Land dispute mars holy ritual
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 14 2014 :
The holy ritual of Cheng Hongba performed in the name of Ibudhou Pakhangba atop Hannaba hill near Heingang police station, Imphal East district was cut short as people of Kairang raised a strong
objection.
As the holy ritual of Cheng Hongba was being performed with Maibas and Maibis (priests an priestesses), a large group of people from Kairang came to the spot and raised a strong objection.
Subsequently, the ritual was cut short.
Soon after the Maibas, Maibis and other people who came for the ritual left the hill, the temple of Ibudhou Pakhangba was removed by Kairang villagers.
On learning about the dispute, a large police team led by the Imphal East SP came to the site.
Even though no untoward incident took place, three women and a man of Kairang village sustained minor injuries in a brief scuffle with police.
According to social worker Md Nurdin of Kairang, the total area of heingang hill is 210 hectares.
Around 1985, the then Heingang A/C MLA W Jagor handed over 100 hectares of eastern side of Heingang hill to Kairang with Mikol gorge as the boundary.
Since then, people of Heingang have been using the site where Pakhangba's temple was placed today as a sacred spot for performing Idigah.
The temple was erected today without giving any prior information to Kairang villagers, Md Nurdin said while appealing to all concerned to refrain from such activities in future.