Meitei settlement area Torbung, Manipur
Imphal: The plan to convert the area in Torbung into a graveyard by Kuki organisations has been vehemently opposed by Meitei organisations in Manipur. Meiteis termed it the most profound and dangerous provocation by the Kuki militants to continue the unrest in the violence-hit North-Eastern State.
Opposing the illogical demand by Kuki militant organisations, Social Welfare Club Torbung on July 2 said that converting the Meitei settlement area into a Kuki graveyard will further escalate the tension in the State.
Addressing a press meet in Imphal press club, Social Welfare Club Torbung advisor Loitongbam Surchandra said the bodies of the narco-terrorists shouldn’t be allowed to be buried in areas under the jurisdiction of Torbung Gram Panchayat–Torbung Bangla, Waikhurok, Torbung Govindpur, Torbung Bazar, Torbung Sabal Leikai, Kangvai, Phougakchao Ikhai and Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai, as these are the permanent settlement areas of Meitei community and such attempt to bury the bodies of Kuki terrorists in the area will be treated as an invitation for war in Manipur. He further asked the Government not to allow such action by the Kuki organisations.
The displaced villagers of Torbung also raised strong objections against turning the village in Bishnupur district into a graveyard of Kuki terrorists. The stranded villagers are presently taking shelter at relief camps after Kuki militants attacked their villages in the Torbung area when the violence erupted on May 3, and they vowed to return to their villages from August 4. The displaced villagers condemned the tactic of land aggression by the Kuki militant groups in the Bishnupur district bordering Kuki dominated Churachandpur district by converting the empty Meitei villages into a graveyard of Kuki militants killed in the clashes in the last three months. They also warned of serious consequences if their village became a graveyard of the Kuki narco-terrorists.
Members of the Torbung civil society warn that allowing the establishment of Kuki terrorist graveyards in Meitei inhabited areas will be like inviting another ethnic civil war in the State.
The displaced people from villages under Torbung Gram Panchayat have appealed to the Government to push back all armed Kuki narco-terrorists from the area by August 3. It should be mentioned that Torbung was one of the first areas where Kuki militants attacked Meitei villages when the violence started on May 3.
RK Babita Devi, a representative of Meira Paibi from the Torbung Govindapur area, said that hundreds of Meiteis fled for their lives after the Kukis, backed by the armed Narco-terrorists, started attacking the villagers on May 3.
The attack on the villages was a pre-planned strategy of the Kuki militants to vacate the Meitei villages. After the villages were vacated, the Kuki militants burnt the empty houses, and now they want to convert them into a graveyard to permanently claim their right to the land.
Historical Heritage Development Organisation president K Mahendra said Torbung is an important and historically sacred place close to Moirang Kangleirol and for the Meiteis. The whole area known as Thang Jing is a primordial deity in Meitei mythology and religion.
Meanwhile, the Manipur High Court is taking the matter on an urgent basis, looking at its importance, and has directed the Central and State Governments and its law enforcing agencies and all organisations of both communities to maintain the status quo till the next hearing of the matter in the court.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityananda Rai, on August 3, appealed to all concerned organisations to maintain peace in this regard. In a written statement, Home Minister Rai said that the Government of India would spare no effort to resolve the issue amicably to the utmost satisfaction of all parties within seven days.
Reports are coming from Torbung that many Kukis, including armed militants, were seen at the area preparing the site for their planned graveyard for burying bodies of militants. But the issue of converting the Meitei settlement areas into graveyards by the Kuki organisation is increasing the hit in the troubled State. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a Kuki forum, agreed to postpone the burial for another five days after the High court order and home ministry intervention. They also submitted a demand letter mentioning several demands to the Union Home Minister.
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