Manipur: Family of missing teen to hold final rites without body

The family of Phijam Hemanjit, who was allegedly abducted and murdered by armed individuals amid crisis, has decided to conduct his final rites on July 24, 2024, without his body. Hemanjit, along with Linthoingambi Phijam, has been missing for a year, and despite repeated pleas to authorities, including the Governor of Manipur and the security adviser, their bodies have not been recovered.

The family of Phijam Hemanjit, having lost hope in the government's ability to find his remains, has resolved to perform the last rites using a "Pangong" tree plank, adhering to customary practices. Addressing the media at his residence, Ibungobi Singh, the father of 17-year-old Hemanjit, announced that the final rites would take place on July 24, 2024. He recounted the harrowing incident of his son's disappearance during the peak of the ongoing conflict and the subsequent legal battles for justice.

“The children went missing on July 6, 2023. Later, the police informed us that they were killed and buried in Joujangtek. The case was handed over to the CBI in August last year, resulting in the arrest of four individuals, including the alleged mastermind apprehended in Pune. However, there has been no progress in the case,” Singh criticized, expressing his disappointment with the Indian government and judiciary.

As the one-year mark since the children’s disappearance approaches, the family is preparing for the final rites without any remains or belongings of Phijam Hemanjit. “We have appealed to Kuldiep Singh, the security advisor, with the assistance of Ex-Minister AK Mirabai, to provide us with any remnants or belongings for the rituals, but our requests have been ignored. This is about our cultural and ritual needs, not just the case,” Singh emphasized.

As the community prepares for the last rites, Singh expressed his deep frustration and helplessness. “I am a helpless Meitei man who can’t even perform the last rites of my son properly,” he lamented, urging those who have supported their cause to join them in honoring his son’s memory.