As Tehelka SIT embarked upon a journey to understand the fault lines in Manipur, it uncovered an intriguing revelation — how Muslims in the strife-torn state have emerged as a unique bridge between warring Meitei and Kuki communities
“There are ways to identify Muslims. As Kukis and Meiteis live alongside them, they can discern Muslims from their appearance. Also, as Meitei boys wear ear rings since their childhood, they can be identified by their ear marks. As Muslims do not wear ear rings, so they don’t have ear marks. Aadhaar and identity cards also come in handy sometimes for establishing the identity. Muslims are now friends of both Kukis and Meiteis.” This is Longjam Ratan Kumar, an Assistant Coordinator of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity [COCOMI ]. Ratan Kumar belongs to Meitei community and lives in Imphal.
While talking to Tehelka, he explained that a border has been delineated around the Imphal valley, situated in the heart of Manipur. Meiteis cannot go up onto the mountains and Kukis cannot come down to the valley. Those violating this unwritten rule risk the possibility of getting killed. This physical gulf between Meitei and Kuki communities can only be traversed only by those who are neither friends nor adversaries of the two communities, adds Ratan. People travelling between the Hindu-majority Meitei and Christian-dominated Kuki areas can thus take the help of members of Muslim community, which has emerged as a unique buffer. It is safe to be a Muslim in Manipur these days, says Ratan.
Bikramjit Raj Kumar, a Meitei himself, and a secretary of “Youth Welfare Front” from Imphal, Manipur, told Tehelka that there are many communities like Nepalis, Bengalis etc who live in Imphal, but Muslims are a dominant community in the state’s capital city. So people coming from Delhi and other parts of India post-violence, seek Muslim drivers as they feel safe in their company while travelling towards Kuki-dominated areas. If a Meitei goes into Kuki area, he will be killed. But Muslims are not targeted, said Bikramjit, adding that the division is like India-Pakistan border. “We Meiteis cannot enter their area, and they cannot enter our area. We can see our burned houses from a distance in the areas under their occupation now, but we cannot visit there,” he said.
“Yes, I admit that in Meitei-dominated Imphal valley, some Meiteis looted arms and ammunition from police armoury, but they did so because they had no other option. Actually, the members of the opposite community, who were armed, were attacking Meitei civilians.
The security forces were not also found wanting as they utterly failed to stop them. So the Meiteis had no other option but to loot arms from the police stations,” said Ratan Kumar. He argued that since the violence still continued, Meiteis should not return all the arms back to the respective police armouries. Many, however, have returned the weapons, he added.
This is today’s strife-torn Manipur for you, where at least 160 people have been killed so far in the clashes between the Meitei and Kuki ethnic groups. Thousands have been injured and more than 60,000 displaced in the violence that has engulfed India’s north-eastern state of Manipur, situated on the border with Myanmar. The violence broke out in Churachandpur, a town just in the south of the state capital Imphal, on May 3, following a Kuki-led tribal solidarity march in ten of the state’s sixteen districts. As the Meiteis organized counter-protests and blockades, clashes broke out across Manipur. Women were part of some of the mobs. More than 12,000 have fled to the neighbouring state of Mizoram following the violence.
Then, just a day before the Monsoon session of Parliament was to start, a 26-second video from Manipur, in which two women, who had been stripped naked, were seen being assaulted and paraded by a mob, triggered an outrage in the whole country. According to the First Information Report [FIR] filed in the case, one of the two women of a family was gang raped while a mob of 800-1000 men killed her brother and father on May 4. The Ministry of Home Affairs [MHA] officials have informed that Central Bureau of Investigation [CBI] will probe Manipur viral video case. The opposition, in order to corner the Modi government and make the Prime Minister speak on Manipur violence, which has rocked the Monsoon session of Parliament since it began on 20 July, filed a no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha. A delegation comprising 21 Members of Parliament [MPs] belonging to opposition alliance, I.N.D.I.A, also visited Manipur. There was a logjam in Parliament on the Manipur issue.
