Pakhangba temple vandalized, Titular King of Manipur demands arrest of miscreants

Imphal: Sanctum sanctorum of the Lord (Ibudhou) Pakhangba, a primordial deity, often represented in the form of a dragon, in Meitei mythology and Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur was desecrated after its shrine was found vandalized by unknown miscreants on Wednesday early morning.

Leishemba Sanajaoba, the titular king of Manipur and also a Member of the Parliament of the state in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday demanded in-depth investigations by concerned authorities and book the miscreants involved in destroying the holy shrine at the earliest.

Talking to the newsmen at Imphal on Thursday, the titular king, who is also head of the Palace temple board said that the law enforcement personnel must find out the details in arresting the culprits to book them as per the law of the country.

The shrine of Ibudhou Pakhangba located atop Uyal Cheiraoching hills which falls under Gwarok Reserved Forest in Thoubal district of Manipur was found vandalized by unknown miscreants.

The vandalism was discovered by locals around 5 am on Wednesday.

Police registered a case in this regard and detailed the extent of the vandalism, including the door of the shrine forcibly breaking open, the cloth wrapping the idols of Ibudhou and Ibendhou being removed, the area where the deities were seated also found destroyed and other religious items inside the shrine were burnt outside.

Meanwhile, Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei, MLA of the Keirao Assembly segment went to the spot and inspected the situation.

Several organizations including the Federation of Indigenous People's Democratic Movement (FIDM), Model Club, Imphal, and Sana Konung Utra Shanglen condemned the act of vandalization.