New Delhi, August 3, 2023: A planned mass burial of tribal victims, who lost their lives during the three-month-long ethnic clashes in Manipur, faced a postponement after community members decided to hold talks with the Union Home Ministry.
The event, which was scheduled in Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts, saw heightened security measures in anticipation of potential unrest.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) disclosed the reason behind the delay, stating, “The MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) requested us to delay the burial for five more days and that if we comply with that request we will be allowed to bury in the same location and the government will legalize the land for the burial.”
The ITLF added that they would consider the MHA’s request on five conditions, including legalizing the burial site and ensuring the safety of Kuki-Zo communities by not deploying Meitei state forces in the hill districts. They also demanded the transfer of dead bodies of Kuki-Zo communities lying in Imphal to Churachandpur and the speeding up of the political demand for total separation from Manipur. Additionally, they requested the transfer of tribal jail inmates in Imphal to other states for their safety.
The Home Ministry responded to the situation, stating, “The Government of India is seized of the issue of last rites of mortal remains of those killed in ethnic violence in Manipur. Government of India appeals to all concerned to maintain peace and communal harmony.”
The mass burial, intended to take place at S Boljang, near Haolai Khopi in Churachandpur district, involved 35 bodies, some of which had been in the morgue for nearly three months. The local police increased security forces to prevent potential violence during the gathering.
Opposition from Meitei civil society groups, including the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), arose, as they urged the Kuki community to perform last rites for the deceased in their native villages. COCOMI criticized the mass burial, stating that it could provoke further tensions between the two communities.
The ongoing conflict between the Meitei majority and Kuki minority has resulted in at least 120 deaths since May, with underlying factors such as competition for land and public jobs fueling the violence. The crisis has deepened divisions between the communities, leading to revenge attacks and exacerbating ethnic tensions.
Despite local authorities’ denial of political manipulation, rights activists emphasize the urgent need for resolution and reconciliation to quell the violence and promote harmony in the region.
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