On Friday, a solemn mass burial took place in Kangpokpi district, where the remains of 19 individuals, victims of ethnic clashes in Manipur, were interred. The bodies, transported from Imphal morgues, arrived in Kangpokpi via an Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper on Thursday, concluding a poignant chapter over seven months since the outbreak of state-wide violence.
The ceremony unfolded at Phaijang village, and a profound 12-hour shutdown was observed in Kangpokpi, Sadar Hills, with the Kuki-Zo community members urged to fly a black flag in every household to signify a period of mourning.
In a statement, the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) expressed the much-anticipated homecoming of the deceased, marking the end of an arduous eight-month period of despair, heartbreak, and hopelessness.
The mass burial, conducted under the theme "You Sacrifice Your Today For Our Tomorrow," took place at the Martyr's Cemetery in the village. The local community dedicated the entire night to mourning at the cemetery, where the bodies were laid to rest.
The convenor of the Joint Philanthropic Organisations (JPO), Laldawnlian Varte, disclosed that the bodies of 87 other members of the tribal community are scheduled for burial on December 20 in Churachandpur district, as reported by news agency PTI.
The ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3, stemming from protests against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
