Tension in Leingangching over burial denial to Catholics

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 13

The North East Catholic Community of Delhi has expressed shock over the denial of an honourable burial of one Rita Haorei, wife of Yangmi Haorei, who passed away on August 7, by villagers of Leingangching under Kamjong district, as she was a Catholic Christian.

A release signed by the president of NECCD, Philip Thanglianmang said ‘this inhuman behaviour and gross violation of basic human rights is not only condemnable, but it has shamed and tarnished the image of all Christians.’

At a time when building Christian community and brotherhood is gaining ground through inter-religious dialogues, such incidents of dividing people on the basis of their religious practices and denominations by so called Christian leaders is most unfortunate, it added.

It may be mentioned that Leingangching hamlet is predominantly a Baptist Christian village. In 2009, a group of families approached the village authority to allow them to embrace Catholic faith. But their request was turned down by the village authority.

According to a reliable source, these families have been facing many hardships ever since they announced their conversion to Catholic faith. In May 2010 their houses were ransacked by the villagers and they have been remaining as outcasts since then in their own village, it continued.

A peaceful march on August 9 to the Leingangching village from Litan village (where the dead body is kept) with the coffin of the dead body was vehemently resisted by the Leingangching village who came armed with weapons. Sensing the danger the protesters were persuaded by the police to withdraw but the sit-in-protest continues, said the source.

Further the source maintained that burial of Catholic followers were denied by the same villagers in 2014 and 2016 when deaths occurred. Attempts to solve the problem through customary laws had also failed, and moreover visits and appeals from organisations like Thangkhul Naga Long, All Manipur Christian Organisation and Tribal Christian Leaders Forum have fallen on deaf ears.

In this regard a case before the CJM of the Ukhrul is also pending continued the source, adding the response from the DC of Kamjong has been very casual.

The All Manipur Christian Organisation, (AMCO) in a release has appealed to the village chief and authority concerned to look into the matter with Christian love and human dignity. The Tangkhul Christian Fellowship Delhi has condemned the incident and urged every right thinking individual to rise above sectarian and parochial mind-set and respect one’s right to freedom of conscience, according to a statement.