India, April 16 -- A Meitei organisation has sought Union home minister Amit Shah's immediate intervention over the denial of access to the sacred Thangjing Hill in ethnic violence-hit Manipur's Kuki-Zo dominated Churachandpur.

Thousands of Kuki-Zo women demanding denial of "unauthorised entry" into areas identified as "theirs" staged sit-ins across Churachandpur ahead of the pilgrimage on Monday, even as the Union home ministry has vowed to ensure freedom of movement across Manipur.

The Meitei Heritage Welfare Foundation (MHWF) said Thangjing Hill is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites for the Meiteis and home to Ibudhou Thangjing, Manipur's guardian deity. It said that the Meiteis have for generations undertaken annual pilgrimage...