Ukhrul, April 12: The Meitei Heritage Welfare Foundation in response to what it describes as “unconstitutional statement and blatant threat issued by six Chin-Kuki groups on April 9, 2025, in which they threatened Meiteis against going for their annual pilgrimage to the Thangjing Ching (hill),” has categorically said that the Meiteis have been going on an annual pilgrimage to the hilltop shrine of Ibudhou Thangjing, the guardian of the mountains since ancient times.
The MHWF statement issued on April 11 on Chin Kukis’ threat against Meiteis’ annual pilgrimage to Thangjing Hills compared the “illegal statement by the Chin-Kuki groups” is akin to Hindus being stopped from making their pilgrimage to Kailash Parbat, or Muslims to Mecca adding that the it also violates the fundamental right to freedom of movement and the right to religious practice.
“In recent years, Chin-Kuki groups have been stopping Meiteis from going to hilltop temples, leading to tension and clashes. During the ongoing crisis, Chin-Kuki militants desecrated the sacred Thangjing Ching, erected a cross at the Meiteis’ pilgrimage site, and renamed the hill,” said MHWF.
It also accused the sex Chin-Kuki groups of engineering a fresh round of violence by provoking the Meiteis and added that the “Chin-Kuki militants and their frontal groups that call themselves “civil society organisations” are desperate to keep the pot boiling.”
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While MHWF urged the authorities to take immediate and decisive action against the six, and send a strong message that such anti-constitutional and provocative actions will no longer be tolerated but will face strong and exemplary actions, the statement said, “If there is peace in Manipur, then the separate land demand by the Chin-Kukis would lose relevance. This threat by the Chin-Kuki groups also undermines efforts by the Ministry of Home Affairs to maintain peace and ensure talks. This audacity is also a result of the prolonged inaction by both the Government of India and the Government of Manipur in addressing these illegal and provocative acts.”
It is worth noting that the Governor of Manipur on February 19, 2024 notified that the Thanging Hill Range, which as per the notification, falls within the Churachandpur-Khoupum Protected Forests which was notified on 17.09.1966, vide Notification No. 55/10/66-M(2) under Section 29 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and added that there was no records of “Haokip Reserved” notified under any Resolution/Act/Rules as per records maintained by the State Government contrary to the claim made by the self-proclaimed Chief.
