Imphal, May17 2009: Although it is almost a month since the Army's Operation Summer Storm was called off, villagers in and around Loktak lake are still gripped by a strong sense of insecurity.

The villagers who returned to their homesteads after the operation, have not completely settled when tranquillity of the area was shaken by the killing of eight non-local people inside Keibul Lamjao National Park followed by military operations.

Disclosing their troubled minds and sense of insecurity to media persons on the sideline of a medical camp organised jointly by Health Department and local clubs at Khordak today, 61 year old Ningthoujam Lalita said that she could not venture out even after the operation sensing the insecure atmosphere.

"Gripped by fear, my grand-child is also refusing to attend school", she said.

Even if there were sick persons within the family, the villagers didn't dare to leave their homes thinking what unexpected tragedy might befall upon them, Lalita expressed.

With the scary memory and sounds of booming guns and mortars still fresh in her mind, Lalita's five year grand-daughter is terrified to attend school.

The episode of Operation Summer Storm left deep impact on the tender mind that the girl use to cry out sporadically.

She would come running home when she saw any one in military fatigue.

In short, the young girl has been so traumatised that she refuses to play alone or be left alone.

The same case is with many other children of the village.

Those children who went to attend schools would hurry back right from the class rooms in case they happened to see any military personnel.

While the medical camp was going on, a young girl named Salam Sangita collapsed.

Since the Operation Summer Storm, she developed a weakness to bear any din caused by assemblage of people.

The medical camp conducted by a team of doctors including psychiatrists of RIMS attended to a number of patients with emotional problem.

According to RK Lenin, Associate Professor in RIMS Psychiatry Department, observed that many people came to the medical camp showed symptoms of insecurity, trauma, insomnia and dullness.

However, it would need further observation to ascertain whether they were suffering from psychiatric ailments.

Lenin said that 10 new people were observed to have been suffering from mental illness in the aftermath of the Operation Summer Storm.

Children were also suffering from frightfulness and dullness, observed Lenin adding that these symptoms may lead to serious mental problems in future.

He advised that it would be beneficial to the children to make them play together and organise competitions in physical sports etc in order to erase the bitter and traumatic memory left behind in the tender minds by Operation Summer Storm.

Fear and anguish felt by pregnant women have the potential to affect the mental health of the unborn children.

By the sideline of the medical camp, Editor of the Ereibak daily, Irengbam Arun distributed stationery and sports items to local club volunteers and students.

The medical camp was jointly organised by Health Department and local clubs of Khordak and Nongmaikhong including NAYA, NYS, NDSYC, KIC, YASOK and KWO with monetary assistance provided by Manipuri people currently based at Europe and Bangalore.

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