After nearly three-month-long ethnic violence in Manipur, the lines of division have become sharper than ever before with both communities expressing mistrust, anger and even hate against each other. In this atmosphere of hate and mistrust, Tehelka exclusively touched an issue which no other media organization has raised so far. The issue of Muslims being ‘in demand’ in Manipur. Tehelka spoke to several people from all walks of life in Manipur. They all had a common refrain: “It is safe to be a Muslim in Manipur”. Such is the division between Meitei and Kuki communities that even the state Chief Minister, Biren Singh, has not yet gone to meet the people of Kuki areas. It is said that Biren Singh being a Meitei himself, his going there entails a risk. On the other hand, Governor Anusuiya is not from Manipur. She has visited the relief camps of both Meitei and Kuki areas. The drivers of vehicles in the convoy accompanying her were changed at the entry check points of the valley and the mountains keeping in mind the ethnic divide.
The boundary between the Kuki and Meitei communities is not a simple line. There is a buffer area of several kilometers. There are many check points on the road in this space between existing Meitei area and Kuki-dominated area. At the first check point, there are people from the Meitei community and at the last there are people from the Kuki community.
There are also check points of army and police in between. The people of the community have barriers by piling up sacks, at some places with barbed wires, and at others with big pipes. The people posted at these check points are armed with weapons. Here, every vehicle is frisked to ensure that there is no weapon in the car. By asking for the identity card of the driver of the vehicle, information about his caste-religion is gathered, so that it can decided whether he has the right to cross the border or not. If the driver is Muslim, he is allowed to cross the border.
To know the truth, Tehelka spoke to various people in Imphal. In this chain, we first spoke to Ratan Kumar, an assistant coordinator of COCOMI, who told us that Muslims are in big demand in Manipur. People travelling from majority Meitei community in Imphal to the Kuki dominated areas in the hills in Manipur seek Muslim drivers to take them to their destination. He said that Muslims are taking advantage of the opportunity by significantly increasing the fares.
Reporter– I heard Muslims are not facing any hurdle while visiting the Kuki areas.?
Ratan– Yes, Kukis are not targeting Muslims. They are targeting Meitei civilians. Because of the atmosphere of fear, they do not go to areas dominated by Kukis.
Reporter– I have heard all journalists are moving in Kuki areas with Muslim drivers?
Ratan- Yes.
Reporter– Only Muslims drivers can go in Kukis areas…?
Ratan– Yes.. Nagas can go, Muslims can go, except Meiteis, all other communities can go.
Reporter– All Muslim drivers have increased the fare also.?
Ratan- Haan.. they are making most of the opportunity arising out of this conflict situation.
[Ratan told Tehelka that Muslim drivers are in high demand in Manipur because they are the only ones who can travel through both Meitei and Kuki-dominated areas without any fear of harm. Ratan said that taking advantage of this situation, Muslim drivers have increased their fare]
When asked as to how both the communities are identifying whether the driver is a Muslim or not, Ratan told Tehelka reporter that Muslims are not hard to identify. Both Meitei and Kuki communities have been living with Muslims for years in Manipur. So they can easily identify them from their appearance. Secondly, Meitei community boys wear earrings, so they have ear marks, which Muslims don’t have. There is Aadhar card and other identity cards also available to determine the identity, he said.
Reporter– How the Kukis identify the Muslims?
Ratan-There are some methods. The Kukis have been staying alongside them for so long, so they can easily know from physical appearance, whether a person is a Muslim or not.
Reporter– I am asking about Muslims drivers who are visiting Kukis areas, how they identify whether they are Meiteis or Muslims ?
Ratan– Yes..by physical appearance, and ear mark. Meiteis have ear mark, Meitei’s boys start wearing ear rings from childhood. …so they carry an ear mark while Muslims don’t have ear mark. Other than this, there are Aadhar cards, Identity cards.
