After 7 months, bodies of 64 Manipur victims airlifted for last rites

64 bodies of those killed in Manipur's ethnic conflict airlifted for last rites, following Supreme Court's directive for "decent and dignified" disposal

GUWAHATI/IMPHAL: The bodies of 64 people who died during the ethnic violence in Manipur more than seven months ago were airlifted on Thursday for the last rites.

The airlifting of the bodies followed the Supreme Court’s November 29 directive to the Manipur government seeking “decent and dignified” disposal of unclaimed bodies of those killed in the ethnic conflict.

Officials in the State said 60 bodies of people belonging to the Kuki-Zo community were flown from Imphal to specified locations in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts. Similarly, the bodies of four Meiteis were flown from Churachandpur town to Imphal.

The bodies were lying at the morgues of two hospitals in Imphal and one in Churachandpur. They were taken out amid tight security at both places and handed over to members of their families at the destinations.

According to the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), 41 bodies were flown to Churachandpur and 19 to Kangpokpi, both Kuki-majority hill districts. Two helicopters made several sorties to transport the bodies.

“The mass burial of 19 of our people will take place at Phaijang village in Kangpokpi on Friday,” an ITLF spokesperson said.

The date for the last rites of the 41 others in Churachandpur has not been finalised.