23 bodies laid to rest at Kangpokpi
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, December 15 2023: Kangpokpi district witnessed a 12-hour total shutdown during the burial ceremony of the Kuki-Zo people who got killed in the course of violence in Manipur as burial ceremony of twenty-three people including four whose bodies couldn't be traced was held at the Martyrs' Cemetery at Phaijang village of the district.

Among the twenty-three corpses buried at Kangpokpi were also the mortal remains of 7-year-old Tonsing Hangshing and his mother Meena Hangshing.

The corpse of Lydia Lourembam, a Meitei woman and wife of Lourem-bam Inaoton who was also killed along with Tonsing Hangshing and Meena Hangshing, was also laid to rest.

The dead bodies of Florence Nempichong Hangshing and Olivia Lhingneithem Chongloi were also among the dead bodies buried today.

The mass burial ceremony under the theme, "You Sacrifice Your Today For Our Tomorrow" conducted under the aegis of the Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills was held at the Martyrs' Cemetery at Phaijang village and it was attended by more than ten thousand people.

Kuki Inpi Manipur, Sadar Hills Chiefs' Association, and various other civil society organizations, Kuki-Zo prominent leaders also attended the mass burial ceremony.

While CoTU chairman Thanglen Kipgen gave the welcome speech, its general secretary Lamminlun Singsit gave a brief report of the victims from the district.

Condolence and gun salute were also given to those who were buried today.

Apart from the CSO leaders, the victims' family members also spoke on the occasion.

Dr Satkhokai Chongloi, who attended the ceremony as minister, led the burial ceremony after a mass prayer with Church leaders.

The coffins were carried by the Kuki-Zo volunteers and Church leaders carried the crosses and led the coffins to the burial site.

Joshua Hangshing, father of seven year old Tonsing Hangshing and husband of Meena Hangshing said that he waited for his son and wife expecting that they will return anytime for a very long time.

He also said that he couldn't sleep after getting information that the bodies will be flown to Kangpokpi.

I'm somewhat relieved now as the bodies of my son and wife have been laid to rest, he added.

Lourembam Inaoton, a Meitei by ethnicity, and husband of Lydia Lourembam said that he had been leading a miserable life since he learnt about the fate of his wife.

"It is very difficult to explain how my life was before her lifeless body reached home, but, now, I am fine as she got a decent and honorable burial today", he added.

Lourembam Inaoton also conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to the leaders of CoTU, KIM, KSO, and other CSOs for their exemplary humanitarian gestures in giving a decent and honorable burial to his wife.

CoTU's information and publicity secretary Thangtinlen Haokip, on the other hand, thanked the Supreme Court, IGAR (South) and the 22 Assam Rifles for making the burial happen.

Thangtinlen Haokip also said that CoTU is extremely thankful to the public for supporting them in times of grief by adhering to the 12-hour total shutdown which ended at 5 pm .

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