Cleanliness drive at memorial; bodies draw Govt attention
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kakching, April 20 2025: A cleanliness drive was organised by People's Museum, Kakching, Joint Non-Government Voluntary Organisation (JNGVO) (Kakching), Kakching Municipal Council, Justice Committee on Anglo-Manipuri War 1891 Martyrs and Freedom Fighters of Kangleipak (Manipur), Major Wangkhei Meiraba Memorial Trust, Leisangthem Amu Memorial Trust (Kakching) and student organisations at Wangkhei Meiraba memorial at Kakching Machin Manao hillock on Sunday.

The cleanliness drive was taken up in connection with the April 23 observance of 134th death anniversary of Wangkhei Meiraba, who along with his soldiers had laid down his life at Kakching Machin Manao hill during the Anglo-Manipuri War, 1891.Speaking to media persons in connection with the cleanliness drive, People's Museum Board of Trustees president ex-MLA Yengkhom Surchan-dra deplored that the government is yet to organise state level observance for martyred Wangkhei Meiraba and other soldiers, similar to the martyred Manipuri forefathers honoured during the annual Khongjam Day memorial.

Meanwhile, JNGVO has urged the government to develop the Wangkhei Meiraba memorial where tributes are paid to the Manipuri martyrs on April 23 since 1989 under the initiative of People's Museum founder (late) Mayanglambam Gourachandra and art and culture former director (late) Dr Khumallambam Sorojini Devi.

It was due to the effort of Gourachandra and Dr Sorojini that the place was recognised under Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1976 on February 21, 2004, said the JNGVO in a release, while calling upon the government to initiate suitable measures to pre vent encroachment in the said area.

Informing that Wangkhei Meiraba Memorial Trust, JNGVO and other organisations have been maintaining the site, it appealed to the government to develop the said hill as a befitting site in view of Yengkhom Jiten of Kakching Chumnang Leikai and Ngangom Navy alias Yaiphaba of Sugnu Awang Leikai, who were martyred in the ongoing conflict, also buried in the eastern side of Kakching Machin Manao hill.

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