Northeast Desk, 21th December: On a somber day in Churachandpur district, the community gathered to lay to rest 87 lives lost in the Manipur violence, including an innocent one-month-old baby. Born on April 10, 2023, near the Mizoram border, the baby faced health complications, leading to a journey for medical care amidst the chaos of conflict.
As violence reached Imphal, the baby named Isaac couldn’t receive proper medical treatment, and despite initial reassurance, the parents later received heartbreaking news of the infant’s demise. The baby’s body remained at the RIMS hospital morgue.
The mass burial occurred at the Kuki-Zo martyrs cemetery in Sehken, marking a moment of profound grief and reflection for the families and the community. The victims were part of the ethnic strife between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities on May 3, 2023. The bodies, kept in morgues in Imphal, were finally repatriated after seven months, allowing families to conduct necessary funeral rites.
The repatriation, carried out under tight security, involved airlifting 60 Kuki-Zo tribals’ remains from Imphal to Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts. The Joint Philanthropic Organisation called for a shutdown in honor of the deceased, reflecting collective mourning.
This tragic event underscores the deep scars left by the conflict, emphasizing the urgent need for peace and reconciliation in the region. The mass burial provided closure for bereaved families while serving as a stark reminder of the human cost of violence.