Jiri victims laid to rest amid tearful scenes
Source: Chronicle News Service

Jiribam, November 22 2024: JIRIBAM: The last rites for nine Jiri victims, including three children and three women who were brutally murdered by armed Kuki militants after taking them hostage - as well as a student who was shot dead by Special Commando (Combat) SP Nectar Sanjenbam - were conducted with a mass burial at Ningshingkhul, here, on Friday.

The bodies were brought to Jiribam by road in the morning from Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH), Assam, under strict security provided by Jiribam district police and Assam police.

As the convoy reached Palarbond in Cachar, locals from Meetei settlements offered floral tributes to the victims.

The convoy then halted at the Jiribam bridge, where a large crowd, with tearful eyes, paid floral tributes to the nine.

The bodies were then taken to Ningshingkhul for the burial.

The victims were Laishram Baren (63), Maibam Kesho (71), Y Rani (66), Laishram Heitombi Devi (25) and her 8 months old son Lamnganba and 2 years and 5 months old son Chingkheinganba, Telem Thoibi (30) and her 8 years old daughter Telem Thajamanbi, and student Khundrakpam Athouba (21) .

It may be mentioned that on November 11, armed Kuki militants attacked and set fire to Meetei houses and shops in Jakuradhor Karong, where Laishram Baren was burned alive, and Maibam Kesho shot dead.

The militants also abducted the six women and children.

Their bodies were recovered near the confluence of the Jiri and Barak rivers along the Manipur-Assam border.

Khundrakpam Athouba was also killed and Keisham Bison injured during an agitation on November 17, when they were shot at by Nectar.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) representing the families of the victims of the killings in Jiribam on Thursday announced its decision to claim the bodies of the deceased lying in SMCH.

JAC convenor Shyamkumar Mutum said that the state government has given them assurances to address their demands which include punishing the perpetrators, constituting a two-member inquiry committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the November 17 incident, provision of suitable government jobs for the families of the deceased, along with ex-gratia payments.

The Manipur government earlier this week requested the Centre to hand over three cases of killings to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The cases include the killing of six innocent Meetei women and children in Jiribam, the death of a Hmar tribal woman who was burnt to death on November 7 in Jiribam and the killing of a Meetei woman farmer at Saiton in Bishnupur district on November 9 .

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