IMPHAL, April 20: The CorCOm while remembering the sacrifices of the forefathers of Manipur during the Khongjom Laan or the Anglo-Manipuri War 1891 has praised the sacrifices, said a press statement of the umbrella body of six militant outfits based in Manipur.
The statement said that the forefathers had gone into war with the mighty British with the full knowledge that they will be defeated, which has once again reminded that the Manipuris cannot live attached to some bigger communities.
It said on the first day of the Anglo-Manipuri war on March 24, 1891, the the brave Manipuri army defeated the Britishers and burnt down the British Residency. Five British officers were awarded the death penalty for stealthily attacking Manipur and inflicting injuries to people including woman and children, the statement continued.
Elaborating further, it said that the incident was narrated to the 12the Madras Infantry Lt CJW Grant by 42nd Gorkha Regiment Jamandar Birbal Nagarkati.
Hearing about the incident, Grant telegrammed his superiors in the then Government and led 50 soldiers of the Madra Infantry along with Birbal Nagarkati’s Gorkha soldiers towards Manipur from Tamu, it continued.
On receiving the telegram from Grant, the British Government on March 31, 1891 announced war against Manipur and attacked Manipur from three sides, it said.
General T Graham led the Tamu column which was met with full resistance by Yengkhoiba Major leading 100 Manipuri soldiers at Thoubal.
The last battlefield of the war was at Khongjom, it said and added that Wangkhei Meiraba and his group tried to ward off the British attack on Manipur palace at Wangjing.
The statement further said that the 1891 Anglo-Manipur Laan was a war filled with sacrifices to safeguard Manipur territory and independence. The war was filled not only by the sacrifices of the elders but with the sacrifices of youths like Sengoisana, Heirankhongja and Chinglensana among others, the CorCom statement said.
What was unfortunate was that the Lt Col RHF Rennick led Silchar Column on April 27, 1891 took over Kangla, the statement said.
The statement has further appealed to the people of Manipur to remember the sacrifices of the forefathers on the Anglo-Manipur Khongjom Laan memorial day on April 23.