Mandir, Masjid, Churches hold immense importance for us, says Meitei Leepun; Urges against giving Telepati incident a communal turn

The Meitei Leepun (ML) has claimed that religious places like Mandir, Masjid, and Churches hold immense importance for them, with their significance widely recognised in the country.

In a press release issued on Monday, the Meitei Leepun has clarified the Telipati firing incident, a CCTV footage of which went viral on social media platforms. The outfit said that it was the shared responsibility of every person, irrespective of his religion, to uphold the cleanliness of the sacred places, which serve as sanctuaries for prayers, blessings, and peace of mind.

Meitei Leepun said, "In Khurai Telipati, there are two Mandirs- one belongs to the Telis, and the other belongs to the Meiteis, coexisting for ages. Over time, a land dispute has arisen, currently pending in court. Meanwhile, illegal encroachers around these two Mandirs are dumping garbage, using the area as a parking lot, and spoiling the sanctity of the Mandirs."

"Meitei Leepun regularly cleans the area and has been warning them not to disturb the sanctity of the Mandirs. The Meitei Leepun, as a responsible body, always safeguards the important site, as confirmed by both Pooja Committees," it added.

It stated that during a routine visit, the Meitei Leepun observed a Meitei, Muslim, and a Bihari dumping rubbish, building illegally and using it as a parking lot.  Despite complaints to the authorities like the Police, Deputy Commissioner, and local MLA, no action has been taken, causing distress. As such, the Meitei Leepun intervened to educate the people, it said.

“Therefore, those unaware of the internal issues in the mentioned area are warned to stay away from the state's internal affairs, as it is not their business," ML stated.

The organisation also urged against giving the incident a religious or communal turn without understanding the ground reality.

Meitei Leepun also alleged that some illegal immigrants who did not fulfil the qualifications of Indian citizenship and were not eligible under the 1961 NRC guidelines, were making misleading statements, attempting to create a communal narrative. Individuals who have not proven their Indian citizenship and have entered the Indian political system through corrupt practices lacked the authority to involve themselves in Manipur affairs, it stated.

It is unfortunate that a non-Indian is tarnishing the image of Meitei Leepun and hindering the peaceful coexistence of the community, it said.

The Meitei Leepun also stressed that spreading false propaganda in the mass media is an act of creating misunderstanding among residents and an attempt to gain vested interests. It declared that it had punished the residents only to deter them from committing provocative acts.