Temple vandalised, villagers terrified
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 19: Ingourok Mahadev temple which is considered very sacred and revered deeply by the Hindu populace of Manipur has been vandalised and set ablaze by some armed Kukis.
Moreover, armed Kukis have built bunkers close to Meitei villages of the area and they have been opening fire randomly thereby terrorising the villagers.
Taking serious note of the unfolding situation, a joint committee of the nearby Meitei villages including Leimakhong Chingmang, Ingourok Chingmang, Khurkhul, Kanto Khullen, Kanto Sabal, Ex-Servicemen Colony, Chirang, Senjam Chirang and Moibung Khunou held a meeting today.
The meeting deliberated on how to defend the unarmed Meitei villagers from the armed Kuki aggression and bring peace in the area.
The meeting jointly organised by 11 local clubs of Leimakhong-Khurkhul area adopted four different resolutions.
Immediate withdrawal of Assam Rifles personnel belonging to Kuki community from their Kanto Sabal camp was the first resolution of the meeting.
Immediate repairing/restoration of the pipeline which supplied water to the Meitei villages of Leimakhong-Khurkhul area which was destroyed by armed Kukis was the second resolution.
The third resolution says that bunkers built by armed Kukis around the Meitei villages must be removed immediately. If the authorities concerned do not fulfil the three resolutions as soon as possible, transportation of food items to nearby Kuki villages where armed Kukis are stationed would be blocked, according to the fourth resolution.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, All Khurkhul United Club president Usham Shantikumar said that the people of Leimakhong Chingmang, Ingourok Chingmang, Khurkhul, Senjam Chirang, Kanto Sabal etc have been living under a very tense and panicky atmosphere.
Paramilitary forces sent to the area have been harassing the villagers by making a headcount of the villages every day instead of protecting them, he said.
The security forces have done nothing to remove the bunkers built by armed Kukis at Leimakhong Chingmang and Ingourok Chingmang, he lamented.
In the meantime, armed Kukis have started shooting and slaughtering cattle reared by Meitei villagers and left for grazing in nearby fields.
Moreover, poultry birds and pigs reared at Meitei households of Leimakhong Chingmang, Ingourok Chingmang etc which are located close to Kuki villages have been stolen, he said. Shantikumar said that the armed Kuki militants of SoO groups have been creating animosity and hatred between Kuki and Meitei villages of the area.
He then urged the Government not to extend the SoO pact any further. Ingourok Mahadev Chingu Pangalba Development Organisation Secretary Thangjam Sanajaoba said that the Ingourok Mahadev temple as well as the temple’s godown and office have been burnt down by armed Kukis.
Further, the Lord’s idol has been desecrated and shattered.
The temple of Ima Panthoibi was also vandalised, he said.
No one can now access the sacred site, he added.
Talking over telephone, P Moulding village chief Kamshei said that they made fervent appeals to the armed Kuki militants not to vandalise or set afire the temple but the appeals went to deaf ears. The Kuki village chief also expressed sorrow over the acts of vandalism and arson.
IMPHAL, May 19: Ingourok Mahadev temple which is considered very sacred and revered deeply by the Hindu populace of Manipur has been vandalised and set ablaze by some armed Kukis.
Moreover, armed Kukis have built bunkers close to Meitei villages of the area and they have been opening fire randomly thereby terrorising the villagers.
Taking serious note of the unfolding situation, a joint committee of the nearby Meitei villages including Leimakhong Chingmang, Ingourok Chingmang, Khurkhul, Kanto Khullen, Kanto Sabal, Ex-Servicemen Colony, Chirang, Senjam Chirang and Moibung Khunou held a meeting today.
The meeting deliberated on how to defend the unarmed Meitei villagers from the armed Kuki aggression and bring peace in the area.
The meeting jointly organised by 11 local clubs of Leimakhong-Khurkhul area adopted four different resolutions.
Immediate withdrawal of Assam Rifles personnel belonging to Kuki community from their Kanto Sabal camp was the first resolution of the meeting.
Immediate repairing/restoration of the pipeline which supplied water to the Meitei villages of Leimakhong-Khurkhul area which was destroyed by armed Kukis was the second resolution.
The third resolution says that bunkers built by armed Kukis around the Meitei villages must be removed immediately. If the authorities concerned do not fulfil the three resolutions as soon as possible, transportation of food items to nearby Kuki villages where armed Kukis are stationed would be blocked, according to the fourth resolution.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, All Khurkhul United Club president Usham Shantikumar said that the people of Leimakhong Chingmang, Ingourok Chingmang, Khurkhul, Senjam Chirang, Kanto Sabal etc have been living under a very tense and panicky atmosphere.
Paramilitary forces sent to the area have been harassing the villagers by making a headcount of the villages every day instead of protecting them, he said.
The security forces have done nothing to remove the bunkers built by armed Kukis at Leimakhong Chingmang and Ingourok Chingmang, he lamented.
In the meantime, armed Kukis have started shooting and slaughtering cattle reared by Meitei villagers and left for grazing in nearby fields.
Moreover, poultry birds and pigs reared at Meitei households of Leimakhong Chingmang, Ingourok Chingmang etc which are located close to Kuki villages have been stolen, he said. Shantikumar said that the armed Kuki militants of SoO groups have been creating animosity and hatred between Kuki and Meitei villages of the area.
He then urged the Government not to extend the SoO pact any further. Ingourok Mahadev Chingu Pangalba Development Organisation Secretary Thangjam Sanajaoba said that the Ingourok Mahadev temple as well as the temple’s godown and office have been burnt down by armed Kukis.
Further, the Lord’s idol has been desecrated and shattered.
The temple of Ima Panthoibi was also vandalised, he said.
No one can now access the sacred site, he added.
Talking over telephone, P Moulding village chief Kamshei said that they made fervent appeals to the armed Kuki militants not to vandalise or set afire the temple but the appeals went to deaf ears. The Kuki village chief also expressed sorrow over the acts of vandalism and arson.