Kangpokpi dons black during Sahnit Ni
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, September 15 2018:
Black colour, mourning and silence donned the entire Kangpokpi DHQs on September 13, as the Kuki community observed the 25th Sahnit Ni (Black Day) bemoaning death of more than 1000 innocent Kukis killed in the alleged coordinated attacked launched by the NSCN-M duringl993-1997.As per the instruction of Kangpokpi Town Committee and directed by the Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi District under the aegis of Kuki Inpi Manipur, Sahnit Ni was observed in the town by all Churches and local bodies while the main event was organized by Kangpokpi Christian Church at its campus.
Apart from hoisting black flag in the town, children, boys and girls, young and old, men and women were seen donning black cloth while every vehicle that belong to the Kukis attached a small black flag wherever they go and all business establishments pulled their shutters down, Schools and Government offices remained close in compliance with the instruction of KSO Sadar Hills.
Black flags were hoisted up along the National Highway from downtown IT Road till main bazar of Kangpokpi DHQs by the KuM Christian Khangthahte while numbers of banners inscribed with lamenting words, motivational quotes were also put up apart from two giant banner hanged up by Kangpokpi Youth Union along the National Highway.
Hundreds of Kukis in Kangpokpi DHQs donned with black cloth assembled at KCC campus at 7 am for a mass prayer and gathered again at 10 am to listen the speech of Dr T Lunkim and other resource persons while the evening session of candle lighting began at 5 pm.
Beating of traditional gong called 'Dahpi' in local dialect, reading out and displaying all the names of the victims of the alleged IM led Kuki Genocide on projector followed by mass prayer for the victims and family as well as seeking justice for them conducted by Pastor J Lunkim marked the noon session.
Bible recitation, reading of poems written for the victims, a solemn hymnal and the lengthy speech of Dr T Lunkim on various important issues were also some important highlights of the noon session.
Addressing the sad crowd at KCC, Dr T Lunkim said that those killed by the NSCN-M and whom we bemoaned are still stronger than us and justice will prevail upon them sooner than later.
"Their death will not go in vain for they are innocent and they are killed only because of someone sinister design to unsoil the Kukis from their ancestral land so as to accomplish his vested interest", asserted Dr T Lunkim before adding that Kuki Black Day is the reminder of immediate settlement of NSCN-IM heinous criminal acts of murdering more than 1000 innocent Kukis which include children, women, old people while uprooting 360 Kuki villages in their thirst to seize lands which has displaced more than 1 lakh Kukis.
The evening session was marked by candle lighting by all Sahnit Ni goers at KCC to pay tribute and respect to the departed souls which began from 5 pm in the afternoon.
The observation also sought and prayed for early justice to the victims of the alleged NSCN-M led Kuki genocide while urging the Indian Government to change its policy towards the Kukis and dealing with Kuki Inpi and settled the long pending NSCN-M criminal acts for immediate restoration of peace and social harmony.
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