Reporter– So Muslims don’t figure in the ethnic divide.
Ratan– No.. they are friends.
[According to Ratan, Muslims are identified by Kukis by the absence of ear marks because unlike Meiteis, they don’t wear ear rings. Furthermore, they can identify Muslims based on their appearance, having lived alongside them for decades. Moreover, Aadhar and other identity cards come in handy for identification.]
During the conversation, Ratan rued that today, Manipur is also known for its drug trade. Kukis allegedly grow opium poppy in large area and also produce poppy in great amount. According to Ratan, Kukis, Muslims, Meiteis, and Nagas are all involved in the drug trade..
Reporter– What you have to say about the drug menace in Manipur?
Ratan– Yes.. drugs are readily available here. Even more easily available nowadays because opium poppy is grown in Kuki-dominated areas and it is grown in large area. Opium is also produced in large quantity. Heroine is manufactured from the opium..so drugs are easily available and main drug traffickers in our state are from Kuki community, next are Muslims, then Meiteis and Nagas..
Reporter– Which community is involved in drug trafficking more than others?
Ratan– No 1 is Kuki community, and no 2 . is Muslim community. Then comes Meiteis and Nagas.. but Kukis are far more involved as far as number of people engaged in this illegal trade are concerned.
[ Ratan gave a rough idea as to what extent the different communities in the state are involved in the drug business in Manipur. According to his assessment, Kukis are number one followed by Muslims at number two, with Meiteis and Nagas coming at number three and four, respectively]
Ratan argued that people from Meitei community looted arms from the police stations when they ran out of options after the violence broke out on May 3. He alleged the opposite side was using sophisticated weapons against the Meiteis. Therefore, the unarmed Meiteis were compelled by circumstances to loot weapons from the police stations to counter the onslaught.
Reporter– Why Meitei people looted arms from the police station?
Rattan- All Kuki militants groups were targeting civilians and Meitei groups and on 3rd May at the site of violence, these Meitei people did not have arms and ammunition because they are civilians. On the other hand, the Kuki people broke the rules and used sophisticated weapons to attack Meiteis and their villages. So Meteis were compelled to get hold of arms by any means. The easiest way, they thought, was to snatch weapons and ammunition from the nearby police stations.
Reporter– Why don’t you trust security personnel to save you from Kukis.?
Ratan – These paramilitary forces are not ready to control these Kukis. We ask them why you are not controlling these armed Kuki groups and why are you remaining silent. Kuki people burn houses. These Kuki people are not attacking the security personnel; they are just attacking civilians, the Meiteis only.
Reporter– So you are saying these paramilitary forces are not taking action against Kukis because they are under SOO?
Ratan– On 3rd May when conflict started, some Meitei people started running here and there. Some Meiteis took shelter at some camps of Assam Rifles.
[Ratan admitted that some Meitei people looted arms from the police station for defending themselves, because they were unarmed and Kuki were attacking them with modern weapons. And paramilitary forces were not sufficient enough to control them. So Meiteis were left with no other option than to snatch the arms from the police stations.]
We asked Rattan whether Meiteis have deposited all the looted weapons at the police stations. In response to this, Ratan said as the fighting is still going on, it is not the right time to return all the arms. However, many have returned the looted weapons.
Reporter– Have the Meiteis returned the arms to police stations or not?
Ratan– Many of looted arms have been returned, but some have not been returned. Also, it is not the right to return all arms because fighting is still going on, and the security forces are not sufficient enough to stop Kuki forces. I think, this is not the right time to return all the weapons.
[ According to Ratan, as the fighting is still going on in Manipur, it would not be prudent to return all the arms looted from the police stations, although some Meiteis have already returned the arms.]
