Ima Kongdong Leirembi Thougal Lup, Moreh refutes claim made by TSA
Source: The Sangai Express

Tengnoupal, October 24 2018: Ima Kongdong Leirembi Thougal Lup, Moreh refuted the claimed made by the Thadou Students' Association (TSA) which they alleged that Meitei community has started the construction of houses and the earth work activities to build hundreds of houses for non-tribal population in tribal land at Moreh Chikim village, is a baseless allegation and not true.

Ima Kongdong Leirembi Thougal Lup asserted that the Meitei residing in Moreh has been worshipping Ima Kongdong Leirembi at Moreh Ward No.9, now Chikim Village, since the time Meitei started inhabitating at the place with a caretaker to look after the temple.

Moreh Handloom Silk Weavers Co-operative Society Ltd along with women folks of Moreh planted Mulberry plant in all three directions surrounding.

Ima Kongdong Leirembi temple in 1980, the Thougal Lup added and said that the vast area starting from Chikim Village to the surrounding area of Moreh College was under cultivation and irrigated by the then public leader Sagolsem Tomba and his associates while the present oil pump site was under cultivation by Sorokhaibam Chaoba.

The Thougal Lup, further informed that, in 1996, personnel of Gorkha Regiment stationed at PWD IB, Moreh were ambushed by one UG group while they (personnel) moved out of their station to fetch water from a Water Reservoir at Moreh Ward No 9 near the present Jehovah Jireh Orphanage.

Following which the personnel of Gorkha Regiment destroyed the site of Ima Kongdong Leirembi temple including the Mulberry plant and the paddy crop, they added.

Later, in 1997, HTC and MADWA (Moreh Area Displaced Persons Welfare Association) approached Meetei Council Moreh (MCM) and Ima Kongdong Leirembi Thougal Lup, Moreh and requested to allow the displaced Kukis affected by the Kuki-Naga Clash from Churachandpur, Ukhrul and Tamenglong area be settled near the site of Ima Kongdong Leirembi temple, maintained the Thougal Lup and added that an agreement was reached between Meetei Council Moreh (MCM) and Ima Kongdong Leirembi Thougal Lup, Moreh in one side and HTC and MADWA in other side on February 25, 1997 to demarcate the area after much deliberations and various talks.

On the contrary, well settled people who have their properties at Moreh town started building their houses with the intention to settle near the site of Ima Kongdong Leirembi temple, instead of the displaced Kukis and named the place as Chikim Village which is substantiated by the order/gazette issued by Manipur Govt to recognise Chikim Village in 2003, the Thougal Lup added.

Ima Kongdong Leirembi Thougal Lup, Moreh also alleged that the caretaker of Ima Kongdong Leirembi was intimidated on number of occasion and also committed crime such as burglary and vandalism at the temple number of times.

Ima Kongdong Leirembi Thougal Lup reasserted that the site of Ima Kongdong Leirembi temple is a sacred temple for Meitei community and they have the legal rights to practice their religious faith and beliefs.

The Thougal Lup also sought cooperation from other communities for peaceful coexistence and appealed that any confrontation or dispute can be resolved through peaceful dialogues and negotiations.

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