Symbolic last rites and more may follow : Over 30 still missing
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: December 16 2023 -

Last rites performed for Atom Samarendra (47) and Yumkhaibam Kirankumar (47) :: Pix - TSE

Assumed dead. Last rites performed. But bodies still missing.

A story that goes back to May 6 when Atom Samarendra and Yumkhaibam Kirankumar went missing and the status quo continues.

Still missing, but last rites performed and perhaps it is in a way coming to terms with the reality for no adult would go missing in their own home town for over 7 months.

To many, the two words-assumed dead-may be shortened to one word-murdered.

Yumkhaibam Kiran-kumar is or was not well acquainted with The Sangai Express but Atom Samarendra certainly was, having been with the newspaper as a Sub-Editor from 2000 till 2006 before he left the newspaper to join the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development as a Junior Assistant (Administration).

Six years may not count for much in the life of a newspaper, but as is the case with other newspaper houses in Imphal, association with one’s colleagues in the office of TSE is never counted by the number of years alone but also by the rapport that one strikes up with colleagues.

It is here that the man from Khumbong would be remembered not only by those working in the newsroom of The Sangai Express but also by the boys in the other sections, such as the advertisement section, those dealing with the machine, the distribution section and the management staff.

Symbolic last rites and going by the list of missing persons, the case of Samarendra and Kirankumar will not be the last for if December 15 will be marked as the date that Manipur witnessed the symbolic last rites of the said two missing persons, the same may hold true for the other over 32 missing persons.

And going by the manner in which no discernable effort is seen to trace the missing bodies of Hijam Linthoingambi and Phijam Hemanjit despite some suspects having been pulled up, Manipur will witness many more December 15, 2023.

Just before the symbolic last rites of Samarendra and Kirankumar were performed, Manipur acted on the directive of the Supreme Court of India to ensure that the bodies of 60 persons were airlifted from the morgues at Imphal to either Kangpokpi or Churachandpur while four bodies were brought to Imphal.

And so it was that while symbolic last rites were held at Khumbong, Manipur also witnessed the last rites of the other 64 persons killed in the course of the ethnic violence.

This is the story of the customary and religious last rites of many of the victims of the ongoing clash and Manipur looks set to witness many more symbolic last rites.

This is where a reminder to all may be in line.

When 60 bodies were taken out from the morgues of RIMS and JNIMS in the wee hours of December 14, no trouble broke out in Imphal, though there were muted questions about the bodies or status quo of the others who are still missing.

Put the stress on the words, ‘muted questions’ and this is where a visible line of culture, a culture to respect the lifeless body of anyone emerges.

Perhaps this is what sets apart the people, a people who have had no qualms about making bodies disappear and the other who demonstrate that all lifeless bodies should be accorded due respect.

It is this difference which should be noted and which makes one set of people more cultured than the other.

Apart from exploring ways and means to take Manipur to the path of normalcy, it is equally incumbent on the Government to work out ways to retrieve the bodies of people who have gone missing ever since Manipur erupted in flames in the evening of May 3.

And this is where one wonders what has happened to the follow up action after the ‘main accused’ in the kidnapping and killing of Linthoingambi and Hemanjit was arrested and given so much publicity.

Or is it a case of the accused proving to be so hard to crack that no headway can be made to trace the bodies of the two young people ?

These are questions which should be raised and the Government cannot afford to sleep over such posers.

Else, apart from the ethnic violence and killings, symbolic last rites may just define 2023 in the years to come.