Tehelka now spoke to Bikramjit Raj Kumar, an activist from Imphal, Manipur. Bikramjit also echoed the same sentiment: in Kuki areas, traveling with Muslim drivers is a safe choice. If Meitei goes there, they will kill him. According to Bikramjit, Manipur has been divided between Meiteis and Kukis, akin to the India-Pakistan border. “We can see our burnt houses over there, but we cannot go there,” he lamented.
Bikram– Jahan Kuki inhabited area hai na wahan jaane ko aapko Muslim driver chahiye.
Reporter-Aisa Kyun ?
Bikram- Hum Meitei ja nahi sakte khule aam.. maar denge humko.. Terrritory bana kar hilly area ko occupy kar liya hai wo log.. Poora alag kar liya geographically alag ho chuke hai hum.
Reporter: Acchha ?
Bikram– Inke banda ko poore hilly area par bula liya hai, hamare area ko push karke, ghar jala ke.. Imphal area par push kar liya hai. Jaise Jammu-Kashmir mein hota hai na.. BSF k bande hain… Waise kheechke tar bandha hua hai… Hum unke pass nahi jaa saktey.
Reporter– Border ban gaya India-Pakistan ka wahan ?
Bikram– Border ban gaya. Hamara ghar dikh raha hai par hum jaa nahi sakte. Ghar jala diya na.
[Bikram told Tehelka that in Kuki-dominated areas, only Muslim drivers can travel. Meiteis are not allowed. If they dare to go there, they could face fatal consequences. Manipur is divided between Meiteis and Kukis, akin to the Indo-Pak border. We can see our houses from a distance in the area now under their control, but we are unable to access them.]
Bikramjit now told Tehelka that Muslims are charging hefty amount for carrying passengers from Metei dominated area to Kuki area. They are charging somewhere around Rs 7-8K per trip from Imphal to Kuki-dominated area of Churachandpur. He also revealed that Muslims also charged exorbitant amount from people of both Kuki and Meitei communities for rescuing their cars from each other’s territory after the violence.
Reporter– Bahut costly hai bhai, Churachandpur ka bata raha tha 7-8 hazaar ?
Bikram– Lekin wo jaan jokhim mein lekar ja raha hai.
Reporter – Ek visit 7-8 hazar.. usmein to poori visit ho jati hai taxi mein..?
Bikram– Wo to normal time mein hogi, ye log to profit kama rahe hain.. Muslim kya karte hain jo Meitei ki gadi wagera reh gaye hai na churachandnpur mein.. ye log bahar lekar aatey hain.. 10-20 hazar letey hain.. Jo samaan reh gaya wo bhi lekar aatey hain paisa kama
letey hain..
Reporter– Matlab ?
Bikram– Jaise k aap Meitei ho aur dange ki wajah se aapka koi samaan wahan par reh gaya.. to jo Muslim log hain wo transport ka kaam karte hain.. Jaise wo Imphal mein lekar aatey hain to bahut mota charge karte hain.. 10-20 hazar.. Jaise ki aapki koi badi gadi ho, Thar ho, Mahindra ho.. to wo Muslim log ko hi contact karte hain.. Muslim log jab lekar aatey hain to mote paise letey hain.. 10-20 hazar.. 50 hazar
Reporter- Accha aap ye keh rahe hain ki Kuki k area mein Meitei ka koi samaan reh gaya to Muslim driver se contact kartey hain laney k liye..
Bikram– Kai baar opposite party mein karte hue, dono side mein karte hue bahut baar pakda hai… Abhi ruk gaya hai.. Shuru mein bahut mota kamai kiya hai.. Jo Nepali ho gaya, Bengali ho gaya aur Muslim community.. bahut kamai hua hai inka.. Bahut mota kamai hua shuru shuru mein..Dono side mein pakda gaya.. Kuki ka samaan lejatey hue bhi aur Meitei ka bhi..
Reporter– Aap ye keh rahe ho Meitei Kuki k area se apna samaan le aaya aur Kuki Meitei ke..?
