Marchers protest burial denial

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 17

Condemning the denial of burial of late Ritah Haorei of Leingangching on the ground that she was a Catholic, a mass rally was taken out today by Christians from Don Bosco school, Chingmeirong. It was organised by the joint action committee which was formed by Catholics from different districts.

All the catholic schools in the state are shut down as to protest and condemn the “inhuman act” of the Leingangching villagers. A similar rally was taken out yesterday at Ukhrul.

Family of late Ritah Haorei wife of Yangmei Haorei of Leingangching along with four other families of Leingangching were driven out from their village on May 3, 2010 as they converted from baptist to catholic in 2009 and are living as refugees at Litan.

Ritah passed away on August 7, but the Leingangching villagers denied her burial at her home yard at Leingangching on the ground that she is a catholic. So her dead body is lying for the past eight days.

On the other hand the Leingangching villagers claimed that they denied her burial as there is some land issue and it is not related with any religious matter. 

Speaking to media persons the JAC’s, co-convenor, father T.S. Dominic said that “one village, one denomination” is an inhuman rule and it violates the right to freedom of religion of the Indian Constitution.

Denying the burial of late Ritah is the result of an inhuman village constitution (Riyan) enacted by Sharkaphung (Leingangching S. Laho) village on January 3, 1973, he added.

Five families of Leingngaching including late Ritah’s family were chased out from the village as they changed their religion from baptist to catholic on the ground that they violates the village law, “one village, one denomination” , said Dominic.

The co-convenor continued that the houses and properties of the five families were destroyed and they were also not allowed to enter their cultivation land hence the five families have been suffering till today at Litan, where they are taking shelter.

The rule and action of the village have snatched away all the rights of the five families for changing their religion, which is the fundamental rights given by the Indian Constitution, he added.

“Leingangching villagers’ claim that the issue is about is totally false. They are trying to twist the issue as they know that they are not going to win in this matter,” said Dominic.

Later a memorandum was submitted to the chief minister, N. Biren Singh by the JAC seeking full security protection for the burial and abolition of the “one village, one denomination” law as it is unjust.

The memorandum demanded that the government should allow the “persecuted victims” to return and resettle in their legal village, compensation to rebuild their destroyed houses and punishment of the human rights violators.

The JAC warned agitation if the government fails to fulfill their demands within 48 hours.