3 mortuaries, 94 bodies and a wait for last rites in Manipur

Violence in this northeastern state roiled by an ethnic conflict since early May has ebbed, but some of the dead continue to pay a price. There are 94 bodies in three mortuaries, two in Imphal and one in Churachandpur, that are yet to be claimed by their families.

- Prawesh Lama

One of the 94 is of Lalboi Lhungdim (32), who was beaten to death by a mob in Imphal on May 4. In M Songgel village, about 2 km from Churachandpur market, Ngamthang Lhungdin, is watching the local TCN cable network to track the latest updates related to the bodies.

Desperate to bring his son home, one final time, Ngamthang was tracking the news on Wednesday in the backdrop of Supreme Court's latest directives in the matter.

On November 28, the SC issued directives for the burial or cremation of all those killed in the ethnic violence in the state, including 88 that have been identified, but not claimed by their next of kin, by December 11. Either the relatives of the deceased can accept the bodies and perform their last rites at any of the nine burial sites identified by the Manipur government, state can go ahead and do the same in accordance with the municipal law, the court ordered.