Latest news with #KukiZo
Time of India
11 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Death of cabin crew members blurs Kuki-Meitei divide
1 2 3 4 5 6 Kolkata: In the heart of Manipur, profound sorrow has woven its way through the fabric of a community long divided by conflict. The tragic loss of the two cabin crew members — a Kuki and a Meitei — in Thursday's Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad has momentarily eclipsed the strife between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities, uniting them in shared grief. Ever since the news of the crash broke on Thursday afternoon, family members began prayers for Lamnunthiem Singson, a Kuki Zo and Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailakpam, a Meitei girl, both part of the 10-member cabin crew on board the ill-fated Air India flight. A day later, civil society organisations and individuals have come forward, offering their support, while social media has become a canvas for heartfelt condolences and prayers for the young souls lost too soon. "People of Manipur are collectively heartbroken, leaving aside the narrow community lines. Our state has been divided for over two years on ethnic lines. Tragically, in their death, the angels of the sky brought together the two communities and left a grim reminder of how precious human lives are and the need for peaceful coexistence, as we have done for centuries," a spokesperson for the Delhi-based Meitei Heritage Society said. Nganthoi's relatives rushed to Ahmedabad on Friday for a DNA test after authorities asked her cousin N Khenjita to fly down. Family members of Kuki cabin crew Lamnunthiem Singson are also in Ahmedabad for similar tests. "In their passing, they have become angels of the sky, reminding us of the preciousness of human life and the urgent need for peace," he added. In a gesture of remembrance, the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) in Delhi announced a candlelight march to honour all victims of the crash. They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the grieving families, particularly noting the plight of Singson, who was the sole breadwinner for her family displaced by ethnic violence. Her family, now residing in a rented house in Kangpokpi, faces an uncertain future without her. The outpouring of support has been overwhelming. From politicians to everyday citizens, both within Manipur and beyond, expressions of disbelief and sorrow have flooded in. One 'X' user said, "In life, they came from communities divided by conflict, and in death, they remind us that, in the end, we all share the same fate." Manipur Congress leader Lamtinthang Haokip took to social media to honour the young women, offering his deepest condolences to their families. "May their souls rest in peace," he wrote, echoing the sentiments of a community united in mourning by the shared loss of two bright stars extinguished too soon. Former chief minister N Biren Singh tweeted late on Thursday, saying how two young girls from Manipur, a Kuki-Zo and Meitei had possibly lost their lives in the Ahmedabad air crash. "It is heartbreaking to share that two young cabin crew members from Manipur, Kongrabailatpam Nganthoi Sharma and Lamnunthem Singson, were among those who lost their lives in today's Air India crash in Ahmedabad," he wrote on 'X'. "Both were full of life, serving with dedication and pride. Their sudden passing is a huge loss for their families, friends, and for all of us back home," he wrote, adding: "May their souls rest in peace and may their loved ones find the strength to get through this unimaginable pain. " Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Strife-torn Manipur prays for safety of Kuki, Meitei cabin members
1 2 3 4 5 6 Guwahati: Two years after a bloody conflict between Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur left over 250 dead and scores displaced, Manipur on Thursday were praying for Lamnunthiem Singson, a Kuki Zo and Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailakpam, a Meitei girl, both part of the 10-member cabin crew on board the ill-fated Air India flight. Hoping against all odds for some positive news, families of the relatives of two girls from Manipur said with no official communication coming, all they can do was remain glued to television sets. The families have tried calling phone numbers, but the countless attempts have been futile and in a desparate attempt have sent their members staying in Delhi to Ahmedabad. "We heard about the disaster, but we do not know anything about her. No one has contacted us and given us any official information. We are just praying," 26-year-old Lamnunthiem's brother Ngambom told TOI, pleading whether the newspaper had any news about his sister. He said that Lamnunthiem made a call to their mother early morning just before boarding the flight, as she always does before reporting for duty, mostly on international flights. Lamnunthiem, 26, from the Kuki-Zo community is an internally-displaced person from Imphal. A year-long ethnic conflict that has left scores dead in Manipur, her family currently stays in Kangpokpi. The other girl, 20-year-old Meitei girl Nganthoi is from Thoubal district. "We called her up several times after receiving the news but nobody picked up the calls. The internet on her phone is also still on. However, we stopped calling her around 6 pm fearing it would drain the battery," Nganthoi's relative, K Khenjita, told reporters. A cousin of the cabin crew member said her last message before take-off was, "I'm going to London. In a few minutes, we'll take off. We may not be able to talk for a while." Locals were shocked to hear the news of the crash in Awang Leikai in Thoubal, as the news of the crash reached the Sharma residence. Another relative said they were trying to get news about her and said her photos and videos are being widely shared. "It is really hurting us all as we are trying to balance our emotional trauma along with the challenge to get news," she said. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
