Moreh, December 17: In a dramatic development all the villagers from Khengjoi and other villages who had been taking shelter at Moreh suddenly 'disappeared' this evening leaving the medical team and members of the Apunba Lup in the lurch.

The medical team and the Apunba Lup members had rushed to Moreh to provide aid to the villagers who had fled to Moreh following the stand off between the security forces and militants at Khengjoi range.

The operation to flush out militants from the Khengjoi range started on December 5 at Kemdo and the troops inched their way to Khengjoi village on December 13.Apprehensive of the dangers being posed to their lives if any confrontation takes place between the troops and the militants, altogether 317 villagers from six villages arrived at Moreh yesterday to take shelter.

The operation is being conducted by the 10 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry under the aegis of the 26 Sector Assam Rifles.

With the refugees suddenly 'disappearing' from Moreh today evening, the medical team and representatives of the Apunba Lup who had rushed to the border town were left in the lurch.

The team reached Moreh at about 1 pm.

Later it was discovered that the displaced villagers had gone to Tengnoupal on five Shaktimans at about 2.15 pm today.

Moreh based newsmen who tried to track down the missing refugees, came to learn later that the Moreh ADC along with some officers of the Assam Rifles had met the villagers early morning today.

However it is still not clear whether the Assam Rifles or the Moreh ADC had a hand in evacuating the displaced villagers.

The Chairman of the Hill Tribal Council, Moreh on being contacted also conveyed that he does not have any idea on the new development.

The villagers from Khengjoi, Wailou, Moldanom, Molkon, Sondok and Bongjoi arrived at Moreh yesterday and their food was prepared by the Meitei Council Moreh at the Trade Centre, after which the Hill Tribal Council stepped in and arranged their stay at the Moreh Super Market.

A source said that the villagers spent the night at the Moreh Kuki Baptist Church and they were transported to Tengnoupal in five Shaktimans by the Assam Rifles.

The PRO of AR on being contacted however informed The Sangai Express that the Assam Rifles was not involved in moving the villagers out from Moreh.

The security force has also made the necessary arrangements to take the villagers to their respective villages from Tengnoupal, said the source.

However no official report could be obtained from the Army authority till the time of filing this report late evening today.

Though the CO of the JKLI had informed the media that there were no instances of firing or bombardments in the operation in which they have occupied an area of 15 square miles, the villagers nevertheless abandoned their homes and hearths, contending there were fierce gun fights.

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