Public meeting to protect Thangjing hills range on May 14

Denouncing the Kuki Students Organisation’s (KSO) statement, Committee on Protection and Preservation of Koubru and Thangjing Hill range (CPPKT) is organising a public meeting on May 14 at 1 PM in Moirang. They had appealed to the people to attend the meeting to protect Thangjing Hills range. Last week, KSO Henglep Branch has issued a press release where they warned to stop tree plantation at Thangjing Hill range.

The decision to organize the public meeting was taken in a meeting held today morning under the aegis of the Committee on Protection and Preservation of Koubru and Thangjing Hill range. Representatives of the Kabui Union Manipur, Kabui Student Union, Salai Kanba Lup, Keke Moirang Kangleirol Kanba Lup, Keke Moirang Kendra Apunba Lup and Federation of Haomee attended the meeting which was presided by the convenor of the Committee, Sapamcha Jadumani.

The meeting deliberated to the press statement of the KSO Henglep which warns the civil society or organization from planting trees at Thangjing Hill range without the permission of the Kuki Chiefs. Thangjing Hill is a secred site of indigenous peoples since time memorial.

The hills is the abode of Ibudhou Thangjing, one of the most important Meitei diety protecting the region. The Thangjing is the ancestral land of various indigenous people of Manipur like the Meitei, Kom and Koireng.

In view of the mass deforestation taking place at the Thangjing Hill range, various organizations including the members of the State BJP led by its president A Sharda Devi had started plantation drives in the Hill areas. On May 5, the KSO Henglep had released a press statement to stop the tree plantation drive at the Hill range.

Today, the Salaicha Pibarel Punshi Marup (SPPM) members led by MLA Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei climbed Thangjing hills and conducted plantation drives. SPPM also vows to protect Thangjing hills which is the religious sites of the State.