3 years back Samarendra, Ranjit went missing, making it the first missing case
'Hand over bodies or death certificates'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 05 2026: With all hopes of their loved ones ever returning alive fading into thin air, many families whose loved ones disappeared in the three-year-old violence and are feared to have been killed have urged the Government to at least find the dead bodies.

Following the widespread aggression launched by Kuki and Zo people on May 3, 2023, the first case of disappearance was reported on May 6, 2023 and the victims were identified as Atom Samarendra and Yumkhaibam Kirankumar.

Samarendra and Kirankumar, both from Khumbong, Imphal West disappeared near the Olympic Park, Sangaithel.

3 years back Samarendra, Ranjit went missing, making it the first missing case

According to Basanti, wife of Kirankumar, the last known location of the two men's mobile phones was the Olympic Park, Sangaithel.

She said that her husband and Samarendra left together in a car before they disappeared without any trace.

Security forces carried out a massive search at the Olympic Park on the day of their disappearance and the following day but they could not be found.

It is quite painful and disappointing to see that the Government has stopped searching for the missing men, Basanti said.

In a voice choked with emotion, she pleaded with the Government to at least find the dead body of her husband, if they cannot bring him home alive.

She said that the Government has stopped searching for Kirankumar and Samarendra and yet it is refusing to give death certificates on the ground that the death certificate of a missing person can be issued only after seven years of disappearance.

"If the Government is not in a position to even find the dead bodies, please give us death certificates", she pleaded with tears welling up in her eyes.

She said that none of the assurances given by the Government for compensation and support have been translated into action till date.

Even though there are reports of the Government providing compensation or financial assistance to families of many other persons who disappeared in the course of the violence, no compensation or support has been given to the families of Kirankumar and Samarendra who happened to be first case of disappearance after the violence erupted on May 3, 2023, according to Basanti.

She said that she and her family have been living with the help and support provided by several trusts.

"If these trusts were not there, we might have not been able to survive", she said.

Yumkhaibam Kirankumar left behind his wife, two daughters and a son who gave his HSLC Exam this year.

Although both the daughters have married, the eldest daughter is currently living together with Basanti at Khumbong.

The last rites of Kirankumar and Samarendra who disappeared on May 6, 2023 were performed with Pangong replicas on December 15 the same year.

Basanti said that the Government gave several assurances when N Biren was the Chief Minister but none of these assurances has been translated into action till date.

"We don't want death certificate nor compensation.

We want the dead body of my husband but the hope of ever finding the dead body is vanishing day by day.

"With my husband who was the sole breadwinner gone, I've been struggling really hard to make both ends meet.

Unable to endure the suffering any longer and considering the miserable failure of the Government to find even the dead bodies, we are asking for death certificates", Basanti said.

She said that they have been facing untold misery and difficulties because of the Government's refusal to give the death certificate of her husband.

"I don't know whose doors I shall knock to tell the story of my suffering and sorrow", she said.

Basanti also expressed doubt over the Government's claim that the missing case of Kirankumar and Samarendra has been handed over to the CBI.

She said that CBI officers would have come to them for enquiry had the case been actually handed over to the CBI as claimed by the Government.

"But so far, no CBI officer came to our family", Basanti said.

According to a reply given by Government authorities to an RTI application filed by Congress functionary Hareshwar Goshwami, there are 174 relief camps, 3000 prefabricated houses have been constructed, ex-gratia has been given for 217 people, 7,894 houses have been completely destroyed and 2,646 houses have been partially damaged as on March 10, 2026 .

Till March 30 this year, 58,881 people remained displaced.