Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: Kuki organizations in Manipur are mourning the loss of veteran peace advocate Niketu Iralu and physician Dr. Vikethonyii Kesiezie. These groups praised the men for their decades of commitment to healthcare, reconciliation, and humanitarian service across the Northeast.
The Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills honored Iralu as a prominent elder who pushed for dialogue for over sixty years. He worked to mend ethnic rifts and bridge divisions, often intervening during periods of violence between Kuki and Naga communities. Iralu championed the Northeast as a shared home, consistently urging communities to reject confrontation. His death leaves a void in the peacebuilding community as regional tensions persist.
Dr. Kesiezie, the founder and head of Oking Hospital and Research Clinic in Kohima, Nagaland, also drew praise for his work. He provided critical medical care to Kuki-Zo people when they could no longer reach hospitals in Imphal. His clinic treated patients regardless of their background or identity.
KISH president Thangminlen Kipgen noted the doctor's impact. He stated, "Dr. Kesiezie's dedication to medical service and humanitarian values had left a lasting legacy among the people he served."
The Chingdai Area Core Committee joined the tributes, highlighting the physician's compassion. Both organizations sent their condolences to the families and colleagues of the two men. They leaves behind a record of service that spanned across social and tribal divides.
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