Last rites of 12 tribals performed in Manipur

The burial of 10 armed militants killed by CRPF in a shootout, and two others—all Kuki-Zo—was held on Thursday in Churachandpur district of the state once again highlighted the deep ethnic divisions in the state and the larger region.

- Thomas Ngangom

Schools, colleges, shops, and businesses were all closed in the district, at the request of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a Kuki organisation; and the Mizoram chief minister, who sees himself as a leader of the larger Kuki-Zo community, and who has criticised the Manipur administration, sent a representative. There was no response from the Mizoram chief minister's office or the state government. HT contacted the advisor (technical) to Mizoram CM, Ginzala, who confirmed attending the burial. "I was there to represent my party Zoram People's Movement."

HT reached out to Meitei body too but didn't get a response till the time of print.