A MEITEI organization has criticized Kuki’s civil society groups to warn the MEITEI community that they do not embark on their annual pilgrimage to the Thangjing hill, which is found in a district dominated by Kuki in Manipur with conflict scars. | Photo credit: PTI
Guwahati
A MEITEI organization has criticized Kuki’s civil society groups to warn the MEITEI community that they do not embark on their annual pilgrimage to the Thangjing hill, which is found in a district dominated by Kuki in Manipur with conflict scars.
The MEITEI Heritage Welfare Foundation (MHWF) said that the prevention of the Meliteis of visiting the Sagrada Colina Theangjing in the Churacandpur district is like preventing Hindu with Mount Kailash in Tibet.
On April 9, six Kuki organizations issued a statement by asking the non -tribal Meliteis that do not cross the ‘damping zone’ between the two communities for Cheirao Ching Kaba, an annual ritual of mid -April to walk through the Thangjing Hill as part of the celebration of Cheiraoba, the New Year MEITEI.
The damping zone is a narrow strip that separates the Imphale valley dominated by Meiti from the low hills, mainly inhabited by the Kuki-Zo-Har tribes.
‘Denying the rights of Meitei’
The Foundation said that the pilgrimage to Ibudhou Tangjing, a sacred sanctuary in the mountain range that falls within the forests protected by Churacandpur-Khourpum, has been a centennial religious practice of the Meiteis.
Kuki organizations said that any attempt at the Meiteis to walk to Thangjing would be seen as a “direct provocation” until a political agreement was reached for the Kuki Zo people under the Constitution. They added that those who undertake the pilgrimage would be the answer for any consequence of their action.
“This is a shameless attempt to deny Meiteis his fundamental rights to religious practice and freedom of movement,” said the MHWF in a statement on April 11.
‘Repeated provocations’
He accused the Kuki groups of similar provocations in the past, including the desecration of the ThanGjing sanctuary, the erection of a Christian cross on the site in January 2024, and an alleged attempt to change the name of the hill. He affirmed that such actions are designed to cause violence and derail the peace efforts initiated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Union.
The Foundation urged the authorities to take a decisive step, stating that a greater delay would be emboldened the extremist elements and deepen the community division.
More than 250 people have died and around 60,000 have displaced bone in the conflict between MEITEI and KUKI-SO-COMMUNITIES that exploded in Manipur in May 2023. The State has been relatively peaceful since the imposition of the president’s government in February.
Violence against girls and women
Meanwhile, a rights agency has marked the growing violence against girls and women in the district of Churacandpur restless, concerned about inter-tribal violence since March.
Kuki’s human rights organization condemned the rape and murder of a young woman in a village in the District’s subdivision on April 11.
“We are deeply alarmed by the continuous increase in such crimes. Recently, a 13 -year -old girl was killed and another case of rape [of a 10-year-old girl] It was reported within the district, ”said the general secretary of the organization, Kimneihoi Lhungdim, demanding rapid and decisive actions of the law enforcement agencies.
In March, a 9 -year -old girl found dead near a relief camp for internally displaced people, was in the Churacandpur district. His neck had injury marks.
Published – April 12, 2025 09:17 PM IST