Bikram– Haan aur ye kaam Muslim community ne kiya..
Reporter– Kitna charge kiya uska?
Bikram– Paise ka fix nahi hai.. Koi 50K, koi 20K to koi 10K leta hai..
Reporter – Driver community sirf Muslim hi hai ya aur bhi hai.. ?
Bikram– Muslim zyada hai Imphal mein to ye kaam wahi uthata hai.. Nepali, Bengali bhi hai.. par wo community itna strong nahi hai..
[Now, Bikramjit told Tehelka that Muslims who are into transport business are earning good profit after the Meitei-Kuki conflict in Manipur. According to him, they are charging big amount from passengers for carrying them to Kuki-dominated area from Metei area.
They are charging between Rs 7-8K per trip, from Imphal to Churachandpur, a Kuki-dominated area. He also revealed that Muslims charged exorbitant amount for retrieving cars and other vehicles of Kukis from Meitei area and vice versa. These cars had been left behind
by people while fleeing to safety after the riots broke out.]
Now, Tehelka got the information from the horse’s mouth. E spoke to Zia-ur-Rehman, a 44-year old Muslim driver from Imphal, Manipur, who has travelled to Kuki-dominated area umpteen times. He said only Muslim, Nepali and Bengali drivers can travel to Kuki and Meitei territories. Any violation can bring trouble for both the communities. Zia said Kukis check his Aadhar card when he enters into their area to see whether he is Muslim or not.
Reporter– Aap kuki k ilakey mein jaatey ho aapko to kuch nahi kiya ye kuki?
Zia -Humko kuch nahi karta hai.
Reporter– Because you are a Muslim ?
Zia– Haan.. I am a Muslim.
Reporter -Aapka kya Aadhar check karta hai, ya driving licence, usko kaise pata chalta hai aap Muslim ho ?..
Zia -Aadhar check karta hai…
Reporter– Ye kuki k log aapka adhar check karta hai…?
Zia– Haan
Reporter– Aap paisa zyada mang rahe ho aap keh rahe ho na Imphal se Churachandpur le jaonga, 7-8000 rupee lunga..
Zia -Zyada ho ya kum , pehle aap aa jao phir dekehngey.
[ Zia told Tehelka that only Muslims, Nepalis and Bengalis can visit Kuki area. He said he had been to the Kuki area for a number of times after the violence broke out. He said Kukis check his Aadhar card before allowing him to enter their territory.]
Zia again told Tehelka that the divide between Meitei and Kuki communities has become so wide that no Meitei can go into Kuki area and no Kuki can enter Meitei area. But people from Muslim, Nepali and Bengali communities have been exempted from the ban. According to him, the situation is so grim that even Biren Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur, being from Meitei community, has so far not visited Kuki-dominated area. Zia said that he charges between Rs 7-8K for one visit to Churachandpur from Imphal.
Reporter– Accha ye batao Kuki k ilakey mein koi Meitei nahi ja sakta..?
Zia-Koi bhi nahi ja sakega, officer bhi nahi.
Reporter– kaun nahi ja sakega..?
Zia– State ka CM hai to bhi nahi ja sakega..is situation mein.
Reporter– Aapko kuch nahi kehtey hain.?.
Zia– Nahi.
Reporter– Sirf Muslim driver ja sakta hai ?
Zia– Haan Muslim ja sakta hai, bahar ka Nepali, doosra community ja
sakta hai.. sirf Meitei ko mana hai.
Reporter– Aapke saath koi pareshani nahi ?
Zia– Main media walon ko lekar jaa raha hoon, media wale ko kaun rokega.
Reporter– Aap Kuki k elakey mein kitni baar ja chukey hain jab se jhagda shuru hua hai.?.
Zia– 3rd May ko jo hua tha bawaal, to agle din 4 May se…aajtak jaa raha hoon. Koi dikkat nahi hui…aur waise bhi media walon ko kaun rokta hai, war zone mein bhi.
