The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) Sadar Hills organized a ‘Candlelight Vigil’ on Monday evening in collaboration with the Kuki Students’ Organization-General Headquarters to mark the two-month long wide-scale violence which is yet to be stopped and to pay their highest tribute to the tribal martyrs in the ongoing violence.
Even when the CoTU’s massive candlelight vigil was held, a gunfight had been underway at Thingsat hill range in Kangpokpi district.
The candlelight vigil was also held at Kangpokpi Town, Keithelmanbi Military Colony, Bongmol, Leikop, Saparmeina and Saikul from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
At Kangpokpi town, hundreds gathered at Brig. M. Thomas ground for the candlelight vigil to pay tribute to the departed souls where a traditional gun salute was performed by the Kangpokpi Youth Union.
A minute of silence was also observed by the people to pay their respect and honour the fallen tribal Kuki heroes while a prayer for the martyr’s family was also held.
Similarly, people from Keithelmanbi, Bongmol, Leikop in Tujang area, Saparmeina and Saikul also held a candlelight vigil along National Highway-2.
In each of the mass candlelight vigil events, the tribal martyrs were given traditional gun salutes while a Pastor prayed for the martyrs and their family.
CoTU also imposed a total shut down from 1 pm till midnight on July 3 to mark the two-month long violence and as a tribute to the martyr tribal Kuki-Zo people.
The CoTU reaffirmed commitment for a solution in the form of separate administration for the Kuki-Zo people.
Lamminlun Singsit, CoTU General Secretary, also extended deepest condolences to the Martyr’s family and motivated them to stay strong.
CoTU also condemned the attack on Phaileng Kuki village and Kuki volunteers in the hill range of Thingsat by heavily armed miscreants on July 3 since early morning.
Singsit questioned why the continuous attacks on them despite various appeals from the centre government. He further questioned PM Modi's silent even after two months.
He then urged the Centre Government to start taking up stringent action against such people or groups still indulging in attacking and violence against the Kuki-Zo people when the Kuki-Zo people are listening to the Centre Government and never resort to any form of violence unless they are provoked and attacked.
