Amidst tension in Ukhrul district following clashes between Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities, police evacuated a total of 51 Kuki students from a school in the district as a precautionary measure.
Tension had been simmering between Tangkhul Naga tribe and the Kukis in Ukhrul for more than a week, as around 30 houses were burnt during clashes at Litan Sareikhong area in Ukhrul district.
“The Ukhrul District Police have evacuated 51 students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Ramva School in Ukhrul and handed them over to the Saikul police station team for onward movement to the JNV in Kangpokpi district,” police said in a statement.
Of the total students, 31 male and 20 female were sent to Kangpokpi, a Kuki-majority district. According to police, the students were evacuated as a precautionary measure due to the prevailing law and order situation in the district.
During the evacuation process, some members of the public mistook the students for miscreants, the police said, adding that local civil society organisations helped the administration in de-escalating tension.
“Their efforts in persuading villagers across the Shangshak, Ramva, Shokvao, TM Kasom, and S Laho areas ensured the safe evacuation of the students,” the statement added.
Police appealed to all communities to maintain restraint and refrain from spreading rumours.
It may be mentioned that the violence between the Kukis and the Nagas began following a drunken brawl between two groups on the evening of February 7 at Litan, a commercial town and home to both communities.
