"No Immanuel Meitei Fellowship Church in Kangpokpi"
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, September 25 2023:
Kangpokpi Town Committee (KTC) and Kangpokpi Town Churches Fellowship (KTCF) on Monday collectively clarified that no Church by the name of Immanuel Meitei Fellowship Church, ever existed in Kangpokpi Town.
The two bodies' clarification came in the wake of social activist Philem Rohan's statement a few days ago in a press conference at Chennai Press Club alleging that the Kuki-Zo Christian community had burnt down Immanuel Meitei Fellowship Church at Shanti Veng in Kangpokpi town.
Following the alleged unfounded and misleading statement of Philem Rohan, KTC and KTCF, the apex body of Churches within Kangpokpi Town, held a meeting at Kangpokpi Town Committee office on Monday and collectively condemned the false and misleading statement of Rohan.
The two clarified that there are a few Meitei Christians in the town who took membership in various Churches under KTCF but they did not have a separate Church or structure in the past but rather they have mingled with the Kuki-Zo Christians by taking membership at various Churches in the town.
They also clarified that other than Ibungo Singh, who is a member of one of the Churches in the town recognised by KTCF, there is no such Pastor Ibungo Singh as claimed falsely by Philem Rohan.
KTC spokesperson Sesei Sitlhou, while briefing the media on behalf of the two bodies, said that it is "unfortunate" to have a person like Philem Rohan who blatantly makes such an unfounded and misleading statement during a press conference at Chennai Press Club without first verifying the authenticity of his source, as such false narrative and misleading information could create more fissure among the warring communities in the strife-torn Manipur.
He then clarified that there is no such Immanuel Meitei Fellowship Church and also there is no Pastor Ibungo Singh anywhere in Kangpokpi town.
While strongly condemning the false and misleading statement of Philem Rohan, the two bodies appealed to the social activist to clarify his statement at the earliest to avoid further misunderstanding and to stop spreading such misleading information, which has become a culture and contributing a huge role to the unceasing violence in the state.