Manipur’s ‘sacred’ hill renamed “Kuki Army Camp”; Government intervenes

The government’s response reflects the gravity of the situation surrounding the disputed hill, now labeled as the “Kuki Army Camp”. The Manipur government has taken action against a Kuki insurgent group for renaming a sacred hill belonging to the Meitei community and claiming it as their “camp”.

This move by the Kuki armed group, known as the Kuki National Front – Military Council (KNF(MC)), has raised concerns about upcoming potential violence amid existing ethnic tensions between the Kuki tribes and the Meiteis.

Sacred Hill as “Kuki Army Camp” Sparks Tensions in Manipur

The KNF(MC) put up a signboard at the base of the Thangjing ching (hill), renaming it “Thangting camp” of the “Kuki Army”. This hill holds a religious importance for the Meitei community, who have been visiting this place for pilgrimage as it is believed to be the home of the deity Ibudhou Thangjing for at least 2,000 years. The tribe calls this hill as Thangting and it falls under the Churachandpur district.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh stated in a post on X that the state government has filed a police case against the Kuki armed group for their actions, as the area is considered a protected site. He added that the renaming by the armed group is a violation of the Manipur Names of Places Act, 2024.

“Immediately took up measures to book any group or individuals involved in changing any existing names without the approval of the government. Under the Manipur Names of Places Act, 2024 a case has also been registered for changing Thangjing ching, which is also a protected site, to Thangting,” the Chief Minister said.

In October 2022, the Manipur cabinet decided to protect certain areas, including Ibudhou Thangjing, Koubru Laipham, and Lai Pukhri, from encroachments under a law from 1976.

Government sources in Manipur said that the Kuki insurgent group’s action of putting up a signboard claiming a hill as their “camp” would be seen as hostile. They will inform the central government about this and discuss what to do next.

The KNF-MC is a signatory to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, which aims to maintain peace between insurgent groups and the government. However, their recent actions are a violation of the agreement. The SoO agreement asks insurgents to stay at their designated camps and keep their weapons in locked storage, which the KNF-MC appears to have violated.

In February, a controversy arose when a cross was put up atop the Thangjing ching hill, and in October 2023, another cross was confirmed to have been seen in the same location. These acts have increased tensions in the region.

Moirang MLA Thongam Shanti stated that the second cross was placed where the shrine of Ibudhou Thangjing stood, further complicating the situation.

The Manipur assembly passed a resolution on February 29, asking the Centre to terminate the SoO agreement. The agreement’s renewal deadline passed in February, but the exact status of the agreement has yet to be announced by the signatories, including the Centre and the state government.

The renaming of the sacred hill by the KNF(MC) has given rise to tensions in Manipur, with the state government filing complaints against the insurgent group for violating laws and agreements. The situation remains tense as both sides are waiting for further developments.

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