NEW DELHI: The bodies of 87 persons who were killed in the protracted ethnic violence over the past eight months in India’s Manipur state were laid to rest, a spokesperson for the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) said.
The northeastern state of India has witnessed escalating tensions since May, resulting in at least 200 fatalities in clashes between the Hindu Meitei majority and the Christian Kuki community.
The underlying causes of the violence stem from disputes over land and public jobs, with accusations from rights activists suggesting that Indian leaders have exploited these ethnic divisions for political gains. Manipur has become fractured along ethnic lines, with rival militias erecting blockades to segregate communities. This has prevented many families from traveling to claim the bodies of their deceased relatives.
The remains of the victims, which had been housed in morgues in the state capital Imphal, were the focus of the mass burial. Following a court order last month, authorities airlifted the remains of 64 individuals from Imphal, which were subsequently handed over to their families.
Indian Govt Accused of Fueling Violence in Manipur
Ginza Vualzong, a spokesperson for the ITLF, commented on the ceremony, saying, “It is a day of mixed emotions. It is a sad day, but in a way, a sense of relief as we can finally put our martyrs to rest.” The burial took place in the Kuki-dominated area of Churachandpur and followed a similar ceremony last week in Kangpokpi district, where 19 bodies were interred.
The ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur has drawn criticism from Human Rights Watch, accusing Indian authorities, governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, of fueling the violence with “divisive policies that promote Hindu majoritarianism.”
Earlier this month, 13 people were killed in gun battles in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district, near the border with Myanmar. In response, the state imposed a renewed internet ban and prohibited large public gatherings after fresh clashes on Tuesday.
