Hundreds of people gathered in Aizawl on Friday evening for a candlelight vigil as the city mourned the tragic deaths of 11 Hmar-Mizo community members who were killed in violent incidents at Manipur’s Jiribam district. Organized in front of Vanapa Hall by the Mizo Defence League, the peaceful demonstration reflected both grieved and outraged protest voices demanding justice for victims and accountability from the state and central governments.
Outrage Over Killing of Hmar Tribal Woman, 10 Others
The vigils culminated into protests focusing on two incidents. The first was the cold-blooded murder of a mother of three children belonging to the Hmar tribal community in Zairawn village near Jiribam on November 7. Then on November 11, security forces killed 10 more members of the Hmar-Mizo community at Jakuradhor in Jiribam.
Outside the rally, protesters chanted slogans opposing the killings and held the Manipur government and the centre authorities responsible for their inability to prevent this ethnic violence between the Meitei community and Kuki-Zo group, which continues to erupt.
Prompt Action, Return Bodies for Funeral
The protesters also felt resentful that the dead bodies of the 10 individuals were yet to be handed over to their families lodged at the mortuary of Silchar Medical College and Hospital in Assam. They demanded that the dead bodies be handed over to the families immediately so that proper funeral rites could be performed for the departed souls.
The Aizawl vigil was, therefore, more than a mere expression of sorrow; it was a resonant declaration of solidarity with the victims of the Manipur carnage and a call for justice on the part of the authorities responsible.
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