Bodies of 10 Martyrs Killed by CRPF in Jiribam Airlifted to Churachandpur

The bodies of ten Hmar Village Volunteers, who were killed by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Jiribam on November 11, were airlifted from Silchar to Churachandpur on Saturday, amidst mounting tensions and protests. The helicopter carrying the remains landed at the Assam Rifles Khuga Battalion helipad, and the bodies were transferred to the district hospital with full honours.

As the bodies made their way through town, local businesses closed in a show of respect and solidarity with the deceased. The community held an emotional tribute as the procession made its way along the road, and many mourners lined the streets.

The bodies had initially been taken to Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) in Assam for postmortem on November 12. However, tensions had been rising since then, as protesters from the Kuki-Zo communities gathered at the hospital, demanding the release of the bodies. The situation turned violent on Saturday morning when Assam and Manipur police attempted to remove the bodies for transportation.

In the ensuing clash, police were forced to use a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, which retaliated by throwing stones, injuring several officers and four journalists. The standoff lasted for about 30 minutes, before senior police officials intervened, and the protesters agreed to allow the bodies to be airlifted under the condition that traditional rituals were carried out first.

David Keivom, a local leader from Dima Hasao, voiced strong opposition to the decision to move the bodies by helicopter, stating that it unnecessarily prolonged the agony for the families of the deceased. "The bodies should have been transported by road, as originally planned," Keivom said.

Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) has been vocal in its criticism of the government's decision to airlift the bodies, asserting that this action violated the community's wishes. The ITLF claims that the government intervened despite objections and that security forces caused injuries during the protests.

"The central government ordered the bodies to be brought by helicopter, and despite our efforts to halt this, the bodies were evacuated by air," the ITLF said in a statement. "We will continue to demand justice for our martyrs and ensure their memory is honoured."

The ITLF has convened an urgent meeting to discuss the next steps, which include legal action and a careful review of the postmortem reports for any discrepancies.

As of now, the bodies will be kept in the district hospital morgue until the postmortem reports are available. The ITLF has stated that an expert will be appointed to review the postmortem documents to ensure accuracy and transparency. Additionally, the ITLF's Legal Cell will handle all related legal matters.

The Joint Philanthropic Organization (JPO) has announced plans to work with the Hmar Inpui to organize a proper burial ceremony for the ten martyrs, with further details to be shared once the legal processes are completed.

"We are grateful for the support we have received, and we will not rest until justice is served for our martyrs," the ITLF stated.