Don't target religious places, warns MLA

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Aug 17 : Keirao Constituency MLA Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei has warned that it would be better for the Chin-Kuki people infiltrators to immediately stop desecrating the religious sites and places of worship of the indigenous people.
The MLA made the statement while attending a religious programme of Meeteis at the sacred Kongba Maru Laiphamlen today. The said sacred site of the Meiteis was desecrated  by Kuki militants on July 6.
Notably, this is the first religious programme held at the sacred site since the outbreak of the ongoing violence from Churachandpur on May 3 and it was attended by hundreds of people.
The religious event which began from 8 am was jointly organised by Kongba Maru Laiphamlen Apunba Semgat Lup (KMLASL), Working Committee on Protection of Meitei Temples (WCPMT) and Iramdam Kanba Apunba Lup (IKAL).
Central and State forces were stationed at the venue to ensure the safety of the devotees.
At the site, Rameshwor Meetei continued that attacking sites which are sacred to the indigenous people can only be done by 'outsiders' who have  no knowledge of the history of Manipur and who intruded into the State only recently.
Saying that Kukis should understand the history of the indigenes of the State and stop attacking the religious sites of the indigenous people immediately, the MLA continued that a collective effort is needed to root out these intruders.
The MLA assured that he will work at his level best to rebuild the religious sites and places of worship of Meeteis which have either been burnt or vandalised by the Kukis.
WCPMT convenor Mutum Maniton Meetei said that Kongba Maru Laiphamlen is not only sacred to Meeteis but also is closely associated with the history of Manipur.
Continuing that they couldn't enter this sacred site for some period due to the onslaught of the Kuki narco-terrorist against the Meeteis, Maniton Meetei appealed to the Government to set up adequate security outposts at Koubru, Thangjing and other important religious sites of Meetei people which have been attacked by Kuki militants and their associates. Maniton Meetei said that they will hold rituals at other important sites of Meeteis too and appealed to all concerned to attend the same.