Reporter– Aapka charges kya hoga wahan tak jaane ka ?
Zia– Charges alag-alag hai, Churachandpur k liye 7-8 thousands leta hai…
Reporter– 7-8 thounsads ek din ka ?
Zia– Haan.
[Zia told Tehelka that only a Muslim can go into Kuki area. He said that in today’s situation, even the Chief Minister cannot go to Kukis’ area. According to Zia, he charges between Rs 7 to 8 thousands per visit to Churachandpur area from Imphal.]
After Zia, Tehelka spoke to Ningthoujam Ajit Kumar from Meitei community, who is also a member of COCOMI. Ajit Kumar also told Tehelka that since the ethnic violence broke out, only Muslims are allowed into the Kuki area.
Reporter– Accha ye bataiye kuki ke ilakey mein Meitei ja saktey hain abhi ?
Ajit – Nahi abhi koi bhi nahi ja raha hai…
Reporter– To ye patrkar, journalists kaise ja rahe hain taxi le kar ?
Ajit – Taxi le kar Muslim log jate hain, Muslim banda ja raha hai, wo log taxi le kar jata hai, unko rok tok nahi hai…baki community jaise Naga ho gaya, Nepali ho gaya, aur Muslims.. unko jaaney deta hai.. waise checking hota hai.. magar jane deta hai…
Reporter– Accha Muslims ko Kuki kuch nahi kehtey ?
Ajit – Haan.. kuch nahi.. magar, wahan ek Muslim ladki k peeth mein goli laga hai. Uska operation bhi hua hai….Churachandpur aur Bishnupur ke beech mein ek basti rehta hai Muslims ka, us taraf bahut firing chal raha tha raat mein, bahut bomb wagera…sab Kuki log ne Meitei ka basti jala ke khadedh diya hai.
Reporter– Accha ye bataiye sirf Muslim driver hi allowed hain Kuki k elakey mein ?
Ajit – Haan
[ Ajit also confirmed to Tehelka that only Muslim drivers are taking passengers to Kuki area]
Now, Ajit told Tehelka how Muslims are making a killing through their transport business during these turbulent times in the state.
Ajit– Haan paisa bhi bahut kama rahe hain wo log
Reporter– Wo kaisey ?
Ajit– Aane jaaney mein bahut paisa leta hai na..
Reporter– Kitna le raha hai.?.
Ajit– Around Rs 10,000 le raha hai..
Reporter– Kahan jaaney ka..?
Ajit – Imphal se Churachandpur jaaney ka…aaney janey ka..
Reporter– Aur kitna km hai..Imphal se Churachandpur
Ajit– Around …80 km k aas pass hoga…
Reporter– Aur aapke hisab se kitna hona chahiye normal ?
Ajit -Waise passenger log jata hai to itna hota nahi hai, Rs 500 k aas
pass hota hai.
Reporter– Rs 500 aaney jaane ka..?
Ajit– Aane ka jaaney ka Rs 1000 to leta hai… abhi 5000-10,000 k beech leta hai..
Reporter– Violence se pehle kitna leta tha ?
Ajit– Pehle to Rs 1000 leta tha..only 1000.
Reporter– Rs 1000 Imphal se Churachandpur aaney jaaney ka violence se pehle ?
Ajit – Haan.
Reporter– Ab itna mehnga.. Rs 10,000 ?
Ajit– Abhi to situation aisa hai na.. to risk lekar wo log ja raha hai…isliye.
Reporter– Accha Kuki ko pata kaise lagta hai ke ye Muslims hain…?
Ajit – Naam pooch kar, identity card wagera dekhkar, Aadhar card ho..
wo identify karta hai.
