Slain Kuki militants laid to rest as 'martyrs'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 05 2024: The 10 killed Kuki militants who were part of a team that abducted and killed six women and children including an 8-month-old toddler in Jiribam recently have been dubbed as "martyrs" and their funeral was held at Churachandpur today.

Mizoram Chief Minister's Adviser H Ginzala attended the burial at Churachandpur.

The 10 Kuki militants were gunned down and killed by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) when they were attacking an internally displaced persons' camp inside a police station in Jiribam's Jakuradhor, some kilometres from Jiribam District Headquarters, on November 11.The internally displaced persons' camp at the time was providing shelter to many displaced Meitei families.

Even as 10 of the militants were gunned down by the CRPF, the militants burnt down houses and shops, and abducted three women and three children of a family.

In the aftermath of the attack, security forces and the locals recovered charred remains of two elderly men.

While the abduction of the six women and children sparked public outrage across the valley region, and search was reportedly on, a photograph of the six emerged on social media.

The photograph had the six visibly in distress and afraid.

The six were identified as Yumlembam Rani Devi (60), Telem Thoibi Devi (31) and her daughter Telem Thajamanbi (8), Laishram Heitonbi Devi (25), her son Laishram Chingkheinganba (2), and her youngest child, Laishram Langamba (8 months) .

In the later days, their bodies were found floating in a river, and taken to Silchar Medical College for postmortem.

The postmortem reports said the bodies bore multiple gun shot wounds and signs of torture.

Even the 8-month-old toddler had gunshot wounds and was found with an eye missing.

Meanwhile, the ten Kuki militants who were gunned down by the CRPF in Jiribam and two others were buried at "Martyrs Cemetery in Churachandpur as "martyrs" in a programme held under the aegis of the Joint Philanthropic Organisation (JPO) "to honour the 12 Kuki-Zo youths who were killed in an encounter with the CRPF in Jiribam district" .

The burial programme reportedly commenced at approximately 3 pm following a condolence gathering at Peace Ground, as per India TodayNE.

Leaders of Zomi Council, Kuki Inpi, and other bodies reportedly attended the event alongside Mizoram Chief Minister's Adviser H Ginzala.

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