Churachandpur in Manipur came to be known as the 'Town that refused to bury its dead'. Last week, after 632 days, finally they bid farewell to those who were killed in protests. On August 31, Manipur state assembly passed 3 controversial bills allegedly aimed at depriving hill tribes of their land rights. Protests erupted with Churachandpur as its epicentre. Nine were killed during the protests. Town people refuse to bury them until the bills were struck down and given separate administration. The Hill-Valley divide became apparent with these protests. The deadlock lasted for almost two years until a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the state and tribe leaders on May 10. The government demanded that bodies be buried by May 25. A grand funeral was organised on May 24. But victims' families and the town people aren't happy. They claim the government has given them a raw deal and hope the struggle continues.
