Black dresses, black flags mark Black Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, September 13 2022: Black dresses and silence painted the entire Kangpokpi district today as the Kukis observed the 28th Sahnit Ni, the Kuki Black Day bemoaning the alleged 'Kuki Genocide' perpetrated by NSCN (IM) in the 1990s. The Sahnit Ni was also observed across the globe and India by the Kukis in North East India seeking 'justice for more than thousands of victims killed, lakhs of displaced Kuki people and hundreds of displaced Kuki villages in the alleged ethnic pogrom of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah)' .

Apart from mourning, the Kukis also demonstrated their discontentment as justice has not been delivered to the bonafide citizens of India by the Manipur Government and Centre despite submitting more than 60 memoranda since the last 28 years.

As directed by Kuki Inpi, the Kukis hoisted black flags at their respective houses, donned black clothes or traditional attire and engaged in a mass prayer the whole day by ceasing works.

Black dresses, black flags mark Black Day

At Kangpokpi district headquarters, shops belonging to the Kuki community were closed for the day while black flags were hoisted along roadsides.

Sahnit Ni was observed in all Churches of the town while some Churches organized a mass prayer the whole night.

At Gelnal village in Twilang area, Sahnit Ni was widely observed by the villagers along with the survivors of the alleged NSCN (IM) pogrom.

The villagers and the survivors shared 'sordid' tales of horror about the alleged massacre of 17 villagers at Gelnal village alone on this particular day in 1993 .

A mass procession was also held from the village Church campus to the site where a memorial stone was erected with all the names of the victims listed.

At the memorial site, floral tributes were paid to the departed souls while the Kuki leaders beat a traditional gong 'Dahpi' as a tribute apart from giving gun salute.

The alleged massacre of September 13, 1993 was the 'Blackest Day' in the history of the Kukis which the BBC reported as "ethnic cleansing by Naga separatist" while the CNN called it "Kuki Genocide", reports this correspondent.

"Failure of the Indian Government in delivering justice to the victims of the 'Kuki Genocide' despite signing 'The Universal Declaration of Human Rights containing 30 Articles' on December 10, 1948 was also emphasized at Gelnal's Sahnit Ni observation.

At Kholmun village in Kangpokpi, the Sahnit Ni was observed by the villagers, victims' families, and survivors.

Dulen village chief, whose village was also displaced, opined that the Kukis might be the only community other than Jews who observe Black Day in the world.