Burning of Khopibung Catholic Village Leaves 44 Families Homeless; Negotiations Fail, Church and Mobile Tower Destroyed
Imphal, 12 June 2023: Khopibung Catholic Village in Imphal suffered a tragic incident last evening when the entire village was engulfed in flames, leaving 44 families homeless. Despite the villagers’ courageous efforts to defend their homes throughout the day, negotiations between the residents and an attacking group failed, resulting in the destruction of the village between 5 pm and 5.30 pm. The fire also claimed the Catholic Church built by Bishop Dennis, along with a mobile tower. Thankfully, women and children had already been relocated to safer places prior to the incident. As the community grieves, prayers for peace in Manipur are requested. In a heart-wrenching event, Khopibung Catholic Village in Imphal fell victim to a destructive fire last evening, leading to the displacement of 44 families. The village’s residents valiantly fought throughout the day to protect their homes, but their efforts proved futile when negotiations with the attacking group failed, resulting in the complete torching of the settlement between 5 pm and 5.30 pm. The fire not only caused immense damage to the houses but also destroyed significant structures within the village. Among the casualties was the Catholic Church, which held great religious and cultural significance. The church was originally constructed
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
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
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
Indian bishops say Manipur riots targeted tribal Christians
Bishops' body in Kerala says the 'well-orchestrated' violence in the northeastern state exposes BJP’s ‘double standards’ A man walks past a house that was set on fire and vandalized by mobs in Khumujamba village on the outskirts of Churachandpur on May 9 in a violence-hit area of the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur. The sectarian violence in Manipur state in north-eastern India was "well-orchestrated" and "targeted the Kuki tribe," 90 percent of whom are Christians belonging to different denominations, alleged a Catholic bishops’ body from southern Kerala state. “It is true that the normal conflict between the majority local Hindu community representing Meiteis and indigenous people, mostly Christians, was communalized and used to destroy tribal Christians,” said Father Michael Pulickal, secretary of the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Commission for Social Harmony and Vigilance, which carried out an inquiry into the Manipur riots. Father Pulickal told UCA News on May 29, three days after releasing a report of the commission, that “the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) changes its colors for power” and the violence “has exposed the double standards” of the party. The BJP rules India and Manipur state. The priest, a member of Carmelite of Mary Immaculate, said the commission had gathered inputs from reliable
Tribal Christians denied work, wages in central Indian state
Nine families have filed a written complaint with district's top revenue official demanding the ‘right to work’ Tribal Christians in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh are allegedly being denied livelihood opportunities in a district that witnessed violence and social boycotts against them in December last year. Nine Christian families from Garanji village on April 17 filed a complaint with the top revenue officer in Narayanpur district saying they were being denied employment as manual laborers because of their faith. In their written complaint, the families have named Gopal Dugga, head of the village council, for depriving them of work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) Act 2005, a law that guarantees Indian citizens the right to work. Dugga and other influential villagers were targeting them for being Christians, the families said, and added they will be taking legal action against all those discriminating against them. The MGNREGS Act aims at enhancing the livelihood security of poor people in rural areas by guaranteeing hundred days of wage employment in a financial year. The nine Christian families alleged they were facing the brunt of an undeclared ban because of their faith and thus denied livelihood opportunities in the village. The Narayanpur district had witnessed
