Kuki groups postpone mass burial amid ongoing ethnic clashes in Manipur

In response to the ongoing ethnic clashes between Kuki groups and the dominant Meiteis in S Boljang village of Churachandpur district, a conglomerate of Kuki groups has postponed the mass burial of 35 deceased Kukis until next week. The decision came after the Union Home Ministry requested the postponement, while also tightening security measures in some parts of the state. The Manipur High Court has ordered a status quo ante on the proposed burial ground, urging the central and state governments, along with other parties, to seek an amicable resolution.

The conglomerate, known as the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), had planned a program to honor the 35 individuals followed by a mass funeral. However, the proposed mass burial faced criticism from Meitei groups who argued that it could further provoke people's sentiments.

Ginza Vualzong, a spokesman for the ITLF, revealed that the conglomerate held a late-night meeting until 4 a.m. on Thursday, during which the Union Home Ministry requested a five-day postponement of the burial. According to Vualzong, compliance with the request would allow them to proceed with the burial at the same location and have the government legalize the land for burial.

Mizoram Chief Minister N Biren Singh also requested to postpone the burial, further influencing the ITLF's decision. However, the conglomerate agreed to consider the request only if they received written assurances on five specific demands.

The ITLF's demands include ensuring that Meitei state security forces are not deployed in the hill districts where Kukis reside, legalizing the burial ground, returning Kuki bodies to two hospitals in Imphal, securing complete separation from Manipur, and transferring tribal prison inmates housed in Imphal jails to other states.