NDTV
05-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"No Need To Protect Anyone...": Supreme Court On Manipur Violence Audio Leaks
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday underlined its resolve to not protect any individual "involved in wrongdoings in relation to the communal violence" that erupted in Manipur in May 2023. A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna said this as it heard a plea by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust, or KOHUR, for a court-monitored probe against ex-Chief Minister N Biren Singh over leaked audio clips in which he can allegedly be heard instigating the violence. The remark was made after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the central government, questioned the credibility of the KOHUR, calling it a "rookie" group. The court, however, dismissed such arguments, stressing, "We are not concerned. Let us ignore the petitioner... but if something wrong has been done, we don't have to protect the wrongdoer." In today's hearing the Chief Justice-led bench was going through a Central Forensic Science Laboratory report on the authenticity of those audio clips. The report had been requested by the court after the government questioned the credibility of an earlier report, from a private lab. The contents of the report - sealed for the court - have not been made public but, interestingly, after examining it, the court told Mr Mehta he would have to "speak to your officers about it". "I have not seen to respond to content," Mr Mehta said, to which the court said, "Read the content and then talk (to the government). Please examine and bring fresh report." The court then set the week beginning July 21 for the next hearing, noting that in the meantime investigations against N Biren Singh will continue and that this will take about a month more. "Now we have President's Rule there... it should not be a problem," the Chief Justice said. Earlier KOHUR, represented by lawyer Prashant Bhushan, termed the contents of the leaks a "very serious matter", and said Mr Singh was purportedly heard saying Meitei groups were allowed to loot arms and ammunition of the state. The petitioner cited a report by a private lab - Truth Labs - that confirmed a 93 per cent match between the voice on the tapes and that of ex-Chief Minister Biren Singh. "Truth Labs reports are far more reliable than the FSL reports," Mr Bhushan had argued. The government's lawyer, however, questioned the veracity of the Truth Labs report. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands displaced since the ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes in May 2023. Mr Bhushan alleged the recorded conversation prima facie showed the complicity and involvement of the state machinery in the violence against the Kuki Zo community. And KOHUR's plea alleged that Mr Singh - who resigned in February - was instrumental in "inciting, organising and thereafter centrally orchestrating the large-scale murder, destruction and other forms of violence against the Kuki-dominated areas in Manipur".
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
SC peruses CFSL report on audio tapes allegedly featuring ex-Manipur CM Biren Singh, suggests fresh report
The Supreme Court on Monday (May 5, 2025) perused a sealed cover report submitted by a central forensic science laboratory on the veracity of audio recordings allegedly 'establishing complicity' between former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and the ethnic violence in the northeastern State which led to the loss of many lives. A Bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, that the investigation into the allegations were also continuing separately. 'Peace is prevailing in the State. The investigation will go on, no doubt,' Mr. Mehta said. At one point after going through the report, the Bench asked Mr. Mehta to 'talk to the officers' and suggested filing a fresh report. Later, the court recorded in the order that the Solicitor General would take instructions anew on filing a fresh forensic report. The court relisted the case in the week commencing on July 21. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner-NGO Kuki Organisation for Human Trust, referred to the prayer in the petition for a court-monitored investigation by a Special Investigation Team into leaked audio clips. 'But now we have the President's rule there [Manipur],' the Chief Justice remarked. Mr. Bhushan indicated that may not be enough. The senior lawyer had in an earlier hearing submitted that Truth Labs report of the audio tapes showed '93% chances that it is his (Mr. Singh) voice'. Mr. Mehta had however sought to dismiss the submission by Mr. Bhushan, saying Truth Labs was a private organisation. Mr. Bhushan had responded that Truth Labs reports were extensively used in court as evidence. The NGO, also represented by advocate Cheryl D'Souza, alleged the 'Chief Minister of Manipur [now the former] was instrumental in inciting, organising and thereafter centrally orchestrating the large-scale murder, destruction and other form of violence against the Kuki-dominated areas in Manipur'. 'In 2023, violence broke out in Manipur due to the clash between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kukis. Thereafter, in August 2024, an audio of approximately 48 minutes allegedly recorded in a closed door meeting with the Chief Minister was published in various newspapers. The recorded conversation prima facie shows the complicity and the involvement of the State machinery in violence against KukiZo community,' the petition has claimed.
