Archbishop of Imphal claims 249 churches burnt in Manipur: ‘Religious attack carried out’
Amid clashes between Manipur’s Meitei and Kuki communities, “religious attack has been effectively carried out”, Dominic Lumon, the Archbishop of Imphal, wrote in a letter Saturday. Recording at least 10 alleged instances of institutions under the Catholic Church being attacked since the violence broke out, he claimed that 249 churches belonging to Meitei Christians had been destroyed within 36 hours since the start of the violence. “The wonder is in the midst of the fight between the Kukis and the Meiteis, why did the Meitei mob burn down and destroy 249 churches located in the Meitei heartland? How is it that there was almost a natural attack on the church in the Meitei localities itself and how did the mob know where the churches were located if not previously planned?” he claimed. In his account, he has connected this with the revival of Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Meiteis, and the emergence of groups such as Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun. “Some pastors have been indicated not to rebuild the churches. There is systematic silencing of the minorities. Is this not another ‘Ghar Wapsi’?” he claimed. He also questioned the role of the government and the armed forces in failing to maintain peace in the
Saw my brother lying in a pool of blood, mother shielding him from mob: Manipur violence survivor
Soon after ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur last month, 20-year-old Jamngaihkim Gangte and six of her family members left their home in Imphal to get to a nearby CRPF relief camp. However, only four of them made it after hours of dodging murderous mobs and being cooped up in a car boot. While two of them were killed by a mob, one of them was separated from the family and found days later. The family managed to reach Delhi and is among more than 60 living in two relief camps set up in Dwarka for those affected by the Manipur violence, which claimed at least 98 lives. As violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, Gangte and her family moved to a relative's house in Imphal and returned home the next morning. "When we returned home, we found out that there was a CRPF relief camp nearby. So, we packed some essentials and important documents and decided to go there," Gangte told PTI. She and her family members -- her mother, brother, sister-in-law, cousin and aunt with her one-year-old baby -- left in a car. Some of her cousins were travelling in another car. "We left around 10 am and the roads were empty
Uniform Civil Code is Indian PM’s response to electoral rout
It confirms Narendra Modi will again use Hindu majoritarianism to win a third consecutive term in 2024 In a land where the most simple of marriage laws — that the bride must be 18 years of age — is defied by tens of millions every year, the uncommon hurry to enact a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for 1.30 billion Indians within this year, confirms the fears that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will again use the Brahmastra, or divine weapon, of Hindu majoritarianism to win the 2024 general election, for a third consecutive term. In every election, since he used the formula to come to power in 2014, Modi has notched upsets, carrying the battle to the grassroots, seeing his opponents trying to ape him in several shades of Hindutva (hegemony of Hinduism) and fail. The Congress, even the left and the socialists in between, have discovered that soft Hindutva does not work when the real McCoy can be had for the asking. At its basest, this smoke and mirrors politics works by scaring the majority Hindus — close to 80 percent of the population — that they will be reduced to vassals of Muslims who once ravaged the land of its history and culture,
Tribal Christians protest in poll-bound Indian state
Tribal Christians in a poll-bound central Indian state have protested against a call to de-list them from India’s affirmative action program and deny them reservation benefits. Hundreds of tribal Christians on June 10 marched through Raipur, Chhattisgarh state capital, six months ahead of the state elections. They shouted slogans against some Hindu groups' demand to remove tribal Christians from the list of people receiving reservation benefits in jobs and educational institutions. Tribal groups, listed as Scheduled tribes, receive such benefits as part of affirmative action to bring them social mainstream. Certain Hindu groups say tribal people who have become Christians should not be given such benefits as they have left traditional tribal customs and faith. Anil Kispota, a member of the organizing team, told the media that their “ancestors were tribal, and they continue to remain tribals.” Clad in their traditional attire, they gathered at the Science College ground under the banner of the Chhattisgarh Christian Adivasi Mahasabha (Chhattisgarh Christian tribal forum). In April this year, the Janjati Suraksha Manch (tribal protection forum) organized a rally in Raipur, demanding that tribal people, “who do not follow the traditions and customs, should be removed from the benefits meant for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community." Ram Bhagat, convenor of the forum and a
Manipur Christian Leader Pleads for Help
By J. M. Lindner 06/12/2023 India (International Christian Concern) —A Christian leader in Manipur, a state in northeast India, is pleading for help because of the murder, desecration, and disruption of his people by a warring tribe. The leader, a native of Manipur who remains unnamed for security reasons, said that members of the Meitei tribe “are killing innocent women, children, pastors, and even civil servants” among the Kuki and Zo tribes. Not only has the government done nothing to stop the violence, but the government has also even sided with the rampaging Hindu tribals. He writes, “the State Chief Ministry, N. Biren Singh, and MP Sapam, a member of Parliament, are heading the Meitei Leepun and Aramba Tenggol,” while the State Police and the Meitei Army join forces to “rape, kill, and burn the minoritiy Kukies. The Christian community is suffering from ethnic cleansing and genocide.” “Churches and Villages are burned down by these Meitei Hindus along with Manipur State Police and even India Army, which are led by Meitei officer [who] join hand with them to kill and burn,” the Manipur Christian leader stated. Thus far he said the conflict has killed at least 147 Christians, and injured another 220, with an additional
Manipur violence | At least 11 killed in late night attack in Khamenlok
