Body of one of nine 'tribal martyrs' taken from morgue
Source: The Sangai Express

CCpur, December 23 2016: Even as Chief Minister O Ibobi and all the six Congress MLAs elected from the district plan to hold a mega political rally at Tuibong peace ground, a dramatic turn of events on the eve of their visit saw one of the 'nine martyrs' taken away from the mortuary where it has been kept with the other eight bodies for the past sixteen months.

Sources said the body of Khaizamang Touthang, the youngest of the 'nine martyrs' was taken early today around 1 am reportedly by the family and relatives after breaking the mortuary lock.

It was then taken to KIC office at Tuibuong where it has been kept till the time of writing this report.

Representatives of KIC, KSO and KKL met the Chief Minister upon his visit today on the issue and it has been learnt that the two groups have agreed to give an honourable burial to the body.

Body of one of nine 'tribal martyrs' taken from morgue

KIC president Thangjang Haokip, talking to The Sangai Express this evening said the Chief Minister has paid Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the family, another 1 lakh for the funeral and agreed to award a Government job to the next of kin within a couple of days besides agreeing to set up a memorial at the cost of Rs 50 lakh.

"With the Government accepting the conditions laid down by the civil societies, we have now decided to bury the body and will immediately be discussing the details for the funeral service," he added.

Sources said the KIC may decide to lay the body to rest before Christmas but the information could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, the JAC Against Anti-Tribal Bills (JACAATB) has dubbed the incident as rather unfortunate and alleged that the body of one of the nine martyrs was stolen at the behest of the State Government and with the sole aim of pleasing the communal Manipur Government.

Ever since its formation on September 2, 2015 following the public outburst against the three 'anti-tribal Bills' the JACAATB has always been committed to exploring ways and means to arrive at a cordial solution acceptable to the tribal people however till date the Manipur Government has shown no genuine desire to arrive at any amicable solution, said the JAC in statement issued later today.

With the Government actively seeking ways and means to disrupt the unity among the tribal people, it is rather disheartening that some sections of the tribal community have failed to see the core agenda behind the creation of new districts, ie to ensure easier implementation of future 'anti-tribal Bills' including amendments to the MLR&LR Act in the tribal territories.

'The unfortunate incident wherein the mortal remains of one of the nine tribal Martyrs was stolen last night by destroying the door and breaking into the Lamka district hospital mortuary speaks volume of the extent of the State Government's sinister designs that have crept into the tribal peoples in present Manipur.

For someone to stoop so low and break into the Mortuary to retrieve the body of one of the Martyrs with the sole aim of pleasing the communal Manipur Government, while the same could have been arranged and settled amicably if a simple request had been made to the authorities concerned is something beyond our comprehension,' noted the statement.

It added, that rather baffling act shall forever remain entrenched in the annals of the tribal peoples in present Manipur as one of betrayals by a tribe "we had considered our very own" .

The JAC also said the issue with the infamous "anti-tribal Bills" are far from over despite the President of India withholding the PMP Bill, 2015 as the remaining two Bills have been sent for review by experts and the State Government is still trying to introduce a new Bill in place of the withheld Bill.