A district-wide shutdown brought normal life to a halt as the Kuki-Zo community united in grief, honouring the victims with traditional rites and a ceremonial gun salute.
BY PC Bureau
June 7: Grief stretched across 35 kilometres of road on Saturday as thousands of people walked alongside three coffins from Kangpokpi District Headquarters to the Martyrs’ Cemetery at Phaijang, transforming a funeral into one of the largest public displays of mourning seen in the Kuki-Zo areas in recent months.
The procession was held for three civilians killed in the pre-dawn attack on Loibol village on June 5. The victims included a young married couple and another man whose wife is expecting their child. Their deaths have sent shockwaves through the community and renewed concerns over the safety of civilians living in vulnerable hill settlements.
A complete shutdown was observed across Kangpokpi district as shops remained closed and normal activity came to a standstill. Thousands gathered at Kangpokpi District Hospital before accompanying the coffins on the long journey to Phaijang. Along the route, residents lined the roads to pay their respects, while mourners walked in silence, many carrying flags and traditional symbols of remembrance.
At the cemetery, community leaders, youth groups, church representatives and civil society organisations joined family members in an emotional farewell ceremony. Traditional shawls were draped over the coffins as a mark of honour and solidarity, while a ceremonial gun salute marked the final rites.
The funeral became more than a farewell to three lives lost. Speakers described it as a collective expression of the pain, anxiety and uncertainty being experienced by many communities living in remote areas affected by recurring violence.
Addressing the gathering, Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) spokesperson Ng. Lun Kipgen said the large turnout reflected the community’s determination to respond with dignity despite repeated tragedies.
“The Kuki-Zo people have chosen restraint and peace despite immense provocation,” he said. “Our silence should not be mistaken for weakness. We continue to believe in justice, dialogue and lawful means.”
Kipgen alleged that the Loibol killings were part of a broader pattern of attacks targeting Kuki-Zo civilians. He referred to the killing of three church leaders on May 13 and the burning of Kharam Vaiphei village as examples of continuing insecurity in the region.
He further expressed concern over the fate of 14 Kuki-Zo civilians reportedly being held hostage in Senapati district and urged authorities to ensure their safe release.
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Community leaders appealed to the Government of India to identify and prosecute those responsible for recent killings, strengthen security arrangements in vulnerable villages, and take concrete measures to prevent further attacks on civilians and settlements.
CoTU stated that unless effective protection is provided, local village volunteers would continue lawful measures to safeguard their communities against future threats.
As the final prayers concluded and the crowds slowly dispersed, the message from Phaijang was clear: the community seeks peace, but it also seeks security, justice and assurance that such tragedies will not be allowed to recur.
