13 SEPTEMBER BLACK DAY

The story of Joupi By Rev. SL Helkholam

Tribal colony Imphal Intro: This is the story of Joupi, Zanglenphai and Gelnel where many of our Kuki brethrens lost their lives in the most brutal manner. There has been many articles about this fateful day in many magazines but with some errors in them. I wish to retell the tales with more emphasis on the massacres at Joupi Village. According to our great forefathers, Wherever they may be settled, Death can be observed in two ways:

1. People who die from any illness or diseases are said to have died a good death (Natural). They are buried in the yards and the next day is observed as 'Selnit' with all the villagers taking leave from work and mourns for the deceased.

2. People who die in the battle front, killed by wild animals or who lost their lives in any kind of accidents are said to have died a bad death (Unnatural). Their bodies are never brought inside the house and are buried outside the village. And the day after the burial rites is observed as 'Sahnit' and all the villagers take times off their works and mourns for the deceased. 'Selnit' and 'Sahnit' are observed as an act of respect to the departed souls and also comforts the grieving families. When we observe 'Sahnit' in case a person was killed unreasonably by another person, the village chief would take the stand and after there is mutual understanding and peace 'Sahnit' is concluded.

September 13, 1993 is known as 'Black Day' in English because starting February 10, 1993, led by NSCN (IM) many innocent Mothers and Childrens, wrinkled elders, blinds and lames were mercilessly killed. And on September 13, 1994; the day the most number of Kukis were killed in a single day, 87 men in Aimol (Tamei), 17 others in Gelnal and altogether 104 Kukis were killed. For all these victims, 'Sahnit' will be observed according to our custom and traditions until all the victims are given justice and peace talks can be carried out. Where there are numerous merciless killings as such, there can be thoughts and feelings of Vengeance. So, to prevent such poisons from spreading, plans were made to talk with the United Naga Council. On March 29, 1994, UNC and Kuki Innpi met up and on April 4, 1994 they met up yet again but since the NSCN opposed their meetings all possible peace talks ended inconclusively. 6th Sept 1993 : Around 100 Naga UG’s entered the village and ran amok. They killed any livestocks they wanted. They shot two huge pig although they could not find the other one and shared the meat among themselves. On this very day, they captured the village chief, Pu Lenpao Haokip. He was made to hold the dressed meat share (Sabat) of Sappa (the leader of the Naga UG’s) and that is when the villagers began to feel apprehensive. They gathered and took away all weapons like machetes, pick, guns from the villagers.

They called in and gathered all the people hiding in the forest too. All the women were locked in at the new church building and the men in the old church building (CC Hall). It is not known whether they had planned on killing all the villagers of Joupi on that day or what they meant to do to them but fortunately they heard that the Government armies had entered Khupkhen (near Joupi) so they left the village and made their way to Zallenphai leaving their share of the dressed meat. Around 6 in the evening, half of the earlier total of Naga UG’s crept inside Joupi again and silently took away the Chief of the village, Lenpao Haokip, leaving his clothes behind, the chief was led away to Zampi without the knowledge of the villagers. Through the account of the villagers of Zampi, the Chief’s hands and legs were bound and he was heard screaming and suffered the whole night till morning but there was no one to help him. The Chief of Zampi, Pu Thangsat Sitlhou secretly made his way towards the captured chief of Joupi and loosened the ropes binding him. There, the Joupi Chief told the Zampi Chief to "talk things through among themselves for the better interest of everyone but as for me, I am ready to meet my death" and with that, he bade him farewell. Around 8 in the morning, the Naga UG’s dragged the chief towards the Barak river. Three shots were heard and that is believed to have been the shots that killed the Chief of Joupi.

10th Sept : Hoping to get assurances from KNA and the Kuki Inn, Pu Letchon KIpgen and Pu Lalchon Lhouvum journeyed to Kangpokpi and on reaching the new village Dulien, they saw the Quit Notice served by the Nagas which stated that if the Kukis did not leave before September 15, they can never cross Tamei Village. So, Pu Letchon and Pu Lalchon returned back to Zoupi. When evening came, the Zoupi and Zanglenphai Chiefs held a meeting and they came to the conclusion that the Chief of Zoupi, Pu Lenpao Haokip must be dead since he had not returned till then. So, they prepared to perform the last rite for the Chief according to the custom and they all agreed to gather all their belongings they had hidden in the forest.

So, on the 11th of September around 2pm all the clothes of Pu Lenpao was packed and was buried and that was the funeral service of the fallen village chief. The head Deacon Pu Hellet Hangshing proposed that they should all attend church even though it was a Saturday and to cleanse themselves,forgive all members who were recorded to have gone against the Church and the word of God since what awaits the next day was unknown.And that is what they did and that day is now In history as the day the people of the Joupi came together to worship God one last time in the church.Pu Semkholam Hangshing was made the village chairman with the death of the village chief.

