Bodies of victims of Manipur violence shifted to hill districts

Guwahati: The bodies of the victims of ethnic violence, which have been lying in the morgues in Imphal for eight months, have been shifted to the respective hill districts for a dignified burial. A Supreme Court bench had on November 28, 2023, directed that the bodies be given a dignified burial.

The bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra had passed the directions based on a report prepared by a committee led by justice Gita Mital. The committee was formed on August 7, 2023, to oversee the humanitarian aspects such as compensation and rehabilitation of victims of the Manipur violence.

A senior police officer, who did want to be identified, told ET, "Central security forces early Thursday morning shifted the bodies out of the morgue and it was airlifted from Imphal by an Indian Air Force chopper to Kuki-Zo tribal dominated districts."


The bodies, which were lying at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences and Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, both located in Imphal, were shifted in helicopters to Kangpokpi and Churachandpur. Four bodies were kept in Churachandpur hospitals.

There will be a 12-hour shutdown on Friday in Kangpokpi and the burials are likely to take place on Friday. Around 41 of those bodies had been transported to Churachandpur. The other 19 bodies were shifted to Motbung in Kangpokpi.

The Committee on Tribal Unity stated: "The much-awaited homecoming of our fallen brothers and sisters after a long tumultuous eight months of despair, heartbreak and hopelessness have eventually reached their resting place here in our homeland. And we will honour our fallen Kuki-Zo brethren with the highest burial rites tomorrow, that is Dec 15, at Martyr Cemetery at Phaijang."

"The Committee on Tribal Unity would like to inform the public that there will be a 12-hour total shutdown within Sadar Hills-Kangpokpi from 5 am till 5 pm for the funeral services," it said.