Thousands bid adieu to slain KNO/KRA cadre
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, February 11 2016: Thousands of people particularly from the Kuki community from different parts of State gathered at the residence of late Lieutenant Zamkholen Touthang, an active member of KNO/KRA in Thongjam Tuinom village today to pay their last tribute and bid adieu to the departed soul.

Kangpokpi AC MLA Nemcha Kipgen, Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills and its constituent units, CSOs including KWU, KSO, TSA, Human Rights, Kangpokpi Town Committee, Kangpokpi Town Churches Fellowship, KWWO, KYU and various SoO groups including KNO/ZRF, UPF/KNF and UPF/KRF also joined the funeral ceremony of the KNO/KRA cadre.

Zamkholen Touthang, who was also the chief of Thongjam Tuinom village, was killed by some unknown miscreants on Tuesday evening at around 6 30 pm near KT College along Imphal-Tamenglong road in Kangpokpi area.

He was 40 and he is survived by his wife Lammu, two sons and a daughter.

Speaking at the funeral function, Nemcha Kipgen expressed her heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family and wrapped the deceased with a traditional shawl known as 'Saipikhup' as marked of honour while paying homage.

The MLA also vehemently condemned and expressed her discontentment over the killing of Zamkholen and shared the pain and grief of the family.

"Avoid killing rather valued life and fear God", said Nemcha Kipgen while adding that killing will not bring any change and development in the society but it will fade away the entire peaceful coexistence, love and unity among the people.

She also said "I am extremely distress over the unfortunate incident which I always asked God not to let happen in my Constituency so as to sustain the established peaceful environment and to enable the public enjoy a peaceful living".

Let this incident be the culmination of such killing in the society prayed the MLA while urging all UGs organization to shun violence and killing in future, he said.

Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills led the traditional homage of CSOs Sadar Hills CSOs to the departed soul and observed a one minute silence as a mark of respect while making the congregate united their hands together and rise up as a pictogram of calling peace and harmony in the society.

While sharing the grief and sorrow of the bereaved family, Kuki Inpi and CSOs Sadar Hills also strongly condemned the killing of Zamkholen Touthang and cautioned that the civil bodies will no more tolerate such incidents which can annihilate peace among the Kuki community.

KNO/KRA home secretary, Jeremy Khongsai led the party salute and homage to its departed cadre while the army chief led the traditional shawl wrapping ceremony.

Jeremy Khongsai also conveyed that full honour and gun salute in honour of the departed soul was observed at the headquarters of the organization.

"We don't know the motive behind killing of our respected Lieutenant, but we take it as a direct challenge to the organization", said the Home Secretary and vowed that KRA would continue safeguarding their land.

KNO/ZRF, UPF/KNF and UPF/KRF also wrapped a traditional shawl to the departed soul as a mark of respect and honour.

Rev Kaingul Chongloi led the funeral service according to the Christianity belief and buried the mortal remains of Zamkholen at Thongjam Tuinom village cemetery at around 330 pm.

All business establishments in Kangpokpi remained closed from yesterday till the end of the funeral ceremony today as a mark of tribute to the departed soul.

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