Christianity in Manipur
[1][2] At the start of the 2023–2024 Manipur violence, Meitei mobs burned down 200–300 churches in the Imphal Valley belonging to all communities, and prohibited pastors from rebuilding them.
Pettigrew, who was born in Edinburgh and educated in London, applied to work with the Arthington Aborigines Mission in India and travelled to Bengal in 1890.
He worked for a time as a teacher in Imphal, teaching the children of government civil servants and soon afterwards opened a school for boys in Manipuri and established a permanent mission station there.
It is traditionally believed that Angom Porom Singh of Phayeng was the first to be converted in around 1896, but another tradition says that Ningol Kaboklei met a Christian missionary in Sylhet (presently in Bangladesh) and converted to Christianity in around 1893, a few years prior to the arrival of William Pettigrew.
[8][9] In December 1912, Porom Singh became the headmaster of a school at Ukhrul, where his teaching responsibilities included preaching the gospel.
[e] Percentage of Christians in the Scheduled Tribes:[21] During the past seven decades, Hindu nationalist organisations have demanded the revival of the indigenous faiths of tribal communities in Northeast India.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has also demanded that the Scheduled Tribe status of tribals should be revoked unless they return to their indigenous faiths or Hinduism.
[22] It was reported that the Meiteis were alarmed by the rapid rise of Christianity in Manipur in recent years.
[23] The first victim of the violence was a pastor from Torbung–Kangvai area called Haopu Kipgen, who was bludgeoned to death.
A pastor said that a mob forcefully entered his home and burned all Christian texts, including the Bible.
[22] There were also attempts to downplay the role of extremist Sanamahi groups and push the blame on to the Kuki people.
[22][29][30] Rohan Singh also claimed that an agreement had been reached with Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun to resume church services in the valley.
[31] However, Archbishop Lumon took a firm stand in an interview with Karan Thapar, pointing out the attacks on Meitei Christian churches and pastors.
