KHODAWMI OPERATION 1967: "Repatriation of 1950s Displaced Indians by GoI and GoM from Burma"

With special references to, Letter No. B- R/67/DC/874-5, dated, the 6th April 1968, addressed to:

1. Shri R.K Birendra Singh, Sub-divisional Officer, Ukhrul, and

2. Shri S. Sarat Singh,

Sub-divisional Officer, Tengnoupal,

And Copy to: The Under Secretary (Rehabilitation) reminder letter No. 37/7/67-R, dated the 28th May 1968.... factual clarification is hereby made as under.

That the so termed Kuki and Naga Refugees  were not actually refugees, they are repatriated Indian citizens, who migrated into Kabo Valley (now in Burma) during 1950s  from Ukhrul & Tengnoupal districts due to Naga Militants (NNC -Tangkhul Region)'s excessive harassment of innocent and an armed kuki civilian villagers and assassination of Kuki leaders and chiefs. As per detail data found in the book entitled, "Zalengam, the Kuki Nation" (2008) page 558- 563, altogether 36  Kuki Chiefs and leaders were assassinated  and 64 Kuki Villages were uprooted from 1950 to 1980 by Manipuri Naga Militants who later came to be known as National Socialist Council of Nagalim , Issac- Muivah (NSCN-IM) on 30 April 1988.

The Govt of Burma in 1967 conducted KHODAWMI OPERATION to flush out Indian citizens from political Burma  and sent back all Indians who migrated into Burma from Manipur. This repatriation of Indian citizens from Burma was conducted with the mutual approval of Govt of India & Govt of Manipur and Govt of Burma respectively. This repatriated Indian citizens were provided reliefs by the Govt of India through Govt of Manipur vide D.C. No. B-R/DC/1314- 6, 6 June 1968. Original Kuki settlers of  Kabo Valley were made to stay back in Burma by the Burmese Govt. It is also to note that there were also Naga Indian citizens who were among the repatriated refugees in 1967.

There are so many Kuki Villages in Kabo Valley, a one time British Indian- Manipur territory and many Tangkhul Naga villages in Somra Tract of Burma, where the Tangkhuls originated. One should not forget that ethnic Kukis@ Kuki-Chins' ancestral land (G.A Grierson 1904)  stretched from:

NORTH -:Naga Hills,

SOUTH - Sandoway of Burma, including Chinhills,

EAST - Myittha River,

WEST - Bay of Bengal.

The Encyclopedia Britannica (1962) Vol. 13, 511 also recorded the Kukis as inhabiting both sides of mountains dividing Assam and Bengal from Burma including present day Manipur Hills. The British demarcation of Kuki-Chin territory into three independent countries of India (1947), Burma (1948) and Bangladesh (1972) rendered Kukis divided into three International boundaries. It is undeniable fact that

Kuki-Chins are indigenous people of India, Burma and Bangladesh respectively.

It is also imperative to note that there are about 1.5 lakh Kuki populations in the present Manipur state in 1951, before Manipur statehood in 1972, as Haokip, Kipgen, khongjai/ Khongsai, Touthang, Suhte, Paite, Simte, Gangte, Zou etc. etc.. (Census of India 1951 for Manipur).

DR. TS HAOKIP,

Chairman, (KReF),

For & On behalf of

Kuki Reformation Forum 

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