to their homes. Boosting the confidence with the increase of security forces, many displaced people from Phougakpchao Ikhai under Torbung Gram Panchayat have return back to their homes.
Coming back to their homes after taking shelter in relief camps or in the homes of their near and dear ones was a very heartening moment. They can restart their normal life but haunting by memories of those horrific incidents and persistent fear psychosis have become a harsh reality. Nevertheless, people in Phougakchao Ikhai beat this fear with their courage and as a result of it, one can feel the semblance of returning normalcy in these villages as shops have started opening, public vehicles are plying and children are playing in open spaces.
In an interaction with Khagembam Basantakumar who is the advisor of Torbung Gram Panchayat Area Protection Committee has said that around 80-90 per cent of house under Torbung Gram Panchayat were burnt down by armed miscreant during the course of the crisis. In search of safer places, residents of this place took shelter in relief camps or either in their relatives.
He further informed that there are six wards under Torbung Gram Panchayat and inhabited by around 5000 people. Maximum houses in this said panchayat was burnt down and many properties were looted.
Torbung Gram Panchayat is one of the most affected areas of this conflict, most of the houses in all these wards were not spare by armed miscreants.
He recalled that Kuki militants had razed down Ward No: 6 followed by houses in Ward No: 3. Houses in Ward No: 2 were already burnt down on May 3 itself when tension erupted. Houses in Ward No: 1 were also burnt down.
Diminishing reports of gun firing and armed attacked, as many as 850 displaced people from Phougakchao Ikhai have returned back to original houses to restart their ordinary lives. However, fear still linger in their minds making have fitful sleeps every night.
Narrating his ordeal on how he manages to live in his house during peak of the crisis, “my house is very close to Phougakchao Ikhai Police Station. But still, I couldn’t stay at home for first two months of the crisis. Therefore, I used to take shelter in my relative’s residence. However, after two months, I started staying in my own houses yet I used to leave my home whenever there is an attack or gun firing by Kuki armed miscreants.”
He shared that Phougakchao Ikhai comprises of Phougakchao Ikhai Mamang Leikai, Phougakchao Ikhai Maning Leikai, Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai, Phougakchao Ikhai Makha Leikai and Phougakchao Ikhai Bazar and together has around 2000 population. Out of this around 1700 people got displaced and now as many as 850 people were return back to their original homes. Remaining are still taking refugee elsewhere.
“Returning of displaced people from my village Phougakchao Ikhai to their respective homes is a big sigh of relief. Earlier, our village look so deserted and I felt so scared particularly during nighttime. I believe the spookiest incident for people of Phougakchao Ikhai was the brutal murder of three people in Kwakta while sleeping,” he lamented while expressing that his locality returning back to their houses helped him to elevate his confidence and mitigate the fear of staying at his home.
These tales of displacement resonate with a common thread of homesickness and an indomitable will to return.
Aheibam Nandababu, an octogenarian from Phougakchao Ikhai Mamang Leikai, exemplifies this sentiment.
When violence took to the streets, losing many precious lives and properties, Nandababu found himself sprinting away from the only home he had known, seeking refuge with his son at Takyel Khongbal in Imphal.
But even after staying for months in sturdy and comfortable building in Takyel Khongbal, Nandababu’s heart yearned for his familiar abode, no matter its condition. Nothing can replace the nostalgia and attachment he had for his ancestral home. After a four-month stay away, Nandababu recently made the journey back.
Sharing his deep-rooted love for his homeland, he continued, “No matter the grandeur of the city buildings, my heart always ached for my humble home in Phougakchao Ikhai.”
As he came back on the familiar soil of his home, every heartbeat of Nandababu’s aged chest reverberates with a promise to protect, cherish, and never leave his beloved home whatever circumstances may be.
More than 50,000 people are forced to flee from their home because of violence that has engulfed Manipur for the past five months. The woes of displaced people scattered at various relief camps have been mounting each day. All are longing for the day echoes of the conflict are drowned out by the sounds of joy and normalcy.
The writer is an award winning reporter
