55 individuals from Mao community airlifted from Dimapur

December 21, 2022 49 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 21

A total of 55 persons belonging to the Mao community were airlifted from Dimapur to Imphal on the morning of December 20 through a chartered flight arranged by the Manipur government and the Mao Council.

“We put out the information on social media on behalf of the Mao Hoho Dimapur, Mao Students Union Dimapur and the Mao Council to anyone in need of assistance,” stated John Kape, President of Mao Hoho Dimapur (MHD) through a telephonic conversation with The Morung Express. Most of the stranded persons were students studying in different parts of the country returning for the Christmas holidays. It also included working youths and parents as well.

This predicament comes in light of a dispute over the Kezoltsa area along the Manipur-Nagaland border. The Southern Angami Peoples’ Organisation (SAPO) imposed an indefinite ‘ban’ on the entry of Mao people in the Southern Angami areas since December 15, leaving the community unable to travel via the Kohima-Imphal National Highway.

Some were stranded for two to three days upon arriving in Dimapur the MHD President mentioned. They were airlifted from Dimapur airport and landed at Imphal’s Bir Tikendrajit International Airport at around 11:00 AM. “We have also gotten information that around 20 individuals will be coming to Dimapur in the coming days,” he said.

“We are waiting eagerly for the situation to subside and hope for the best possible outcome,” he further commented.

On the other hand, Samuel Kape, President of the Mao Students Union Dimapur (MSUD) who had also travelled along with the stranded persons revealed that they had made the flight through FlyBig airlines. “Upon arriving at Imphal, we were taken to the official residence of N Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur through a bus arranged by the state government and the Mao Council,” he said.

While interacting with the stranded persons, he noted that Singh assured the Mao people the government was doing all possible means to resolve the issue at the earliest.

The Manipur CM’s official Twitter handle had meanwhile tweeted that, “Pleased to interact with Mao students who have returned back to the state during the festive season at my official residence today. Received gifts and exchanged views on the roles of youths in nation building.”

After that meeting, the stranded persons reached Mao after a journey of more than 4 hours. “The situation here remains calm at the moment,” Kape maintained. He will be returning back to Dimapur the day after as they were still trying to arrange more transportation facilities for others.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/55-individuals-from-mao-community-airlifted-from-dimapur