Manipur Violence: After Months, Bodies Of 60 Victims Airlifted From Imphal Morgues

Imphal: Around 175 people have lost their lives since ethnic violence broke out between Meitis and Kukis in early May.

The bodies of 60 of those victims were on Thursday airlifted from morgues in Imphal and sent to the Kuki-dominated hill districts of Kangpokpi and Churachandpur.

The bodies, which had been lying for months at Imphal’s Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) and Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), were shifted in helicopters, signalling and end to months of speculation and a possible closure for the victims’ families.

Representatives of Kuki organisations said 41 of those bodies were transported to Churachandpur at the Assam Rifles helipad in four trips, while the other bodies were shifted to Motbung in Kangpokpi.

“They were brought in multiple batches by helicopters from Imphal. The last rites for the victims will take place tomorrow at the martyrs’ memorial cemetery at Phaijang village near Motbung,” said a representative of Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU).

However, no decision has been taken yet on date and place of burial of the bodies taken to Churachandpur, informed someone from Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF).

The shifting of the bodies, which were lying at the two morgues in Imphal for months took place after

A fortnight ago, the Supreme Court directed that dignified disposal of unclaimed bodies should be arranged.

The state government then sent notifications to the families of victims, asking them to claim bodies for last rites at five designated locations.

The Manipur government had submitted to Supreme Court a list of 169 identified bodies, of which 88 – all Kukis — remained unclaimed in morgues of JNIMS, RIMS and Churachandpur Medical College.