Kuki-Zo community mourns Kashmir terror attack victims with candlelight vigil

A wave of grief and defiance swept through Kangpokpi District tonight as hundreds from the Kuki-Zo community gathered to mourn the victims of the terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir.

Marching solemnly from Nute Kailhang to Brig. M. Thomas Ground along National Highway 2, the crowd carried candles — and a powerful message of unity and resistance. Mothers wept for children they had never met; children lifted candles for names they had never heard. Yet every step spoke of a shared loss, deeply familiar to a community no stranger to suffering.

At a candlelight vigil, their voices rose with a simple but searing promise: "We Mourn Together. We Rise Together. We Carry Their Light."

Beyond mourning, tonight marked a quiet vow: a refusal to forget, a demand for justice, and an unyielding belief that even in the shadow of terror, their light will endure.

One of the solidarity marchers, Akki Kipgen, said the candlelight vigil and march were not just acts of mourning, but our way of standing up and sending a message to the world that whether it’s in Kashmir or here in Manipur, we feel that pain as our own.

“We didn’t just bring candles tonight,” Akki said. “We brought a promise — that we will not let their blood be forgotten, and that even in the face of violence, we will never bow down.”

She added that every candle lit during the vigil was more than just a symbol — it was a cry. “A cry that says we are still here, we are still fighting, and we are still carrying their light.”

Lamenting the growing silence around suffering, Akki said, "Their pain is our pain. Their families are our families. If we allow the pain of one corner to be silenced, one day the entire nation will be crying."

“That’s why we’re here — to stand together, to demand justice for every life lost in Pahalgam, and to say with one voice that we will not let this cruelty go unanswered,” she declared.

Another solidarity marcher, Hegou, expressed profound sorrow for the suffering of the families of the Pahalgam victims.

“As citizens of India, we, the Kuki-Zo community, feel the deep anguish of those who have lost their loved ones,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

He continued, “We are here today not just to mourn, but to share in their grief. We want them to know that their pain is not theirs alone — it is shared by all of us. We are hurting with them, and that is why we stand together, in unshakable solidarity, to show our unwavering support for the victims’ families.”

The Kuki-Zo community’s demand for justice rang loud and clear, with Hegou emphasizing the urgent need for the Indian government to act decisively against terrorism.

“The horrors of this attack echo far beyond Jammu and Kashmir — they are felt across India and around the world,” Hegou continued. “This pain knows no borders. We appeal to the central government to take immediate, uncompromising action against terrorism in our nation. This is not just an attack on one region — it is an attack on all of us. It is an assault on our peace, on our democracy, on the very fabric of our unity. We demand that terrorism be confronted with the full force of our resolve.”

In a powerful display of unity, the community reaffirmed its commitment to standing against violence, hatred, and division, pledging to support the government's efforts in bringing justice to the victims and ensuring the safety of all citizens.

Recalling that the world has witnessed the horrors of terrorism in many forms — from the tragic 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers, which housed the World Trade Center, a symbol of global economic power, to the audacious assault on the Indian Parliament, the heart of the world’s largest democracy — the Committee on Tribal Unity declared that nothing is more shocking than the recent massacre in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, Anantnag district, where 28 unarmed tourists were brutally killed by armed militias, funded and fueled by a neighboring nation.

This attack, the Committee considered, serves as a stark reminder of the malicious forces at work, seeking to sow fear, hatred, and chaos to disrupt the fragile world order in which India stands as a beacon of hope and peace.

In response, the Kuki-Zo community has issued a strong condemnation of the terrorist assault, calling it a "barbaric act" of violence. The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), which represents the Kuki-Zo community, rejected any ideology that glorifies terrorism, violence, or religious intolerance, regardless of its origin.

“The Kuki-Zo community firmly rejects ideologies that promote violence and hatred,” said the CoTU in a statement. “Such ideologies have no place in the world, especially in a democratic nation like India. We stand united in rejecting terrorism in all its forms.”

The CoTU also expressed heartfelt solidarity with the families of the victims of the Baisaran Valley massacre, noting that their loss resonates deeply with the community. The Kuki-Zo people have experienced their own painful history of terrorism and violence in the past, making their empathy and support for the victims all the more poignant.

"We understand the pain of losing loved ones to terrorism," the statement continued. "We, too, have felt the deep sorrow of losing fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters to such senseless acts of violence in our own region."

In light of this tragic incident, the Committee on Tribal Unity called on all citizens to rise above divisions and hatred. They emphasized that terrorism, no matter where it occurs, must have no place in India. The CoTU urged fellow citizens, especially in the northeastern states like Manipur, to come together and stand firm against terrorism and extremism.

“We must unite in the face of this threat. This is a fight for the future of our country, for peace, and for justice,” the statement concluded.

The attack on Baisaran Valley is a chilling reminder of the ongoing threat of terrorism in various parts of the world. As India mourns the victims and strengthens its resolve against extremism, the call for justice and unity remains louder than ever.