KANGPOKPI, Jun.10: It was around 4:00 pm in the afternoon on June 4, I returned to the relief camp at the Water Treatment Plant inside the 22 Assam Rifles, Kangchup Post, where I and my family along with a few other Kukis sheltered after the eruption of violence in Manipur.
The moment when my son saw me, he yelled, "Papa, Papa" from the window, and he was silent. Then, my wife, Meena called me "Papa, come and see what happened to our son". I rushed to the room and I saw my son covered with blood from his head and crying in pain.
"I was so shocked that I went into semi-consciousness and all my body got numb",
narrated Joshua Hangshing.
Joshua Hangshing is the father of a minor boy who was burnt alive along with his mother Meena, and another woman Lydia near Iroisemba in Imphal West by a strong thousands of mobs on June 4 evening.
Joshua Hangshing belongs to the Kuki tribe and his wife Meena was from the Meitei community. Joshua is a mason by profession.
Lydia, the wife of Naoton, who was burnt alive together with the minor boy and his mother was a Meitei Christian.
Narrating their ordeals, Joshua Hangshing said I suspected my son was shot with a sniper by the Meitei terrorists and the splinter hit on his head.
He said that the Assam Rifles Coy Commander informed the incident Imphal West SP and an ambulance was sent with three Commando gypsy.
He continued that I thought my child would be evacuated to an Army Hospital at Leimakhong but it was not.
"Had he been rather evacuated to Leimakhong Army Hospital, he would have been alive", said the heartbroken father.
He continued that when I came to know my child would be evacuated to Imphal I felt very uncomfortable and I was more doubtful when I came to know that the Assam Rifles are not going with them.
However, he said that, to some extent I was hoping that nothing would happen as my wife is from the Meitei community and the other woman who accompanied them was also from the same community.
He then said that after they moved out from the relief camp, a Meitei AR jawan came inside the relief camp and inquired how many Kukis and how many Meitei are still at the camp to which I was very doubtful and a few hours later I left the relief camp and stayed in some other place.
He also said that two of my children, a son, and a daughter had already been sheltered at Keithelmanbi while I stayed at the Assam Rifles relief camp with my youngest son Tonsing, and my wife, Meena.
"I was not aware of what happened to my son and my wife till the next before someone from Imphal informed me about the tragic incident that they have met", Joshua narrated.
"Papa, Papa" was the last two words of my innocent minor son, and now I live with a heavy heart with these two words, said Joshua.
Joshua then continued, I was told that the mobs mainly the Meira Paibis shouted to my wife, and Lydia "You have converted into Christian as you don't want to be burned after death, but now we are going to burn you" and commit the brutal crime.
Then after burning them alive, they shouted in victory and also danced, he added, the informer as saying.
Joshua further said I was also informed that the skeletal remains of my son, my wife, and Lydia are now at the morgue in Imphal.
"Where are the police commandos who came in three gypsy to evacuate my injured son, and my wife Meena and my Jugali Naoton Lourembam's wife Lydia who accompanied my son, when the mobs stopped them? Why don't they save them?", asked Joshua and seek Central Government to deliver justice.
Joshua Hangshing, who is now staying with his daughter, a Class-VIII student and his eldest son, a Class-X student at Keithelmanbi village considered humanity has also been already burnt to ashes along with his son, his wife and his relative in inner Manipur.
Joshua had been avoiding people for a few days owing to his health and emotional condition.
He also said that a FIR will be filed in connection with the killing of his son, his wife, and the other woman.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
