Skip to content Skip to navigation

Rishang Keishing laid to rest

By AT News Imphal |

Manipur on Thursday paid homage to former Chief Minister and Congress veteran leader Rishang Keishing at his funeral held at his Mantripukhri private residence here. 

Rishang Keishing breathed his last on August 22 at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal. He was 96.  He is survived by his wife Khatingla Keishing, three sons and one daughter. 

He was given a proper burial by the state at his residence. Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh led his council of ministers, opposition MLAs, includidng Okram Ibobi Singh, at the funeral event. 

A contigent of 1st Manipur Rifles gave gun salute to the late grand old man of Manipur on the occasion which was attended by several top police officials. A two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to Rishang Keishing.

CM Biren stated, “Rishang was a leader who worked for Manipur irrespective of community.”

The funeral was earlier arranged at his native village Bungpa Khullen of Ukhrul district but it was reportedly barred from being held by a militant group. But Biren Singh said no such incident was officially confirmed. 

Keishing represented UKhrul district's Phungyar, an assembly segment, for seven terms till 2002. He became Chief Minister of Manipur four times and had served as an MP for 22 years. The oldest Parliamentarian of the country retired from public life in 2014. 

The Manipur government declared a one-day state holiday and three days mourning period after Rishang Keishing’s death.   

A state funeral for the former leader was held at MBC Centre Church, Chingmeirong. Former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and several party leaders joined mourners at the memorial service which was attended by his family and friends. 

The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) also paid homage to late Rishang Keishing at the Congress Bhawan.  

Former Chief Minister and opposition Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh, former Deputy CM Gaikhangam, MPCC President TN Haokip, MP Th Meinya Singh and several party leaders and workers laid wreaths to the lifeless body of Rishang Keishing on the occasion. 

The Congress leaders mourned his death and the party flag was flown at half-mast in honour of him.  

On the occasion, Okram Ibobi Singh said, “Rishang Keishing was the tallest leader given by God.” 

Rishang’s lifeless body was also brought to Adimjati Ashram where staff and stidents mourned his death and paid last respect to him.

Add new comment

Random Stories

Rita Chowdhury to attend GPC program

19 May 2012 - 3:51am | Nava Thakuria
Award winning novelist, poet and literary activist Dr Rita Chowdhury will attend the next Guest of the Month program of Guwahati Press Club on May 24. The interactive session will start at 12 noon....

Dharna demanding 33 months arrears pay

17 Dec 2013 - 2:49pm | Monosh Hojai
The Assam government employs roughly 500,000 people in its administrative structure that includes state run education institutions, public distribution system, health care and other departments. The...

Citizens' meet on Burma issues

2 Oct 2007 - 5:27pm | editor
A citizens meeting has been convened on October 4 to discuss various Burma issues in the city. Organized by the Journalists' Forum, Assam, the meeting will commence from 2 pm at Guwahati Press...

Technology Week – An Innovative Programme for farmers celebrated in KVK, Nagaon

10 Jan 2010 - 2:54pm | tpsaikia
The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nagaon in collaboration with the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Shillongani celebrated a Technology Week from December 29, 2009 to January 4, 2010. The programme...

Other Contents by Author

Manipur rights bodies demand govt support in CBI probe

Human rights organisations on Friday called upon all concerned and the Manipur government to extend full cooperation to the CBI inquiry into 85 cases of alleged extrajudicial killings that took place in the state between 1979 and 2012.  A discussion on imposition of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Manipur was held at Manipur Press Club jointly organized by the Extra-Judicial Execution Victim Families AssociationManipur (EEVFAM), Human Rights Alert (HRA) and United NGOs Mission-Manipur (UNMM).  “We appeal to all concerned and the state government as well to extend full cooperation to the CBI inquiry to help ensure delivery of justice to the...

Panchayat polls in Manipur on October 7

The much-awaited Panchayat polls in BJP-ruled Manipur will be held on October 7 next with the model code of conduct coming into effect from Friday.  The schedule for the upcoming crucial Panchayat polls was announced by Manipur State Election Commissioner Th Kaminikanta Singh during a press conference at the office of State Election Commission, Lamphelpat on Thursday.  Last date of filing of nomination is August 25 while the scrutiny will be conducted on August 26, he further announced, adding that last date of withdrawal of nomination is August 29.  Kaminikanta said counting of vote will take place on October 11. He said the...

