By J Haokip, Kukiland Express Desk
Songpi: April 25, 2026Grief engulfed Kangpokpi district Friday as thousands gathered at the Kuki Martyrs’ Cemetery in Phaijang to lay to rest village volunteers Paominlun Haolai and Letlal Sitlhou, killed in a pre-dawn ambush on Mulam village, Ukhrul, on April 24. Coffins draped in traditional shawls arrived to silent crowds of men, women, and children, with families breaking down as the community paid its final respects to the two men who died defending their village.
The last rites were held under the Committee on Tribal Unity, with leaders from Kuki Council, Kuki Inpi Manipur, and allied civil society groups placing ceremonial shawls over the bodies in honour of their sacrifice. Fellow volunteers offered a gun salute as prayers echoed through the cemetery. After post-mortem at the district hospital, the remains were brought in a long vehicle procession from Kangpokpi headquarters along the national highway, underscoring the scale of public mourning.
Community leaders addressing the gathering hailed Paominlun, 22, and Letlal, 41, as defenders who stood their ground when suspected militants attacked Mulam in the early hours. They expressed anguish over recurring violence in the hill districts and said the massive turnout reflected both solidarity and deepening fear for civilian safety. Residents reported keeping nightlong vigils across Kangpokpi to support the bereaved families, highlighting the anxiety gripping villages since the ambush.
Normal life in Kangpokpi was disrupted by a 10-hour shutdown called by the Committee on Tribal Unity, with shops, schools, and private establishments closed though vehicles were exempted. The bandh, coupled with the funeral, signaled mounting frustration over what locals described as inadequate protection despite repeated appeals to the state and Centre. Leaders urged stronger security deployment and accountability, warning that patience was eroding as attacks on Kuki settlements continued.
The funeral has once again exposed the fragile law and order situation in Manipur’s hills. Calls for unity were matched by firm demands for decisive action, with speakers insisting that the deaths of Paominlun and Letlal must compel authorities to secure vulnerable villages. As mourners dispersed, the message from Sadar Hills was clear: grief has turned into a collective demand for protection, justice, and an end to impunity.
