The state government has said that since the land falls near the valley and hills area, it becomes a sensitive area for such a burial
The mass burial of 35 dead bodies by the Kuki Zo community in Churachandpur district’s border area Tuibong has been postponed for the time being.
Sources say that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) appealed to the Kuki community that they will look into the burial matter and will do everything to settle it within 7 days.
The Indigenous Tribal Leader Forum (ITLF) came up with a statement which stated, “We had a marathon meeting last night till 4 in the morning due to new development. The MHA requested us to delay the burial for 5 more days and that if we comply with that request we will be allowed to bury in the same location and the government will legalize the land for the burial. This request came from the Mizoram Chief Minister as well.”
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) had a long deliberation on the request of the Home Minister to delay the burial for another 5 days with various stakeholders. We have agreed to consider the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs for waiting another 5 days for the burial, provided the following demands are met.
The legalisation of the burial site in S. Boljang of Churachandpur, Manipur (Dag No. 2022, 2025, 2161 and 2162 of 98-Torbung Lourup of Churachandpur district).
– All Meitei state forces should not be deployed in all hill districts for the safety of the Kuki-Zo communities.
– As the burial will be delayed, the dead bodies of the Kuki-Zo communities that are lying in Imphal should be brought to Lamka (Churachandpur).
– Our political demand – total separation from Manipur should be speeded up.
– The tribal jail inmates in Imphal should be transferred to other states for their safety.
“If the MHA fail to give us this written assurance before the start of the program, we will continue the burial as planned. And if the MHA gives us a written assurance to our demand, we will continue with the program but postpone the burial part,” said the ITLF.
Sources say that the land where this burial was supposed to take place was Government land and the state government requested them not to go ahead with the burial in that area due to two reasons. Firstly this is Government land, so mass burial will create controversy. Secondly, this land falls in bordering areas of valleys and hills, which is why this is one of the most communally sensitive areas. Conducting such a burial here would have been very sensitive.
