Henry L. Khojol
AIZAWL, MAY 22, 2018, Virthli (ONP): Lalropui Famhoite, Army Chief of Hmar People’s Convention- Democratic (HPC-D ) and chairman of United People’s Front (UPF), an umbrella organization of eight tribal underground groups in Manipur, passed away in a private hospital in Imphal on Monday night due to multiple complications. He was 53.
Family sources said the rebel leader was rushed to Imphal on Monday around 10:30 am after complaining of heart problem and was admitted in Mothers’ Care Hospital where he was given treatment at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
“Though doctors tried their best to save him, the leader left for his eternal abode at around 11 pm on Monday,” a Hmar leader from Manipur said.
Famhoite is survived by his wife Jeremy Lalengmawi and two children.
His body was brought to his hometown Saikawt in Manipur’s Churachandpur district the same night after condolence service in Imphal. The last funeral for the departed top echelon of Hmar rebel was held on Tuesday at Saikawt Youth Club hall where a large crowd from various communities gathered to pay their last respect to the leader, who was well known for his personal charisma and leadership. He was laid to rest in the presence of huge crowd at Saikawt cemetery on Tuesday evening.
Along with Saikawt, funeral service was also held in various Hmar villages in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram besides Aizawl. All government and private schools in Hmar dominated villages also remained closed as a token of mourning for the charismatic leader.
Born on 23 September, 1965 at Rangiya in Assam, Famhoite entered underground and joined the erstwhile Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) while studying theology at Trivandrum Bible College in 1990.
When the HPC(D) came into existence in 1995 following the peace accord between the Mizoram government and HPC in July 1994, Famhoite became the Army chief of the outfit from 1996 and spearheaded the HPC(D) operatives in Assam, Manipur and northern Mizoram till his last breath.
During 2011-13 he was the vice chairman of UPF and held finance secretary of the organization during 2014-16. From 2017, Famhoite was made the UPF’s chairman, the post which he held till his last breath.
Meanwhile, Mizoram home minister R. Lalzirliana condoled the untimely demise of Famhoite and expressed deep condolence to the bereaved families.
In his condolence message that was read out at the last funeral of the Hmar leader, Lalzirliana expressed shock over his sudden demise and said that he was a good and important leader of the Hmar community, who remained instrumental to the Hmar political movement throughout his life.
“Even though I am happy that he had a chance to witness the peace accord between the government and the HPC(D), I am deeply saddened as he would not be able to know the final outcome and reap the fruit of the peace accord. I personally mourned his sudden death,” Lalzirliana said.
Many tribal underground outfits including KNO, ZRO and Hmar bodies like Hmar Inpui and Hmar Students’ Association (HSA) also lamented his untimely death and conveyed deep condolences to the bereaved families.
AIZAWL, MAY 22, 2018, Virthli (ONP): Lalropui Famhoite, Army Chief of Hmar People’s Convention- Democratic (HPC-D ) and chairman of United People’s Front (UPF), an umbrella organization of eight tribal underground groups in Manipur, passed away in a private hospital in Imphal on Monday night due to multiple complications. He was 53.
Family sources said the rebel leader was rushed to Imphal on Monday around 10:30 am after complaining of heart problem and was admitted in Mothers’ Care Hospital where he was given treatment at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
“Though doctors tried their best to save him, the leader left for his eternal abode at around 11 pm on Monday,” a Hmar leader from Manipur said.
Famhoite is survived by his wife Jeremy Lalengmawi and two children.
His body was brought to his hometown Saikawt in Manipur’s Churachandpur district the same night after condolence service in Imphal. The last funeral for the departed top echelon of Hmar rebel was held on Tuesday at Saikawt Youth Club hall where a large crowd from various communities gathered to pay their last respect to the leader, who was well known for his personal charisma and leadership. He was laid to rest in the presence of huge crowd at Saikawt cemetery on Tuesday evening.
Along with Saikawt, funeral service was also held in various Hmar villages in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram besides Aizawl. All government and private schools in Hmar dominated villages also remained closed as a token of mourning for the charismatic leader.
Born on 23 September, 1965 at Rangiya in Assam, Famhoite entered underground and joined the erstwhile Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) while studying theology at Trivandrum Bible College in 1990.
When the HPC(D) came into existence in 1995 following the peace accord between the Mizoram government and HPC in July 1994, Famhoite became the Army chief of the outfit from 1996 and spearheaded the HPC(D) operatives in Assam, Manipur and northern Mizoram till his last breath.
During 2011-13 he was the vice chairman of UPF and held finance secretary of the organization during 2014-16. From 2017, Famhoite was made the UPF’s chairman, the post which he held till his last breath.
Meanwhile, Mizoram home minister R. Lalzirliana condoled the untimely demise of Famhoite and expressed deep condolence to the bereaved families.
In his condolence message that was read out at the last funeral of the Hmar leader, Lalzirliana expressed shock over his sudden demise and said that he was a good and important leader of the Hmar community, who remained instrumental to the Hmar political movement throughout his life.
“Even though I am happy that he had a chance to witness the peace accord between the government and the HPC(D), I am deeply saddened as he would not be able to know the final outcome and reap the fruit of the peace accord. I personally mourned his sudden death,” Lalzirliana said.
Many tribal underground outfits including KNO, ZRO and Hmar bodies like Hmar Inpui and Hmar Students’ Association (HSA) also lamented his untimely death and conveyed deep condolences to the bereaved families.
