Imphal: The United Committee Manipur held the Langban Heitha Leithaba at Kekrupat Memorial Complex. Families and leaders paid floral tributes to those killed in the June 18 Uprising. UCM president YK Dhiren urged the state to honor these sacrifices. Dhiren blamed the Government of India for the current crisis. He accused the state of enforcing a divide and rule policy. This strategy split the 36 local communities. Conflict between Kuki and Meitei groups began on May 3, 2023. Proxy forces keep the fighting alive today. Tensions have now moved into Naga areas. Dhiren warned that the state faces total fragmentation. People must rebuild trust to survive. He insisted that dialogue is the only path to restore harmony.
Separately, the Khongjom War Memorial Trust marked the 33rd anniversary of the Khongjom Tarpan. Hundreds gathered at the Khongjom River in the Diamond Radio Complex. They honored the martyrs of the 1891 Anglo-Manipuri War. Dr. Yumnam Premananda Singh and Moirangthem Hemanta led the proceedings. Former minister M. Hemanta Singh spoke to the crowd. He pushed for renewed dedication to the state. M. Hemanta Singh said, "Many martyrs have gone and many will come, but their sacrifice for the motherland must always remain our priority."
Tradition matters. The event started in 1994 thanks to Moirangthem Ibotombi and Ibeni. The ritual moved from the War Memorial Complex to the Diamond Radio Complex in 2023. Government restrictions forced the change. Hemanta noted that the younger generation lacks the courage of their forefathers. He claimed many people today refuse to sacrifice their positions for the public good. Despite this, the annual ritual continues to hold deep meaning for the people.
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