The standoff at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) mortuary ended on Sunday after the family of Mayanglambam Rishikanta Singh, a Meitei man allegedly killed by Kuki militants, agreed to accept his body. The mortal remains were taken from the mortuary around noon.
Scenes of grief unfolded as relatives and supporters gathered to perform the last rites. The Joint Action Committee (JAC), convened by Sarangthem Sushil, said the decision was made to allow the family to carry out the funeral and find some measure of closure.
Sushil emphasized that the agitation would continue until those responsible are arrested and punished. The JAC stated that the family agreed to take custody of the body following consultations with stakeholders after the state government assured that the case would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), ex-gratia compensation would be provided, and an eligible family member would be offered a government job, as demanded.
Rishikanta was reportedly abducted along with his partner and killed on January 22. Videos of the incident allegedly recorded by the perpetrators circulated widely on social media, sparking outrage, protests, and renewed calls for accountability across the state.
The JAC also reiterated allegations against Rishikanta’s wife, Chingnu Haokip, demanding her arrest for further investigation, though authorities have not confirmed any arrests in connection with the case.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over security lapses and the safety of civilians amid Manipur’s ongoing ethnic conflict.