Imphal, November 11: With arrival of second day of the new moon of the Manipuri month Hiyangei, Ningol Chakkouba, the much awaited festival symbolising bond between brothers and sisters is being celebrated all over the State.

It is festival of joy and reunion.

On this day, attired in their best dresses and bedecked with jewelleries married women come to their parental houses along with their children at the invitation of their brothers to enjoy a lavish feast together.

It is indeed a day of joy and reunion.

But what about those women whose beloved husbands have either fallen victims to violent incidents that are taking place in Manipuri society today on almost daily basis or whose whereabouts have not been known after they were abducted by unknown persons ? Does Ningol Chakkouba have any meaning for them ? Keeping aside the tradition of not inviting a married woman whose husband has passed away, to the Ningol Chakkouba feasting, until completion of a year of widowhood as a sign of mourning, it would be impossible to bring back the lost smile on the faces of those browbeaten widows who are undergoing mental and physical trauma after their husbands have fallen victims of the prevailing gun culture or forced disappearance.

Salam Ongbi Phareda, 35 years old, and mother of a two-year old boy child, is one such woman who has been fated to live with a burden that is tied to her destiny.

Her husband, Salam Sarkar, a small time contractor, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at their Thangmeiband residence in the morning of October 5 this year.

Till date, no one has claimed responsibility for the killing.

Recalling that fateful day which is still vivid in her mind, Phareda said she was preparing to go to the market at the insistence of her son who demanded new dress as Ningol Chakkouba was approaching.

At that time, 2/3 unidentified armed persons came to their house asking for Sarkar, who after his usual morning bath was preparing to offer oblation to the God.

But without giving any reason, the gunmen shot him dead through his heart right on the veranda of the house.

Sarkar was rushed to the hospital, but succumbed enroute.

'After my husband was killed, I have lost count of the days and did not even know Ningol Chakkouba has arrived', Phareda said.

Ironically, she is that same Phareda who, on the previous night of the killing of her husband by the unidentified men, had shown the Innaphi that she would be wearing on Chakkouba day to her husband.

She had coquettishly played with her husband saying that she would not be pillion riding on his worn out Yamaha this year and she should be dropped in a four wheeler.

Unknowing of the tragedy that has fallen in the family, 2-year old Gugu, their only son keeps asking 'where my Baba has gone ? Why is he not coming to drop us to Bobok's place for Ningol Chakkouba ?.

The innocent queries of her child was enough to cause the tears swelling up in Phareda's eyes to flow down like a perennial stream on her cheeks.

It may noted that as many as 26 suspected underground activists, 18 civilians and 10 security personnel have been killed in various violent related incidents occurred in different parts of the State within October month this year.

While from January to September this year, in all 153 underground activists, 109 civilians and 41 security personnel have reportedly lost their lives in related incidents of violence including encounter and killing after being picked up or abducted.

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