Imphal: Thousands of mourners gathered on Saturday for a 35-kilometre coffin rally in Manipur to lay three villagers to rest following a deadly pre-dawn attack at Loibol on June 5. The victims, including a young couple and a man whose wife is expecting a child, were buried at the Martyrs' Cemetery in Phaijang. The procession brought Kangpokpi district to a standstill as residents observed a total shutdown to express solidarity with the grieving families.
Community members and leaders processed from the Kangpokpi District Hospital to the burial site, where traditional shawls were placed on the coffins before a ceremonial gun salute. During a condolence service, representatives called for accountability, justice, and increased security for civilians in the region.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) took the lead in organizing the event to highlight the deteriorating security situation. Spokesperson Ng. Lun Kipgen asserted that the community remains committed to peace despite facing ongoing violence, including previous attacks on church leaders and the burning of Kharam Vaiphei village.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, Ng. Lun Kipgen said the Kuki community had continued to exercise restraint despite repeated incidents of violence. CoTU leaders urged the central government to intervene immediately to stop the pattern of attacks and prevent further ethnic tensions in the area.
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