Imphal: The proposed mass burial of Kukis’ dead bodies at Tourbung Bangla in Bishnupur district has been postponed after the High Court of Manipur directed both the State and Central government to maintain a status quo of the proposed land on Thursday.
Interestingly, Torbung Bangla has been a Meitei settlement area for ages. However, all the Meitei villagers have been forced to flee for safer places after Kuki militants started burning their houses on May 3.
Responding to a petition filed by the World Meitei Forum, a bench of acting Chief Justice MV Muralidharan on Thursday deferred the issue of the last rites and asked for an amicable solution for a site within the next one week.
In a statement on Tuesday, the recently formed so-called Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) announced that a programme to honour 35 Kuki-Zo martyrs would take place on Thursday in the Peace Ground Torbung, followed by a burial ceremony at S. Boljang village near Haolai Khopi. The ITLF also warned that if anyone or any group tries to disrupt the event they will be responsible for the consequences.
The Meities, however, argued the proposed land is a Meitei village and Kukis cannot claim it and turn it to be a mass burial site.
In response to the planned burial, thousands of Meiteis especially women and youth since early Morning gathered on the street leading to the site, protesting and demanding a change in the cremation site.
As the scuffle escalated the security forces opened blank-fire and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
In the ensuing violence nearly two dozen women suffered minor injuries and were admitted at various local hospitals.
Meanwhile, two people, including a Manipur Police personnel, were injured in an attack by armed Kuki miscreants at Senjam Chirang, Imphal Weston, on Thursday.
Police said three people were arrested in connection with the burning of abandoned houses at Langol.