Reporter– To ye Kuki license check kartey hain ?…
Ajit– Mere khayal se check karta hoga…kuch bande log bola tha check kiya hai, uske baad hamne poocha nahi hai…
[Ajit told Tehelka that only Muslims can travel to Kuki and Meitei areas after proving their identity. He said that Muslims by jacking up prices unreasonably are burning a hole in the passengers’ pockets. They are charging between Rs 5 to 10K per visit. Before the violence, the fare for the round trip was Rs 1,000. ]
According to Ajit, drugs were easily available on streets of Imphal earlier. But since the outbreak of violence, drug smuggling has ceased. Consequently, drugs are now hard to come by on the streets. He mentioned that there are areas in Imphal where drugs used to be readily available before.
Reporter– Abhi drugs mil raha hai kya Imphal ki sadkon par ?
Ajit – Wo to pata nahi, pehle easily available tha, bahut milta tha..abhi to kuch ruka hai, violence ki wajah se, transportation nahi
aa raha hai…
Reporter– Transportation nahi ho raha hai ?
Ajit– Haan smuggling nahi ho raha hai Imphal se.
Reporter– Violence se pehle drugs kaise mil rahi thi Imphal mein..?
Ajit – Jagah -jagah par basti hota hai drug ka, udhar se jakar leta hai..aise hi smuggling hota hai, bahut bade- bade consignment hota hai, to Imphal hokar hi jata hai…highway se jata hai to Imphal hokar hi jata hai…abhi to sab band hai.. to koi bhi nahi jaa raha hai..
Reporter– Matlab sadak par ladke mil jatey they sadak par bechtey hue?
Ajit– Nahi kuch basti hai, kuch area hai udhar milta hai…
Reporter– Wo kaun si basti, area hai Imphal mein ?
Ajit– North Imphal mein ?
Reporter– Aap kahan rehtey ho, North, east, south or west ?
Ajit– Mein east mein hoon..yahan bhi violence hua hai periphery mein…
Reporter– Aur west Imphal mein ?
Ajit– Haan wahan bhi hua hai bahut violence…
[Ajit told Tehelka that due to the on-going violence, drug smuggling is not happening in Imphal, with the result that drugs are not available now. But before the violence, drugs were easily available. There are particular areas in Imphal where drugs were readily available before the current turmoil started.]
Ajit also disclosed that after the internet ban in Imphal, he has found temporary solution for the connectivity crisis. He said that he was getting access to internet from the agencies, where the net is available, with due permission by paying them money at the rate of Rs 100 per hour.
Reporter– Aapka net chal raha hai ?
Ajit– Nahi abhi wo subah 10 baje se chalega, ha ha.
Reporter– Kitni der k liye chalega..?
Ajit– Mein institution se wahan jakar mark karta hoon, public k liye nahi hai. Jo govt. institutions hain wahan jakar leta hai, wo ek hour ka Rs 100 leta hai.
Reporter– Kaun leta hai ?
Ajit– Institution se XXXX , aur Manipur mein ek XXXXX centre hota hai
Reporter– Kaunsa ?
Ajit– All India ka learning institution hota hai.. computer ka wahan istemaal karta hai…
Reporter– Accha aur government organizations bhi paisa leti hain aapko net service dene ki ?
Ajit– Wo log to apna administration alag hota hai na, XXXX hai,
Reporter– Aap kahan se net letey ho ?
Ajit– Mein XXXX se leta hoon.. Rs 100 per hour..ye around 3 kilometer hai mere ghar se.
[ Ajit confessed to Tehelka that he has found a way out after the government had imposed a ban on internet in Manipur. He said he is paying Rs 100 per hour to the agencies where net is available with certain permission and is getting access to internet from there.]
After this exclusive report of Tehelka, if you’re considering traveling to the conflict-affected region of Manipur, particularly in the Metei and Kuki dominated areas, it’s recommended to have a Muslim driver accompany you. Muslim drivers are so much in demand in Manipur following the recent violence. Nearly everyone our reporters interviewed was unanimous in their assertion: it is safe to be Muslim in Manipur.
