Kuki-Zo community marks 26th Separation Day with shutdown, candlelight tributes

The Kuki-Zo community in Sadar Hills, on July 4, observed the 26th Separation Day with a solemn display of unity and remembrance under the aegis of the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi district.

 
In response to CoTU’s directive, all business establishments, private institutions, and educational institutions across the district remained shut from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm as a mark of tribute to the fallen Kuki-Zo martyrs in the ongoing conflict in Manipur.

 
As dusk fell, candlelight vigils and mass prayers were organised in various localities to honour those who sacrificed their lives for the community.

 
At the district headquarters in Kangpokpi, hundreds of Kuki-Zo people converged at Brig. M. Thomas Ground at 6:00 pm in a poignant show of solidarity. The programme was jointly organised by the Kangpokpi Town Committee, Kangpokpi Women Welfare Organisation, and Kangpokpi Youth Union.

 
Rev. Dr. Satkhokai Chongloi delivered the keynote address, urging the community to remain steadfast in their struggle while upholding the community's unity.
 

Rev. Father Janggin Chongloi led the mass prayer, invoking blessings for the bereaved families and reaffirming the collective aspiration for a separate administration — a long-cherished demand of the Kuki-Zo people.

 
Participants lit candles in a moving tribute, symbolizing hope and resilience amid ongoing challenges. The atmosphere was marked by solemn chants, tearful prayers, and renewed calls for justice and recognition.
 

Meanwhile, the Kuki Students’ Organization (KSO) Sadar Hills also observed the solemn Separation Day at its Administrative Office in the heart of Kangpokpi town. The student body's executive members held a candlelight vigil in front of a giant Wall of Remembrance banner to honour and pay tribute to the fallen Kuki-Zo martyrs, reinforcing the spirit of sacrifice and unity among the younger generation.

 
The 26th Separation Day observance once again underscored the unwavering spirit of the Kuki-Zo community and their determination to safeguard their identity and aspirations in the face of adversity.