Biren hosts ‘Ningol Chakkouba’ feast for 4k IDPs in Imphal West

Imphal: Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh hosted a grand ‘Ningol Chakkouba’ feast for over 4,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), mostly women and children from Moreh and Churachandpur, at Luwangshangbam in Imphal West on Sunday.Responding to media queries, Singh said his govt had tried to resettle the IDPs to their original homes, though complete resettlement could not be achieved due to the prevailing law and order situation.“People from areas like Serou, Sugnu in the foothills have already been resettled, but those displaced from areas like Churachandpur, Moreh and Imphal are still facing difficulties,” he said.The former CM said he had consulted with local clubs and together they decided to organise the ‘Ningol Chakkouba’ grand feast for the IDPs so that they would not be left out during the festival, which occurs only once a year.Meanwhile, Singh has urged authorities to deploy security forces along the Manipur-Mizoram border, following reports of 11 unauthorised villages set up by illegal immigrants in Mizoram.While the Mizo Students’ Union has reportedly urged the Mizoram govt to abolish the unauthorised villages, Singh warned of a possible entry of the immigrants into Manipur as a result of eviction drives in Mizoram. He urged authorities to maintain strict vigil, especially in Churachandpur, which shares a border with Mizoram.

Singh also stressed the need for enhanced security checkpoints and biometric verification to manage the influx from Myanmar effectively.“On humanitarian grounds, we may allow those fleeing Myanmar temporary shelter. But we must properly identify them, record their biometrics, and keep them in separate locations without mixing with local residents,” he said.