A ‘symbolic burial’ was held on Friday at the Martyrs’ Cemetery, Phaijang in Kangpokpi District for the two Kuki-Zo volunteers who were brutally killed in the Phailengmol Region on April 13.
‘Banana stems’ were placed in the coffins of the two Kuki-Zo volunteers, Kamlengsat Khongsai and Kamminlal Lupheng, whose remains are still missing.
The symbolic burial, held under the aegis of CoTU.
This unusual yet deeply symbolic act underscores the desperation and grief faced by the families who cannot find the remains of their deceased sons.
The practice of using banana stems in funerary rituals is not new for the Kuki-Zo community, as their customs, culture, and tradition sometimes involve using symbolic objects in the absence of a body.
The symbolic burials with banana stems also serve multiple purposes, as they allow the community to perform necessary rites, which are crucial for cultural and emotional closure. Additionally, these ceremonies provide a space for mourning, where collective grief can be shared and supported.
It may be recalled that CoTU had organized a monumental 2 km long protest rally and imposed a 24-hour total shutdown in response to the gruesome Phailengmol killings. Additionally, CoTU also closed down government offices in the district which remains enforced to date.
In a poignant gesture honouring their fallen comrades, CoTU enforced a solemn nine-hour Total Shutdown throughout Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District from 9 am till 6 pm on May 24, while halting all government and private operations, along with business activities.
