As the two individuals from Khumbong who went missing for over seven months and their whereabouts remained untraced, the grieving family members of the two persons have resolved to perform their final rites on December 15.
The funeral process will begin by 8 am and finish by 9.30 am, while the Mangani Leihun ceremony will be held on December 19 and the last rites will be on December 27, stated a release issued by Imphal West Students’ Club (IWSC) Khumbong.
It mentioned that memorial stones of ‘the two great souls of Khumbong on Kuki Narco Terrorist attack’ have been erected at the club premises in honour of the two individuals and added that the stone will be inaugurated on the same day.
Atom Samarendra Singh, the first son of Atom Krishnamohon Singh and Atom Ongbi Tampakleima Devi and Yumkhaibam Kirankumar Singh, son of Late Yumkhaibam Kalajit and Yumkhaibam Ongbi Indrani went missing after they went out together on May 6 around 11 am, it stated.
Their phones were last located near Sangaithel Olympian Park Sheiheibung village before they were switched off around 4:35 on the same day, it asserted. It said that family members of the two filed a missing person report to the police on the day itself, but to avail till date.
The families also submitted a copy of the missing report and FIR to the chief minister on September 6, urging him to hand over the case to the CBI and help trace their whereabouts, it mentioned. It added that however no information on the same was received.
It alleged that Samarendra and Kirankumar were allegedly abducted from Sangaithel Olympian Park in broad daylight on May 6 itself around 4:30 pm. It further claimed that they were among the first two persons to go missing when the clashes erupted in the state.
The club highlighted the anguish and despair experienced by family members of the missing persons, who have been yearning for closure all this time. It said that Samarendra is survived by his wife, A Kabita and two sons while Kirankumar is survived by his wife, Y Basanti, two daughters and one son. The grieving families, struggling with ways to support themselves are even considering staying at the relief camps, it lamented.
IWSC Khumbong also recounted the efforts and contributions of Samarendra and Kirankumar to the Club, the society and the State as a whole on various occasions and during tough times, including the prevailing ethnic conflict and Covid-19 crisis, among others. It urged all to attend the ceremony and pay their respects to the two great souls.
