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Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Kuki flight attendant's body reaches Manipur days after Air India tragedy, funeral likely today
The mortal remains of 28-year-old Lamnunthem Singson, a Kuki cabin crew member who died in the Air India Ahmedabad plane crash on June 12, reached her hometown in Manipur's Kangpokpi district late Thursday night. Her funeral is likely to be held today, according to family members. 'Normally, we (the Kuki people) don't hold last rites at night. Most likely it will be held tomorrow. Today, there will be prayer sessions and other traditional funeral-related programmes,' a cousin of Singson told news agency PTI. Singson was among the 241 passengers and crew aboard Air India Flight AI 171, which crashed just seconds after takeoff. Her body was flown from Ahmedabad to Dimapur airport in Nagaland on an IndiGo flight and received by grieving family members, community leaders, and officials. On the way to Kangpokpi by road, the convoy paused briefly in Kohima, where members of the Kuki Union Kohima and Kuki Mothers' Association paid floral tributes. Earlier in the day, a solemn reception was held at Dimapur airport where representatives from multiple organisations gathered to honour the deceased and offer condolences to her family. Singson originally hailed from Old Lambulane colony in Imphal but had relocated to Kangpokpi in 2023 after ethnic violence erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities. Another cabin crew member from Manipur, 21-year-old Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma from Thoubal district, who belonged to the Meitei community, also died in the crash. Her mortal remains are yet to arrive in the state. Despite ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur, the tragedy has prompted a rare moment of unity across communities. Civil society groups from both Kuki and Meitei backgrounds have joined in mourning the loss of the two young women. Also Read | 'Her phone rang, but no one answered:' Air India cabin crew member's family shares ordeal after Ahmedabad crash "We are deeply sorry that one of our daughters, who was displaced due to the Manipur crisis, has met with such a tragic incident," said D J Haokip, General Secretary of the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Churachandpur, reported ANI. 'Our hearts are with the grieving families, and we stand in solidarity with them. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims of this heartbreaking tragedy.' The shared loss of two young flight attendants has brought a rare moment of unity amid months of ethnic violence in Manipur.
NDTV
6 hours ago
- NDTV
Body Of Air India Crew Member Lamnunthem Singson Reaches Manipur, Thousands Bid Her Farewell
Imphal: The body of Air India cabin crew Lamnunthem Singson, who died in the Ahmedabad plane crash on June 12, reached her hometown in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Thursday night, after being flown to Dimapur airport in Nagaland. The 26-year-old was among the 241 passengers and crew aboard Air India Flight AI 171, which crashed just seconds after takeoff. Her body was flown from Ahmedabad to Dimapur on an IndiGo flight, and received by family members, community representatives, and officials at the airport. On the way from Dimapur to Kangpokpi by road, the convoy halted for a few minutes in the Nagaland capital to allow Kuki Union Kohima and Kuki mother's to bid her farewell and pay tribute to the departed soul, a cousin of Singson told PTI. "Normally we (the Kuki people) don't hold last rites at the night. Most likely it will be held tommorow. Today, there will be prayer sessions and other traditional funeral related programmes," he said. Earlier in the day, a solemn programme was held at Dimapur airport to receive the body of Singson. On the occasion, floral tributes were paid by officials and representatives from several organisations, including the Kuki Community Dimapur, Kuki Students' Union Nagaland, Naga Council Dimapur, Dimapur District Citizens Forum, Zeliang Youth Organisation Dimapur, Chumoukedima Kuki Union, and the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee. The groups offered condolences to the bereaved family and paid their last respects to the departed soul. Originally from Old Lambulane colony in Imphal, Singson's family relocated to Kangpokpi in 2023 following the outbreak of ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the state. Tragically, another cabin crew member from Manipur, Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma, who belonged to the Meitei community, also died in the same disaster. Her body are yet to arrive in the state. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Govt-Kuki talks heading towards free movement deal in Manipur
Government negotiations with Kuki militant groups under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with New Delhi are inching towards an agreement on allowing free movement of people and goods across Manipur — a crucial step towards re-establishing peace and normalcy in the strife-torn state, The Indian Express has learnt. Since the onset of ethnic violence in May 2023, Meiteis and Kukis have been geographically separated with the former confined to the Imphal Valley and the latter retreating to the hill areas. During the two-year-long violence, areas dominated by one community had become no-go zones for the other. Movement of goods, too, had been difficult. Following the imposition of President's Rule this February, free movement was among the first key announcements made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who set a deadline for March 8. However, opposition from Kuki groups and firing on a state transport bus plying from the Valley to the hills in Kangpokpi put the initiative on the backburner. According to sources, free movement in the state has been among the primary goals of the Centre, and a breakthrough may be achieved soon. 'The matter is under discussion with SoO groups. We are hopeful it (an agreement) will be achieved soon. The concerns of all sides are being addressed and SoO groups have indicated they are not entirely opposed to the idea. This will be a major breakthrough in re-establishing normalcy in the state. It is absolutely essential that people from the Valley are able to pass through the hills and those from the hills can come to the Imphal Valley,' a Home Ministry official said. Sources pointed to a conducive atmosphere for an agreement with a dip in violence since the imposition of President's Rule. The aggression displayed by groups on either side of the divide has mellowed, they said. An official pointed to the appeal by a Meitei group for safe passage to be provided to relatives of a Kuki who was among two women from Manipur killed in the Air India crash in Ahmedabad. Besides, the official said, Kukis did not disrupt the movement of Meitei civilians through their areas during the recent Shirui Lily festival. Sources said there has been a positive response from SoO groups during negotiations on pushing back their camps from the Valley's fringes — a longstanding demand of Meiteis. While many of the 14 SoO group camps are stationed in the interiors of the hill areas, some are located near the Valley. Meitei groups have alleged that these camps have been used to launch attacks in the Valley, a charge denied by Kukis. 'Various modalities are being discussed currently. One is shifting them back. The other is clubbing some smaller camps and bringing them together in a large camp,' a Ministry official said. Government sources said they do not expect opposition from Meitei groups on free movement since they were among those who 'suffered the most' after movement across the hills was restricted. 'For instance, today, a Meitei civilian can only fly out of Manipur since all roads across the hills are out of bounds. This has also disrupted the flow of goods into the Valley. When the Home Minister announced a deadline of March 8 for resuming free movement, Meitei groups had announced a march to the hills. This was seen as provocative by the Kukis at the time, leading to gunfire on the state transport bus in Kangpokpi, bringing the initiative to a halt,' they said. The Government, meanwhile, is also erecting camps for UNLF, one of the oldest militant groups in the Valley, following the peace deal sealed in November 2023. Sources said the Government is also preparing ID cards for UNLF cadres who will stay in these camps. 'The process is nearing completion and very soon they will be in the camps. This was part of the Government's efforts to gradually re-establish peace in the state and begin the process of talks with groups on either side of the divide,' sources said.