3. 12th Sept: With heavy hearts and tears in their eyes they packed a few items and left all theirs lands v and other properties in which they have toiled on and worked really hard for. Even the young girls carried few luggage and left their village. On reaching the new village Dulien, they saw yet another sign that warned of dire consequences if they did leave Tamei by 5pm.So, they left more of their heavier luggage and hastened their pace. Exhausted, they went on but were met by some Naga UGs on the way. They were made to unpack their belongings where they took away all tools like butcher knives, machetes etc. At this point some of the entourage started to flee but they all gathered again continued on their journey. And by 6pm the stronger of the pack and those who were at the front reached Tamei first. The Nagas had made camp on the outskirt of Tamei at Thenjang. There, they lit up the area and the villagers were made to settle down while they were asked to unpack their belongings. The men were then called one by one,t ied their hands behind them and were made to lie face down. They had also prepared the ditch were they were going to throw in the bodies after they killed them. The women and the children were asked to go on ahead. Some women pleaded that they could not continue on as they needed the men to carry the children but the Nagas assured them that they would be release them after a few questionings so to go ahead and prepare a meal.So, the women and children who could walk made their way, barefooted as they had no shoes on. Hungry and thirsty they reached Govajang in the early morning while some had slept by the side of the road along the way. And on 13th September, dawn broke into the cries and wails of the village of Govajang.

4. The same day i.e. 12th September, Gelnel village was also set ablaze and around 15 people were also killed.The people of Tuilanghom were rendered helpless as to which direction they should flee. On the outskirt of Tamei the UGs had a hut built. The first thing they did was ask for the village chief.And Pu Semkholam Hangshing stood up and said he was present in place of the Chief. He was dragged along with his friend into the hut. His friend, Pu Lamchon Hangshing took a leap of faith; he jumped from the hut,survived and escaped. Pu Onkai Haokip, younger brother of the Chief, Pu Sehtinthang Chongloi and Pu Nguljahao Hangshing also escaped but the rest 27 men were cut up like vegetables. Those other group that had slept by the side of the road while on their way to Tamei had no knowledge about the gruesome fate that had met their fellowmen who had reached there first. They continued on in the morning but were blocked again by the Naga UGs on the outskirt of Tamei, near the power house. The young girls were asked to follow a different route. All the men were made to kneel down with their face on the ground with their leg and hands tied. They were tied together in pairs again and were dragged towards Buning river that lies between Bolkot and Zampi. There they were killed and their bodies thrown into the river. Before they were killed some of them were even tortured. While they were tied in pairs and dragged towardcs the river, Pu Lenlal and Pu Nguljang escaped. Pu Nguljang even wrote a song 'Nithum le jan thum thikho hinkho jong ging louvin gamthipnoiya' that was included in the 'Joupi Vangkho' album sung by Pu Jeff Akai. On 13th September more than 50 men lost their lives. However, three survived the massacre and among them Pu Haoshem Doungel, despite his horrible wounds, survived. He now resides in Molkon Sadar Hills.

Life at Chalva: In October, the Governor visited them in Chalva arriving in a Helicopter. Soon as the women saw him, they cried and told him of their miseries. The Governor really saddened and he wept with them. It was a sad moment. A little while after his visit, they received essential commodities like rice, sugar, matchsticks, kerosene, etc. Till Christmas, they stayed at Chalva. They had expected the Governor to return in November so they Joupi villagers had prepared a petition in which they asked for a burial site at Tamei and also that they had bought the land between Tuilong and Tuilang with their own blood. But then they could not submit the petition tot he Governor as he did not return.

During these depressing days, The Kuki people of Tuilanghom, allowed the people of Joupi to harvest their paddies and shared drinks and foods with them. The people of Joupi will never forget the generosity and kindness of the people if Tuilanghom gtill today. Among the Joupi people who lost lives was one woman named NL Phakim. Since there was lack of means of communications,the villages of Buning, Zampi and Selsi were oblivious of the gruesome fate that befell the people of Joupi. They would climb trees and they had agreed that if they saw smokes at Joupi Village they would stay and if they did not, they would head to Joupi. Since, they did not see any smokes from Joupi, on the 20th pf September they headed towards Taloulong. During their stay in Taloulong, 26 innocent children were also killed yet again. The male children were then thrown up in the air and they were made to fall on to the swords or other knives they had placed below. The Major of the Assam rifles troop told the men to flee where ever they could and that they would try and save the young girls but Alas! They could not. Epilogue: Although I cannot write about the whole story this is the sad story of Joupi and Zanglenphai in brief.

(Mistakes and errors in translations regretted)