Ahongpung Lup demands unconditional release
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 06 2022: Leihoumi Salai Ahongpung Thougal Lup president Ch Nandalal has demanded immediate and unconditional release of all the people arrested by police in the aftermath of Khurai Ahongpung incident that occurred on Monday.

Nandalal told media persons at Khurai Ahongei on Tuesday that Khurai Ahongpung is one of the sacred sites associated with the history of the Meetei community.

Khurai Ahongpung, Shoudongpung of Kongba, Lamdaipung of Kakwa and Wangthonbipung of Tera are the four sacred sites where ritual ceremonies are performed on every Saturday of the Meetei calendar month of Lamta since time immemorial and the ceremonies at these sacred sites continue even today.

Regarding 'Teli' people currently settling in Khurai Ahongei, Ch Nandalal said that Churachand Maharaj brought three 'Teli' from Bihar in the year 1924 to manufacture mustard oil and they were allowed to settle at the present unused area fenced by metal sheets near Khurai Ahongpung.

Settlement of Teli people in the area spread gradually and they even encroached on the sacred site of Khurai Ahongpung now, he said.

Regarding the area covered by Khurai Ahongpung sacred site, Ch Nandalal recalled that a survey conducted in 1960 mentioned that Khurai Ahongpung covers an area (stateland) of .19 acre but it is left with only .0068 acre now as .0057 acre now belongs to Ma Santoshi, .0037 acre to Mahavir Mandir, .0094 acre to Ma Durga and .0396 acre to Bheigya Bondhu Junior High School.

Apart from this, an area of .0056 acre had been encroached by Shiv Mandir, .029 acre by Kali Mandir and .0043 acre by approach road to Mandir, he elaborated.

According to Ch Nandalal, the violent incident that took place at Khurai Ahongei on Monday was triggered by Teli people as theyribstructed attempt to install two deities (Lairembi) at Khurai Ahongpung.

Despite being outsiders, Teli people have lived in Manipur for a long time and there was no point of expelling them from the area.

Let the Teli people settle in the area as usual and let there be sacred site of the Meetei people too, he said, adding that the government must save Khurai Ahongpung cultural heritage site which had already been declared as protected area.

He also expressed hope that government will take up steps to protect the sacred site while understanding pulse of the people.

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