In 'divided' Manipur, pilgrimage hill turns into centre of discord and Meitei-Kuki showdown

Many Meiteis visit Thangjing Hill to mark Cheiraoba (Meitei New Year), in April every year. But the Thangjing Hill has remained out of bounds for the Meiteis since the conflict involving the Meiteis and the Kukis erupted in May 2023.

Guwahati: In virtually divided Manipur, Thangjing Hills, a pilgrimage site for the majority Meiteis, situated in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district, has turned into a centre of fresh tension with the Kuki groups on Sunday blocking roads leading to the sacred hill, saying Meiteis would not be allowed to "trespass into Kuki territory" till a solution about their demand for a separate administration is reached.

Many Meiteis visit Thangjing Hill to mark Cheiraoba (Meitei New Year), in April every year, in order to make offerings to the Meitei deity Lainingthou Sanamahi, while praying for their welfare. Sanamahi is an indigenous faith worshipping nature. But the Thangjing Hill has remained out of bounds for the Meiteis since the conflict involving the Meiteis and the Kukis erupted in May 2023.

Kuki protesters gathered and sat on roads leading to the hills, as videos shared on social media showed Meiteis, many in cars, marching towards Churachandpur on Sunday morning. Sources said they were stopped by the central forces at the "buffer zone" that divides the Meitei-dominated Valley and the Kuki-dominated hills. Sources said more Meiteis are likely to march towards the hills on Monday, too.

Kuki protesters sat with placards that read, "Divide Manipur into hills and the Valley," "Hills are safe without the Meiteis," and "Respect buffer zone."

Warning by groups

On April 9, a joint statement was issued by at least six Kuki-Zo organisations warning the Meiteis to refrain from climbing the hill. They stated that any attempt by the Meiteis to climb the hill would be seen as a "direct challenge" to the Kuki-Zo community. The organisations included the influential Churachandpur units of Kuki Inpi and Kuki Students' Organisation.

Reacting to the warning, Meitei Heritage Welfare Foundation condemned it, saying that the Kukis were trying to incite fresh violence by provoking the Meiteis. "Since ancient times, the Meiteis have been going on annual pilgrimage to the hilltop shrine Ibudhou Thangjing, the guardian of the mountains. This illegal statement by the Chin-Kuki groups is akin to Hindus being stopped from making their pilgrimage to Kailash Parbat or Muslims to Mecca," it said.

Past controversy

The Thangjing Hills, situated under Henglep police station in Churachandpur district, hogged headlines in May last year after the Kukis renamed it as Thangting Hills. Meiteis roared in anger after photographs showed a gate leading to the hills purportedly named as "Thangting Camp" of Kuki National Front-Military Council (KNP-MC), one of the Kuki insurgent groups, which is in suspension of operations agreement with the government.

The Meiteis skipped the pilgrimage last year owing to the violence, but this time they are planning to climb the sacred hills in view of improvement in the situation following imposition of the President's Rule.

As the Kukis claimed the hills as their own, in February this year, Manipur's forest department issued a statement stating that Thangjing Hills range was declared a protected forest in September 1966. It said given Thangjing Hill's historical importance, the Manipur government in 2022 had also declared it as a protected site under Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1976.