Imphal, Sept 26: The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), General Headquarters, have expressed disappointment over the recent order of the Supreme Court concerning the disposal of unclaimed dead bodies.

A three-member committee constituted by the Supreme Court to look into the violence in Manipur had recently advised the Manipur government to publish a list of those who have died, and if no one comes to claim the bodies, to dispose of them in a “respectable manner”.

The KIM said it is important to recognize that the state of Manipur has been clearly separated on ethnic lines.

Janghaolun Haokip, the Information and Publicity Secretary of the apex body of Kuki tribes, said that the impracticality of a Kuki-Zo traveling to a Meitei-dominated area and vice versa is an open secret that belittles the Committee’s advisory itself and therefore, any effort to identify and claim dead bodies amidst the unprecedented conflict in the state, except by a powerful committee deputed by the central government, would not only be futile but senseless.

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He continued that it is not a secret that various Kuki-Zo organizations have consistently requested the central government for the dead bodies of the Kuki-Zo people to be transported to their native places so that a proper funeral could be held for the deceased while adding that it is therefore imperative that the central government should ensure that the mortal remains of the Kuki-Zo people, be transported back to their native places so that a proper funeral in a respectable manner could be held for the Kuki-Zo victims.

While strongly condemning the alleged utterly deplorable conditions under which the mortal remains of the Kuki-Zo victims are being kept in the Hospital morgues at Imphal, especially at RIMS and JNIMS, Haokip said that it is important to realize that the “dignity of the dead” is not only a human right but also a constitutional right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

Subsequently, the intention of the Meitei Civil Society Organisations, spearheaded by the Meira Paibis to foil any attempt to transport the dead bodies to their native places by guarding hospital morgues is highly confounding and disturbing, he added.

He also said that having stated the grave concerns, the Kuki Inpi Manipur appeals to the Committee and any other central authorities concerned to look into the ground reality, the practicality, and the actual problems hindering the identification and claiming of the dead bodies.

He said that the Kuki-Zo people are now only hoping to perform the final rites for their beloved brethren who have fallen victim to the brutality and insanity of the Meiteis.

Meanwhile, KSO General Headquarters while conveying its dismay and repugnant regarding the SC Panel directive on the unclaimed bodies, said that it acknowledged the need for a legal framework to address the respectful and dignified disposal of unclaimed bodies.

However, the student body said that the ground reality in the valley necessitates an urgent reconsideration of the implications of such a directive.

It said it has come to its attention that the majority of unclaimed bodies in local morgues belong to the Kuki-Zo community but regrettably, the current state of affairs makes it impossible for Kuki-Zo community members to access the valley, and vice-versa to the valley community.

It also stated that such a geographical divide significantly hampers the identification and transportation of the deceased by any CSOs.

The apex student body in response to the Supreme Court Panel directive on the unclaimed bodies appealed to the Central government to take actions such as returning bodies to their respective districts, and bodies that have been identified and are confirmed should be sent back to their respective districts with the utmost urgency.

In connection with identification procedures, the student body urged the centre to establish a robust system to ascertain the identity of unclaimed bodies for those yet to be identified.

It also recalled that the Kuki Students’ Organization has consistently and persistently urged the Government to address this issue but regrettably, their appeals have yielded no positive response.

In the absence of government action and with the limitations on the movement for both communities, the Supreme Court’s Panel directive appears impractical and insensitive to the ground realities and we firmly believe that it is in the best interest of all parties involved to reconsider the directive, it said.

Also read: NSCN-IM opposes PM’s call of cleanliness drive on October 1

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