Police said that the militants hurled several bombs at Khamenlok late on June 13 night killing and injuring several villagers At least eleven villagers were massacred in a late night attack at Khamenlok in Imphal East district of violence-hit Manipur on June 13, police said. Several injured persons have been admitted in government and private hospitals. Hospital sources said that the death toll will increase since many wounded persons are admitted in the ICUs. The dead bodies have been kept in the mortuary of J.N. Institute of Medical Sciences, Porompat in Imphal. Police said that the militants hurled several bombs at Khamenlok late on Tuesday night killing and injuring several villagers. The unhurt villagers rushed out of their houses to flee to safe areas. However the waiting tribal militants opened fire on the escaping villagers. Additional forces were rushed to Khamenlok. After some minutes of exchange of fire, tribal militants retreated. Khamenlok has been the main battleground for the Kuki tribal militants and the non-tribal Meiteis. In the past few days several persons were killed and wounded in clashes with the militant groups who are armed with many sophisticated weapons. Manipur extends Internet ban till June 15 Reacting to the massacre of innocent villagers, the CLP
Religious Facet Seen in Ethnic Violence in Manipur, India
Christians likely targeted in inter-tribal attacks, sources say. A surge of ethnic violence with a growing religious component in northeastern India led to the killing on Friday (June 9) of a woman in her church building and two other Christians, sources said. The attack by ethnic Meitei with automatic rifles in Manipur state’s Khoken village, on the boundary between Kangpokpi and Imphal West districts, killed the ethnic Kuki Christian woman in her 60s, Domkhohoi Haokip, as she prayed, according to the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF). “They have no regard for women and children,” Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson for the ITLF, told Morning Star News. “A woman was killed inside the church while she was praying, that’s how merciless they are.” Two other ethnic Kuki Christians, Jangpao Touthang and Khaimang Guite, were killed in the attack in which the armed Meitei arrived in the vehicles and uniforms of the Indian army, according to an ITLF press statement. Local people initially thought they were government soldiers combing the area to maintain order. The use of army uniforms and vehicles by the Meitei militants raised questions about how they obtained them and potential involvement of outside forces in the conflict. Two other Kuki Christian villagers, identified as Thongneh
More distressing reports from Manipur
In Manipur, which has been beset by fatal ethnic conflict for a month, a crowd set a seven-year-old child, his mother and his aunt on fire before they could escape. Tonshing Hangsing, his mother Meena Hangsing, and his aunt Lydia Lourembam were taking the seven-year-old to the hospital to receive treatment for a gunshot wound he got during an attack by alleged Meitei militia members on Sunday. The ambulance was accompanied by police officers and Assam Rifles troops since the child's health was severe, but as they approached the Iroisemba neighbourhood, they were allegedly halted by Meira Piabis, a women-led civil society organisation. Tonshing, Meena and Lydia were still inside the ambulance when it was set on fire, according to the 2,000-person crowd, who claimed it had been used to transport Kuki militants before they went on the rampage and attacked police. “We are in shock. We thought that because Meena and Lydia are Meitei women, they would not be attacked,” according to Champi Hangsing, a relative of the victims, who spoke to The National. The crowd yelled, "We have caught a Kuki," after learning that Tonsing's mother hails from a Kuki-dominant region. They failed to recognize that she was a Meitei because of their
Conference of Religious India Ri Bhoi condemns attacks on Christians in Manipur
During the rally, participants carried placards condemning the persecution of Christians in Manipur. The Ri Bhoi zone of the Conference of Religious India (CRI) held a short gathering in front of the Nongpoh Town Shopping Complex, on Saturday after witnessing the persecution of Christians in Manipur, as well as other parts of India, including the burning of Christian churches and schools and the community conflicts between the Meiteis and the Kukis. During the rally, participants carried placards condemning the persecution of Christians in Manipur, and called on the Manipur government and the Central Government to protect Christians in the state, particularly by taking measures to end the conflicts and restoring peace for the public. Church leaders from the eastern region, including Br Varghese SG, Sr Esconciana Vaz MSMHC (NE Regional Secretary), Sr Prema Chowallur SCC (Convener of North East FORUM of Religious for Justice and Peace), Sr Teresa Kamasuam FMA, Fr Laurence Kharluni (CRI Shillong President, Shillong Archdiocese), Br Sunil Britto CFC (CRI Ri Bhoi President), Sr Melita Syiem MSMHC, the youths of St Stephen Hostel Girls, Opel Lyngdoh (Headman of Nongpoh), among others attended the public gathering. This article was first published on https://themeghalayan.com/
Killings continue in Manipur as Christian worshipper shot dead in church, tribal leaders report
The outbreak of communal violence in India’s north-eastern Manipur state shows no sign of ending, with tribal leaders reporting three new deaths, including a woman shot dead inside church. Confirming details of village attacks is difficult, as the internet is restricted and accessing remote areas difficult for journalists. But according to The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), which represents the mainly Christian Kuki tribals, the incident was a “heinous attack on Khoken Village, situated on the boundary of Kangpokpi District and Imphal West District”. In a statement, the ITLF said the attack involved Meitei militants disguised in Indian Army uniforms and using Army vehicles, in the early hours (4:00 AM) of June 9, 2023. “The Kuki-Zo villagers, unsuspecting of the attackers’ true identity and assuming it was an Army combing operation, gave way but were instead met with automatic rifle fire, resulting in the tragic deaths of Mr. Jangpao Touthang, Mr Khaimang Guite and Mrs. Domkhohoi," their statement read. “Two others, Mr. Thongneh, and Mr. Thangkhojang, were also injured in the attack. Mrs. Domkhohoi was saying her early morning prayer in the church when these militants shot her dead, with no regard for the sanctity of a place of worship," it added. The anti-Christian aspect to the attacks