Naga peace framework in final stage

Convenor of the NSCN-IM Steering Committee, Rh Raising said that the August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM is now at the final stage.  “We are now at the final stage. We have drafted, they have drafted and exchanged our point of views. We have decided what we have already agreed; now we are in the final stage. Almost 90 percent is completed. We have yet to work on some papers,” replied Raising to queries from the media during the 71st Naga Independence Day celebration at the NSCN-IM’s Council Headquarters, Hebron on Monday.    According to Raising, the Agreement is about the recognition of the sovereign right of the Nagas,...

68 ultras surrender in Manipur

As many as 68 militants belonging to various outlawed underground groups, including 17 from UNLF and seven from PLA, surrendered to the Manipur government and laid down weapons.  Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh, his deputy Yumnam Joykumar Singh and several other ministers attended the ‘homecoming ceremony’ held at 1st Battalion, Manipur Rifles.  The militants, including four women, were 17 from UNLF, 7 from PLA (RPF), 10 from PREPAK, 7 from PREPAK (Pro), 4 from KYKL, 10 from KCP (N), one each from KCP (W), KCP (KK Mangang) and KCP (MJC), 5 each from KCP (KM) and KCP (MC).  They surrendered themselves to Chief Minister Biren Singh during the function.  The...

Amidst tight security for I-Day, bomb blast rocks Imphal

A bomb exploded here on Sunday amidst tight security being put in place ahead of the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations, but there were no casualties. The incident occurred at Kakwa Naorem Leikai within Imphal West around 9:30 in the morning. Sources believed militants had triggered the blast that took place close to a power transformer.  A team from the district police led by its Superintendent of Police Themthing Ngasangva rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. Seven different militant outfits have given a call to boycott the Independence Day celebrations across North East region on August 15. They have called a total shutdown in the...

Tripartite talk on districts creation held

The crucial tripartite meeting on the pressing demand of rollback of creation of districts by the United Naga Council (UNC) was held at Senapati district headquarters on Tuesday.  Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Joint Secretary in-charge of NE, Satyendra Garg chaired the tripartite talks involving the Centre, Manipur government and UNC, the apex social organisation of the Nagas in Manipur.    This time the tripartite dialogue was upgraded to political level by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with the hope to find a solution where all sides can win.  UNC has strongly protested creation of districts, especially Kangpokpi district, after allegedly bifurcating “Naga...

Manipur tells Myanmar to stop violating traffic rules

The Manipur government has on Thursday informed Myanmar authority no vehicles from the neighbouring country would be allowed to violate Indian traffic rules and regulation on Indian territory.   The development comes after Manipur authority has learnt that Myanmar vehicles entering India through Indo-Myanmar Friendship Bridge at Gate No 1 have been violating Indian traffic rules and regulation while proceeding towards Namphalong Market. In a letter to Deputy Commissioner, Tamu, Myanmar, Kh Raghumani Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Tengnoupal district said it has been observed that Myanmar vehicles entering India through Indo-Myanmar Friendship Gate No 1 have been violating...

NSCN-K to boycott I'Day

The NSCN-K declared that it will boycott the upcoming Independence Day celebrations on August 15. A press release from the NSCN-K’s Ministry of Information & Publicity (MIP) on Tuesday stated that it has imposed a ban on celebration of “Indian Independence Day throughout Naga inhabited territories” in India. While it appealed to “every Naga national” to abstain from participating in the I-Day event, it stated that the Government of India has been relentlessly continuing “massive military deployment empowered with unethical and inhuman Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, AFSPA, Disturbed Area Act, Terrorist tag etc.” Despite, the NSCN-K said it “will keep up the...

Uphill task ahead for Biren government in negotiating UNC

The United Naga Council (UNC) hopes that the next tripartite talks scheduled for August 11 at Senapati headquarters must come up with a solution to the nearly nine month-old issue on district creation. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoS) said the next meeting involving the state and central governments and UNC will be held at the “political level.” The upcoming negotiation aims at finding a mutually agreeable solution to all concerned. But the Nongthombam Biren Singh headed BJP government in Manipur still has to face the uphill task of maintaining the status quo of the “Naga-dominated districts” as demanded by UNC.  On December 9, 2016, the previous Okram Ibobi Singh headed Congress...

3 cops suspended over woman’s death

 Three cops have been placed under suspension in connection with the suspicious death of a woman inside the toilet of Andro Police Station on August 1 last. In an order issued by Imphal East District Police Superintendent of Police Kabib K the three police personnel have been suspended for misconduct and dereliction of duty. They are Sub-Inspector L Heramani, Assistant Sub-Inspector H Prakash and woman personnel Soniya Devi. Investigations are on to find out the causes of the death of the 38-year-old Mutum Ongbi Indira Devi, wife of M Ibohanbi Singh in the toilet of Andro Police Station.     Tension had prevailed in Imphal East’s Andro following the woman was mysteriously...