DC Bishnupur office stormed, many fume over mass burial move
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal/Bishnupur, August 02 2023: Decrying attempts being made to convert Haolaikhopi in Torbung Bangla under Phougakchao Ikhai Police Station of Bishnupur district into a burial site for Chin-Kuki 'terrorists' killed during the ethnic conflict, a large crowd of women thronged DC Bishnupur on Wednesday around 1pm and submitted memorandums on the same.

Apart from the Technical Service Centre of the Sericulture Department, Haolaikhopi also houses a mulberry farm, run by the state government.

After receiving reports of storming the DC's office, a police team led by Bishnupur SDPO Digbijoy and OC K Dinesh intercepted the crowd near the DC's gate but around 20 people, consisting members of Bishnupur district-based All Thanga Apunba Meira Paibi Lup, ANUL, Kumbi Apunba Nupi Lup, MAMPIL Moirang, United Women Development Organisation and MPAL were allowed to proceed and submit memorandum to DC Lourembam Bikram, SP Roni Mayengbam and Addl SP (Low&Order) Satyam Takhellambam.

Speaking to newspersons after submitting the memorandum, AMKIL president L Nganbi Devi elaborated on contents of the memorandum saying that it include demand for stopping any activities on state land without the permission of the government and for removal of Assam Rifles from Manipur among other.

After reading the memorandum, the DC assured to try his best to prevent the burial process and sought the coopera tion of the people.

He further informed that army, BSF and CRPF forces have been deployed in the area in this regard, she conveyed.

Later, the women shouted slogans like "Long Live Manipur", "Manipur's integrity cannot be destroyed", "No Kuki cemetery in our land".

Meanwhile, Tanglei Hada Manipur Kanba Lup (TAMKAL), Oinam media-coordinator Dr L Baleshwor stated that preparations have been made to prevent the attempted burials of Kukis, who died in the ethnic conflict, at Torbung Bangla on May 3.Baleshwor continued that Kuki militants have been killing Meitei civilians and setting their homes on fire since May 3 with numbers on the rise.

All efforts will be made to stop the burial at Haolaikhopi, he affirmed while urging the government to deploy additional security forces to prevent any conflict.

While central forces only looked on and took no action against arsonists in Kangpokpi and wanton killing of Meiteis in Churachanpur, RAF personnel employed in the valley used extreme force even when peaceful protests are being carried out.

This shows the bias attitude of the government, he remarked.

Chipping in secretary O Chaoba Meitei urged the government to show its sense of existence by preventing provocation by the Kukis, instead of just watching by and allowing the situation to escalate while advisory member I Jugeshor questioned why protestors in so-called peace rally in Churachandpur, Moreh and Kangpokpi were carrying weapons openly, in the presence of security forces.

He continued that Torbung, Bishnupur district is the epicentre of this 'civil war' and urged for setting up lines of defence in Torbung, Moreh and Kangpokpi to drive away the illegal Kukis.

The press meet was also attended by TAMKAL advisor M Manglemba, secretary O Chaoba, president M Roma Devi, vice president N Sanahalbi, members O Bimola Devi and G Dhaneshwor.

On the other hand, Torbung locals have strongly objected to any attempts to convert any area in Torbung GP into a burial site for narco-terrorists, while adding that this will be regarded as adding fuel to fire.

Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club on Wednesday, Social Welfare Club, Torbung Bangla advisor Loitongbam Surchand stated that bodies of Kuki militants cannot be buried in Meitei areas.

The areas of Torbung Bangla Waikhurok, Torbung Govindpur, Torbung Bazar, Torbung Sabal Leikai, Kangvai, Phougakchao Ikhai and Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai under Torbung GP cannot be converted into burial sites for illegal Kuki militants.

This is not only against international law, but an invitation for a civil-religion war Questioning whether the state government has green-lighted the burial of narco-Kuki terrorists in areas under Torbung GP or if any action had been taken up to prevent the same; he urged the central and state governments to stop the burials.

He continued that Torbung Bangla is the epicentre of the ethnic clashes and as such, demanded for expelling all Kuki militants from area under the GP by Thursday, failing which the locals will return to their homes.

Any consequences resulting from the same shall be the responsibility of the government, he cautioned.

Meira Paibi RK Babita said that by trying to bury the bodies of Kuki narco-terrorists in Torbung GP, the Kukis are trying to further fan the flames of the on-going conflict.

She then urged the government to take up requisite action in the matter.

She continued that the Meitei community does not like any form of conflict.

If it did, the people in the state would not have lived together in harmony for many centuries, she contended.

Meanwhile, Iroishemba Youth Development Club (EYDC), Iroishemba Apunba Meira Paibi Lup (EAMPL) and United Community Youth Club, Langol issued a joint press release on Wednesday, condemning the attempt to convert the sericulture farm in Torbung Bangla into a burial site for the dead Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists.

It further demanded the central and state governments to stop this provocation in time, and to also remove the bunkers set up in the area at the earliest.

Keke Moirang Kangleirok Kanba Lup also issued a press release on Wednesday, stating that the Lup along with Ibudhou Thangjing Phamnaiba Cheirap Loishang and Thangjing Seva Mandal will not accept the conversion of the Technical Service Centre and mulberry farm of the Sericulture department in Haolaikhopi, into a cemetery for bodies of Kukis.

It stated that Torbung Bangla is an important place associated with Moirang Kangleirol and also mentioned in the story of Phouoibi Akongjamba and many other lore of Manipur's history.

If the illegal Kukis forcefully attempt to move ahead with this provocative step, the Meitei will abandon all magnanimity, which the illegal immigrants have been taking advantage of, and the conflict will get much worse, far beyond anyone's control.

The Lup further contended that the sacred site of Ibudhou Thangjing cannot be taken over by the illegal immigrants, who began settling in the area only a few years ago.

Ibudhou Khumu Leirijamba used to guard over Torbung Lamjao (now known as Churachandpur), as recorded in pages of history.

The Lai Lamthokpa (procession) of Ibudhou Maigeingakpa in Khumuleirijamba Tendapung was forced to come to a standstill after the numbers of illegal immigrants exploded in the area resulting in emergence of new settlements and also due to poor protection policies of the government.

Even if many of the sacred sites in the area is presently taken over by them, it is absolutely impossible to give away our place of origin as part of areas under their separate administration demand.

The Meitei community, as long as it exist, will continue to defend our ancestral lands and this is something which both the central and state governments need to understand well, it contended.

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