India Today
8 hours ago
- India Today
Kuki woman killed in crossfire, farmer injured, protests erupt in Manipur
A woman from the Kuki community was killed in a crossfire between security forces and suspected Kuki militants in Chingphei village of Churachandpur district on Thursday, shortly after a gun attack left a Meitei farmer injured in neighbouring Phubala village of Bishnupur district. The incident has reignited ethnic tensions in the region and triggered protests from both Meitei and Kuki to official sources, the firing began around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday after armed miscreants allegedly opened fire at Phubala, a low-lying agricultural village situated along the Bishnupur-Churachandpur assailants, reportedly positioned in the adjoining hills, fired multiple rounds at farmers working in the fields. Sixty-year-old Ningthoujam Biren, a Meitei farmer, was hit in the left arm and was rushed to Bishnupur District Hospital. Speaking from his hospital bed, Biren said, 'I was working in the fields when I heard five gunshots. One of them hit me. We couldn't even see who fired.' Following the attack, security forces launched an area domination operation in nearby Chingphei village, which led to an encounter with suspected militants. During the exchange of fire, a woman identified as Hoikholhing Haokip, wife of Khaikhogin Haokip, the village chief of Langchingmanbi in Churachandpur, was struck by a stray bullet. She was rushed to Churachandpur District Hospital but succumbed to her injuries authorities have not released an official statement on the circumstances surrounding her death, they confirmed that the situation remains tense in both districts. Additional state and central forces have been deployed to prevent further violence and maintain response to the Phubala firing, angry villagers imposed a local bandh, demanding stronger protection for farmers in vulnerable border areas. Women from Phubala also issued an ultimatum to the Governor, Chief Secretary, and Director General of Police, demanding identification and action against the perpetrators by 11 a.m. on Friday, June 21. They warned of a statewide shutdown if their demands are not the death of Hoikholhing Haokip has drawn sharp criticism from Kuki civil society organisations. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) condemned the incident, calling it 'yet another targeted assault aimed at the cleansing of the Kuki-Zo minority.'The ITLF announced an indefinite shutdown across Kuki-dominated areas as a protest and period of mourning. They also demanded immediate action against those responsible, Central government intervention to protect tribal lives, and an independent investigation into alleged violations of buffer Kuki Women's Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) echoed these concerns, calling for the immediate arrest of those involved in Hoikholhing's death and a judicial probe into the incident. The group also called for accountability over all recent buffer zone developments come amid ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur, which has witnessed recurring violence and clashes since May 2023 between Kuki and Meitei communities. Just days earlier, on June 15, another confrontation erupted in Leitanpokpi, Imphal East, over disputed farmland, further highlighting the fragile peace in the both communities mourn their respective losses and express their anger, the threat of more unrest looms large unless effective measures are taken to de-escalate tensions and ensure safety for civilians in vulnerable Watch
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Indian Express
Body of A-I crew member brought to Kangpokpi from Dimapur
The body of Lamnunthem Singson, one of the crew members of the Air India flight which crashed on June 12, arrived late Thursday in Manipur's Kangpokpi district from neighbouring Nagaland's Dimapur airport. Holding candles, people in Kangpokpi town formed a human chain all the way till her residence. Her body was flown from Ahemedabad this afternoon after her DNA sample was matched with one of her three brothers. Lamnunthem's body was supposed to be brought to Imphal airport. The state had made preparations to transport it to Kangpokpi. The Coordination Committee on Manipur's Integrity (COCOCMI), an influential Meitei body, also announced its co-operation for safe transportation of the body. The family, however, chose to bring the body from Dimapur. 'The decision was taken by her family… We want to avoid unnecessary political overtones over our deceased daughter's coffin,' said Ng Lun Kipgen, one of Lamnunthem's uncles. Lamnunthem was one of two crew members who died in the crash. The other was 21-year-old Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam from Thoubal town.
