10 Kuki-Zo 'VVs', two others laid to rest
Source: Chronicle News Service / Kaimuanthang

CCpur, December 05 2024: The 10 Kuki-Zo youth or 'village volunteers' who were killed in an encounter with security forces on November 11 at Jiribam - along with two others killed in separate incidents - were laid to rest on Thursday at Martyrs' park.

After a joint condolence service at Peace ground, Tuibong, the burial ceremony started from 3 pm at Martyrs' Parknear Sehken village.

Both the condolence service and burial ceremony were conducted with major initiative of leaders of Joint Philanthropic Organisation (JPO), preceded by family members offering floral tributes joined by a large number of people.

The condolence programme was attended by leaders of Zomi Council, Kuki Inpi, tribe leaders and civil society organisations.

A delegation from Mizoram including Mizoram CM's advisor Ginzalal Hauzel and Young Mizo Association (YMA) leaders also attended the programme.

They showed their last respects and honour by putting traditional shawls over the coffins of the martyrs.

The burial ceremony started with gun salute, followed by other activities amidst by choral song from blessed choir, speeches from leaders.

The burial ritual was administered by Rev Lalrosiem Songate of Hmar Christian Leaders' Forum.

Thousands of men and women joined the mass burial with tearful eyes amid a total shutdown in tribal dominated areas.

Wearing black attires thousands of men and women including elderly persons joined the mass burial with tearful eyes.

According to the leaders of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), before the ceremonies of the funeral the bodies of the 12 Kuki-Zo-Hmar youths were taken out from the hospital morgue and sent to their families.

A massive silent rally was also held and thousands of people including students wearing black attires and holding placards and banners participated in it.

Thousands of people had on November 19 taken part in a 'coffin rally' in Churachandpur in solidarity with the ten Kuki-Zo - Hmar tribal Village Volunteers.

Jointly organised by various tribal organisations, thousands of men and women wearing black attire symbolically carried ten dummy coffins to pay homage to the ten slain youths.

After the post-mortem of all ten bodies along with two other bodies was conducted in Assam's Silchar Medical College and Hospital, the bodies were airlifted on November 16 to Churachandpur, a Kuki-Zo-Hmar inhabited district.

The Manipur Police had earlier claimed that all ten 'militants' were killed in retaliatory firing by the CRPF after they allegedly attacked the camp and the adjoining police station at Jakuradhor village in Jiribam district's Borobekra sub-division on November 11 .

Two CRPF troopers also suffered injuries in the gun battle.

However, the ITLF, Kuki-Zo Council and Hmar Students' Association (HSA) have been claiming that all ten slain Hmar Village Volunteers were engaged to protect the villagers.

(With inputs from IANS) .

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