Amid Manipur unrest, Air India crash victim Lamnunthem Singson's body avoids Imphal return
Kuki-Zo flight attendant’s family cites security concerns, opts for alternate route via Nagaland
funeral held in Kangpokpi
Imphal: Amid continuing ethnic tensions in Manipur, the family of Lamnunthem Singson, a Kuki-Zo flight attendant who died in the recent Ahmedabad-London Air India crash, chose not to bring her mortal remains to Imphal. According to The Wire, despite assurances from the Manipur government, Indian Army, and civil society group COCOMI, the family opted to transport her body through Dimapur in Nagaland and then drive 160 kilometers to their home in Kangpokpi district.
Singson was the sole breadwinner for her family and is survived by her mother Nemneilhing and three siblings—Gouneo, Lamnunthem, and Justin. Originally from Old Lambulane in Imphal, one of the oldest Kuki-majority neighborhoods in the city, the family was displaced by ethnic violence in May 2023.
The Wire quoted her cousin Henry, who said, “The irony is heartbreaking. Her grandfather, C.L. Singson, was a former IAS officer and chairman of the Manipur Public Service Commission. Her aunt also served in the IAS. Yet, the family had to flee and now avoids Imphal out of wisdom—not fear. The valley remains volatile.”
The Imphal airport, Manipur’s only airport, is located in the Meitei-majority valley, now largely inaccessible to displaced Kuki families. Though the central government announced helicopter services for Kuki residents in 2023, The Wire found no one has used the facility to date.
In a June 16 statement, COCOMI had appealed for public support in receiving the bodies of both flight attendants from Manipur—Singson and Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma (from the Meitei community). The Manipur Chief Secretary echoed this, saying the government had made arrangements to return the bodies “with full dignity and respect,” but would honor the families’ final wishes.
Still, mistrust prevails. As The Wire noted, in one of the most haunting incidents during the conflict, an ambulance carrying a child and caregivers was torched in May 2023. All inside were burned alive.
On June 19, the very day Singson’s body was scheduled to arrive in Imphal, fresh violence was reported. A Kuki woman, Hoikholhing, wife of the Langchingmanbi village chief, was killed. In another incident, a Meitei farmer was shot in Bishnupur district, prompting security forces to launch operations in surrounding areas.
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MYAS launches quiz on national flag, 25 top-scorers to get trip to Siachen with Mandaviya
New Delhi, Aug 7 (PTI): The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has launched an online quiz on the national flag and 25 top-scoring participants in the age bracket of 21 to 29 will get an opportunity to visit Siachen with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
The quiz, according to the ministry, will "foster patriotism and enhance awareness about the Indian National Flag."
"This online quiz, hosted on the MYBharat portal (mybharat.gov.in), invites all citizen to participate and test their knowledge about the Tricolour," the ministry stated.
It will consist of multiple-choice questions and all contestants will be awarded an e-certificate.
"As a grand incentive, 25 top-scoring participants will be selected for a remarkable opportunity to visit Siachen in the company of the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya," the ministry said.
"The selection of winners for the Siachen visit will be limited to youth between the ages of 21 and 29. The final selection of the 25 winners will be conducted through a computer-based lottery system from the pool of top scorers," it added.
