Catholic congregation rally against 'One village, one denomination' law held in Ukhrul
Source: The Sangai Express

Ukhrul, August 16 2017: Despite strong opposition from Tangkhul Longnao (composition of all Tangkhul CSO organization), a Catholic congregation rally against 'religion intolerance' was held at Ukhrul town today .

Initially, people gathered at Sacred Higher Secondary School ground, Hungpung and held a public meeting where Parish priest, Fr Rev, TS Dominic elaborated the detailed background on how Yangmi Haorei and four other Catholic families were banished from Leinangching village .

'They were driven out after converting to Catholic in 2010', he stated and added that it is not fair to penalize dead people based on religious issue.

He accused the village authorities of Leinangching village for denying burial and justice to Late Rita, who died on August 7, owing to past internal village affairs or crisis .

The Archbishop Rev Dominic Lumon, also spoke on the rights and freedom of religion and added that the constitutional rights of the Country safeguard and give provision to follow religion according to one's own will .

Catholic congregation rally against 'One village, one denomination' law held in Ukhrul

Denial to bury the dead body is a violation of human rights, he asserted.

Expressing strong resentment and dismay against the decision of the TNL, he questioned its agenda as to why it opposed and warned the public to refrain from participating at the peaceful rally held at Ukhrul town organised by the JAC to demand justice for late Rita .

The people began the rally from Sacred ground, Hungpung to Gandhi Chowk, Phungreitang, Ukhrul, and the JAC volunteers held placard reading " Give rightful and respectful burial to late Rita", "Freedom of Religion is a Universal rights", "Abolish one village, one denomination village law", "respect freedom of religion" etc .

The organisers distributed pamphlet to all the passers-by about religious persecution in Leingangching, reports our correspondent .

A memorandum was submitted to Chief Minister N Biren Singh through the Deputy Commissioner, Ukhrul, demanding to abolish the village law "one village, one denomination", to provide full security protection for burial of Late Rita at her home yard at Leinangching and to allow the banished villagers to return and settle in their village .

It may be recalled that the Tangkhul Longnao (composition of TNL, TNWL, TSL, TMNL) in a meeting held on August 13, adopted a unanimous decision to bury the dead body within two days and the deadline ended yesterday midnight .

According to a reliable source, the mortal remains of late Rita Haorei was, today, taken from Litan Sirarakhong and kept at Sacred Parish Hungpung, Ukhrul .

Speaking to media persons, Fr Rev, TS Dominic said that a mass rally will be held at Imphal tomorrow and invited all members from across the various districts of the State .

Responding to a query, he said that without concrete assurance from the State Government, the body of Late Rita will not be buried .

Until justice is delivered to the Catholic community as well as to the bereaved family, the JAC will intensify its stir and resort to different form of democratic agitation, he asserted.