Controversy arises over cross and flag on Manipur's sacred hill; police file case
Implal, October 05 : The appearance of a cross and a community flag atop a hill near Manipur's Moirang town has ignited a significant controversy. The hill in question holds sacred importance for the Meitei community, residing in this lakeside town in Bishnupur district, approximately 60 kilometers from Imphal, the state's capital.
For generations, Moirang's Meitei community has regarded Thangjing hill as the dwelling place of the deity Ibudhou Thangjing, believing its age to be at least 2,000 years. This hill range, previously known as Thangting, was renamed in December 2015 by the then Congress government, a decision that had sparked tensions among various communities.
The alleged encroachments on Thangjing hill came to light on September 11, as reported by a Moirang resident. While the community flag, also associated with an insurgent group, has been removed, the cross remains in place.
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Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson for the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), refuted any encroachment claims on the sacred site of the Meitei community. He asserted that the cross, symbolizing Christianity, is a normal expression of faith and does not encroach on anyone's land.
However, several civil society groups, including the Association of Meiteis in the Americas (AMA), have called on the government to address the alleged encroachment on Thangjing hill. They likened the desecration of Thangjing hill to the desecration of holy sites such as Kedarnath, Badrinath, or the Amarnath shrine in India. Thangjing hill lies between Moirang town and Churachandpur district, 40 kilometers apart, with the latter witnessing ethnic violence between Kuki tribes and Meiteis earlier this year.
Residents of Moirang consider Ibudhou Thangjing as the guardian of their area, and recent photos and drone footage suggest encroachment on the sacred site. Moirang MLA Thongam Shanti claimed that the cross and flag were placed on the same spot as the Ibudhou Thangjing shrine. However, Vualzong denied these allegations.
The Moirang resident further pointed out that deforestation has made the shrine visible from the valley below. The renaming of Thangjing hill to Thangting had created tensions among communities, which escalated following an incident where the Kuki Students' Organisation allegedly demanded permission for Meitei residents to offer prayers at the hilltop shrine.
Thangjing hill is not only a revered site for the Meitei community but also a cultural heritage site. The controversy surrounding it has sparked debate over contested rights and claims between various hill villages and the deity's believers.
Lt. General Konsam Himalay Singh, the first officer from the Northeast to become a Lieutenant General in the Indian Army, emphasised the importance of respecting the faith of over a million people and finding a resolution to the dispute. Maheshwar Thounaojam, General Secretary of the Republican Party of India (Athawale), condemned the hoisting of the Zomi Revolutionary Army's flag at the cultural heritage site. He underscored Ibudhou Thangjing's significance to the Meitei community and called for a respectful resolution to the matter.
- With inputs from agencies
