Anglo-Manipuri War not part of Indian freedom struggle: CorCom
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 11, 2013: While sending out a message to the people of Manipur for the Patriots' Day-2013, the Coordination Committee (CorCom), an umbrella organization of six proscribed outfits namely KCP, KYKL, PREPAK, PREPAK (Pro), RPF and UNLF, has categorically stated that Manipur never belonged to British India and the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 was not a part of Indian freedom struggle.

According to the message, CorCom honours the heroes of Manipur who laid down their lives for the sake of their motherland in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 against the British forces.

After the Manipuris were defeated in the last battle of Khongjom, Bir Tikendrajit and Thangal General were executed at the gallows on August 13, 1891 on charges of waging war against Queen Victoria of Britain.

Pukhrambam Fingang (Kajao), Niranjan Subedar and Chirai Thanggal were also executed in the same year.

They had great sense of patriotism and sacrificed their lives for their motherland.

Aug 13 is being observed every year as the Patriots' Day to invoke the sense of patriotism among the people of Manipur.

The international media of that time in Australia, France, India, New Zealand, Singapore and USA even published comments and opinions on the issue of Manipur being colonized by Britain after the defeat in Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891.The independence of Manipur was regarded well by other countries.

However, the "divide and rule policy" of the British weakened the integrity and socio-economic aspects of Manipur.

The condition of Manipur got worsened after India annexed it in 1949.The Indian colonialists are still adopting the colonial policies inherited from their British masters to govern the people of Manipur.

More than 60,000 Indian security forces are being deployed to militarise the peaceful state in the name of countering insurgency.

The rights of the people of Manipur have been totally devastated by the Indian rulers under the shadow of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the Corcom said.

It further appealed to the people to make the observance of Patriots' Day significant and meaningful by not amalgamating the history of Manipur with that of Indian freedom struggle.

The patriots of Manipur had nothing to do with India.

They had sacrificed their lives for their motherland, Manipur.

People must not be misled by the false propaganda of Indian colonialists, the CorCom enjoined.

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