Meiteis Begin To Leave Mizoram After Warning From Former Mizo Militants Over Manipur Incident

Members of the Meitei community in Mizoram reportedly began to leave the state on Saturday after former Mizo militants issued a warning in the wake of the viral video from Manipur. The video, which showed two Kuki women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted, sparked widespread outrage in the country. On Friday, the Peace Accord MNF Returnees' Association (PAMRA), formerly known as the Mizo National Front Militants, issued a letter asking Meiteis to leave Mizoram "for their own safety" amid "anger among Mizo youth" over the horrific incident. The letter triggered fear among the Meiteis who are now beginning to leave the state.

The fact that the Manipur government has offered to provide charter flights to evacuate members of the Meitei community residing in Mizoram is enough to guage the gravity of the situation.

There are roughly 2,000 Meiteis residing in Mizoram's capital, Aizawl. Most of them are government employees or students and come from Assam's Barak valley. The Mizos, meanwhile, share a deep ethnic bond with the Kuki-Zomis of Manipur.

Within 24 hours of the PAMRA issuing its statement, several Meiteis started leaving Mizoram. One such member of the Meitei community, and an employee with a private firm in Aizawl, has been cited by The Indian Express in a recent report. The person, under the condition of anonymity, while praising the Mizos for being “very gentle, very humble," said Meitei people felt safe until recently when PAMRA issued its statement.

“But now, many of the Meiteis are running, leaving their belongings behind in their rented houses. Many of the people from Barak Valley are leaving by road, and there are also many people who are seeking shelter at Aizawl airport. People are scared,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Mizoram Home Department, in an apparent attempt to pacify the people, said the panic was the result of a misunderstanding. “I spoke to the PAMRA today and they said that their message had been misinterpreted. They said that it was not a threat but an expression of concern for the security of the Meitei people, issued in good faith. Because of the effect it has had, we resolved that they will withdraw their statement," Mizoram Home Commissioner H Lalengmawia was qouted as saying by the Indian Express.

The Home Department also released a statement in the evening stating that the Home Commissioner met with representatives of the All Mizoram Manipuri Association to assure them of their safety, The Indian Express reported.

He also told them “not be misguided by rumours and also persuaded them to inform their fellow Meiteis – both Government employees and students – not to leave the state due to the unfortunate misinterpretation of the press statement”.

Expressing confidence in Mizoram's handling of the situation, the Manipur government through its spokesperson said, "There was tension following the statement and we have been informed that some people have started leaving the state. However, the Mizoram Home Department issued a statement today which might reduce the tension."

"We are in touch with the (All Mizoram Manipuri) association and have assured that if it is needed, we will provide a chartered flight for people to leave," the spokesperson added.