Tension Mounts as Kuki-Zo Groups Oppose Annual Meitei Pilgrimage to Sacred Thangjing Hill

The Kuki-Zo groups also asked to respect the status quo and buffer zones on both communities until a political settlement is reached.

In a strong response to a recent threat by six Kuki-Zo groups, the Meitei Heritage Welfare Foundation on Friday condemned what it described as an “unconstitutional and blatant threat” against the Meitei community’s right to carry out their annual pilgrimage to Thangjing Hill.

The Foundation issued the statement after six Chin-Kuki civil society organisations, on April 9, warned the Meiteis not to cross the buffer zone at Thangjing Ching (Thangjing Hill) this month for their traditional pilgrimage known as Ching Kaba (hill climbing).

The Meitei Foundation said that Meiteis have made the pilgrimage to the hilltop shrine of Ibudhou Thangjing the guardian deity of the mountains since ancient times. “This illegal statement by the Chin-Kuki groups is akin to stopping Hindus from going to Kailash Parbat or Muslims from going to Mecca,” it said.

The Foundation stressed that such threats violate the Meitei community’s fundamental rights to freedom of movement and religious practice under the Constitution of India.

The statement further alleged that in recent years, Chin-Kuki groups have repeatedly blocked Meiteis from accessing sacred hilltop temples, leading to tensions and violent clashes. It also accused Chin-Kuki militants of desecrating the holy site of Thangjing Ching, erecting a cross at the Meitei pilgrimage site, and renaming the hill.

The Foundation further added, “The latest act by the six Chin-Kuki groups is clearly designed to engineer a fresh round of violence by provoking the Meiteis. Chin-Kuki militants and their frontal groups that call themselves civil society organisations are desperate to keep the pot boiling. If peace returns to Manipur, their demand for a separate land will lose relevance.”

In the April 9 statement, the six Kuki-Zo civil society groups stated, “There is speculation that the Meetei (Meitei) community intends to cross the buffer zone for Ching Kaba at Thangting Hills in April. Unless the Government of India settles the political demands of the Kuki-Zo community under the Constitution, the Meeteis should not enter what we consider Kuki-Zo land.”

They warned that “whoever attempts to cross the buffer zone shall be considered a direct challenge to the Kuki-Zo community,” adding that any violence or “untoward incident” resulting from such actions would be the responsibility of those who cross it.

The Kuki-Zo groups also asked to respect the status quo and buffer zones on both communities until a political settlement is reached, stating they would oppose any breach “tooth and nail.”

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