Air India crew member Lamnunthiem Singson's body to be handed over to family via Dimapur amid Manipur conflict concerns
PTC Web Desk: The mortal remains of Lamnunthiem Singson, a 25-year-old Air India cabin crew member, will be handed over to her family on Thursday. Singson’s identity was verified through DNA profiling conducted at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital following the tragic plane crash.
Representatives from the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), Kangpokpi unit in Manipur, stated that Singson’s remains would be transported to her native state via Dimapur airport, bypassing Imphal due to ongoing ethnic tensions. The flight carrying her remains is scheduled to land in Dimapur at 1:30 PM.
“For safety reasons, the family chose not to receive her body at Imphal airport, as the route from the valley to Kangpokpi passes through Meitei-dominated areas. Instead, the body will be received at Dimapur in Nagaland and brought to Kangpokpi by road,” said K Shongreng, general secretary of KSO Kangpokpi.
While top government and police officials had offered the family a security convoy from Imphal to Kangpokpi, the family declined the option, citing safety concerns. The Singsons had been residents of New Lambulane in Imphal before being displaced to Kangpokpi following the ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023. Many Meiteis had also evacuated the hill districts and taken refuge in the valley, creating ethnically homogeneous enclaves now guarded by local armed groups, with central forces acting as intermediaries.
In a related development, the family of another Air India cabin crew member from Manipur, Nganthoi K Sharma, is still awaiting confirmation of her identity. “We have not yet received a positive DNA match report from Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. We request authorities to speed up the identification process,” said her sister, Geetanjali. Sharma belonged to the Meitei community.
Dr Rakesh Joshi, Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, reported that as of Wednesday evening, the bodies of 170 victims had been handed over to their families. The Authorities have so far contacted 202 relatives of the deceased for identification and handover procedures.
- With inputs from agencies
