Imphal, December 20 2008: PUTTING A new twist to the recent incident where a church was reportedly dismantled at the Chingmeirong Kabui village on December 14, the Zeliangrong Rachapriak Phom (Zeliangrong Religious Council) of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland on Saturday has asserted that "there is no church at all at Chingmeirong Kabui Village and the question of attack or dismantling of a church at the village on December 14, does not arise".

While maintaining that there is no such church in the village, the Zeliangrong Chapriak Phom Chapriak has also called upon "anyone" to come and verify whether there is a church existing or not.

It also stated that the picture shown in one of the state papers on December 16 as church dismantled was a "fabricated one" of a minor damage of Kaphun Malangmei's house.

In this regard, it stated that it was some Christian organisations' wild allegation so as to draw the attention and sympathy of the public blaming the Chingmeirong villagers as the law breakers and against the freedom of religion under the Indian Constitution.

And while clarifying to the various allegations and condemnations by various Christian organisations and Naga bodies on different occasions in the newspapers, the Zeliangrong Rachapriak Phom stated that some of the Chingmeirong Women (Meira Paibis) had damaged the house partly in anger for being blamed by the wife of Mr.Kaphun Malangmei for throwing a stone at their house.

Informing of the incident on the night of December 14, the religious council stated the Chingmeirong women were carrying out their normal duty that night at about 7:15 when Mr.Kaphun Malangmei and his wife came out with a torch and asked who threw the stone on their roof.

When the women replied that they did not know anything of who threw the stone, the wife of Mr.Kaphun Malangmei challenged them, maintained the religious council.

In the conflict that followed, the Chingmeirong women partly damaged the house of Kaphun Malangmei, it added.

While referring to constitutional allegations the Zeliangrong Rachapriak Phom questioned the 'Christian brothers and sisters' if the Indian constitution permits anybody who breaches peace and unity of the village adding the Kaphun was a breaker of peace and unity of Chingmeirong.

Stating that the village had resolved that anyone who converts to any religion other than "Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak (TRC)" he/she should leave the village, the council conveyed that Kaphun had violated the law by continuing to stay and settle in the village.

The council also stated that the Christian organisations had issued a one sided condemnation statements against the Chingmeirong village without knowing the factual position and reality.

Stating further that the Chingmeirong people are peace loving citizens of India , the T.R.C.Council, Mathenmei and Chabon Phom of Assam , Manipur and Nagaland have appealed to the Naga social and secular organisations not to involve in such religious matters which will tarnish the image of secular fora.

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