Mass Burial Plan For Kuki-Zomi People On Hold; HC Orders Status Quo On Proposed Site

Imphal: The Manipur High Court on Thursday directed for a status quo at the proposed burial site in Haolai Khopi village of Churachandpur district where the Kuki-Zo community had planned a burial service for 35 people killed in the three-month-long ethnic clashes.

The order was passed by Acting Chief Justice MV Muralidharan after a hearing at 6 am.

Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) has also put on the mass burial of tribal victims on hold after talks with the Union Home Ministry. They have agreed to conditionally postpone the burial for five days after requests from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga as well.

“We had a marathon meeting last night till 4 am due to a new development. 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 legalise the land for the burial. The Mizoram CM had also made a similar request,” the ITLF said.

Earlier, additional central security forces were rushed to the Bishnupur-Churachandpur district boundary following the call by the ITLF.

“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 and assures that it will spare no efforts to resolve the aforesaid issue amicably to the utmost satisfaction of all parties within a period of seven days,” the Union Home Ministry said in a statement.

Notably, women from various parts of Manipur had stormed DC office Bishnupur this morning, demanding to stop mass burial of numerous corpses at sericulture complex situated at Torbung Bangla, apprehending a flare-up, and necessary precautions and security measures to prevent further untoward incident in this prevailing crisis.