Manipur violence: Body of infant among 87 Kuki members laid to rest in Churachandpur district

On a somber day in the Churachandpur district, the community came together to lay to rest 87 souls who tragically lost their lives in the Manipur violence. 

Among the deceased was an innocent one-month-old baby, whose life was cut short by the conflict that has shaken the region. 

THE TRAGIC LIFE OF ONE-MONTH-OLD INFANT

Born on April 10, 2023, at Senvon village in Pherzawl district, near the border Mizoram. He was the second son of Ruolneithang and Remruotzo.

Since the baby had difficulty in passing urine and stool, he was taken to the nearest health centre in Parbung village the next day. Due to the severity of the baby’s condition, the doctor at Parbung asked the parents to immediately take Isaac to the Civil
Hospital in Churachandpur, around 300 km away.

As violence engulfed Imphal, the chaos spread to the hospital, and baby Isaac could not receive proper medical treatment.

On May 10, the parents received a phone call from the hospital telling them that the baby was doing fine; but the next day, another phone call informed them that the baby had died.

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To this day, the infant's body is still lying at the RIMS hospital morgue.

The mass burial took place at the Kuki-Zo martyrs cemetery in Sehken, marking a moment of profound grief and reflection for the families and the community at large.

The victims, including the infant, were part of a larger group affected by the ethnic strife that erupted on May 3, 2023, between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. 

The bodies had been kept at JNIMS and RIMS morgues in Imphal since the onset of the violence, awaiting identification and the opportunity for a dignified farewell. 

After seven months, arrangements were finally made to transport the bodies back to their home districts.

The return of the bodies was facilitated under tight security, with 60 of the Kuki-Zo tribals' remains being airlifted from Imphal to their respective districts in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. 

This act of repatriation allowed the families and community members to conduct the necessary funeral rites. 

The Joint Philanthropic Organisation called for a shutdown of shops and businesses in honour of the deceased, reflecting the collective mourning of the community.

This tragic event underscores the deep scars left by the conflict and the urgent need for peace and reconciliation in the region. The mass burial not only provided closure for the bereaved families but also served as a stark reminder of the human cost of violence.