Bhagwan Shiva Temple set on fire in Manipur
- In Reports
- 09:19 PM, Sep 25, 2024
- Myind Staff
A Lord Shiva temple in Manipur's Senapati district was partially damaged after individuals sneaked into the compound at night and set it on fire. Sources indicate that the temple was targeted twice within weeks, with the second attack occurring in the early hours of September 25. CCTV footage shows a burning log being thrown towards a door inside the temple's courtyard.
In another video, reportedly from the first attack, a masked man is seen hiding behind a pillar for a while before fleeing the scene. Residents and temple caretakers successfully doused the fire before it could spread, according to a local civil society organization
The Naga Peoples' Organisation (NPO) and the Karong-Senapati Town Committee (KSTC) jointly condemned the attempt to burn the Shri Shri Pashupati Nath Mandir. In their statement, they emphasised that "Senapati is a peace-loving town where everyone has been practising their religion," and labelled any actions that disrupt social harmony as "highly condemnable." They also urged the police to apprehend the suspects immediately.
Sources alleged that the arson was intended to create communal and ethnic tension in the area.
Manipur Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba condemned the attack on the temple in a post on X. He stated, "I strongly condemn the looting and setting of Shri Pashupati Nath Mandir, Senapati, Manipur on fire around 1 am on 25/9/24. Every responsible citizen should denounce such barbaric acts as an infringement on secularism. The culprit(s) should be apprehended at the earliest."
A police officer in Senapati told media that they are treating the incident very seriously, as it appears the suspects aimed to create unrest in the multi-ethnic district, which has remained largely free from violence since May 2023. However, the police have not yet issued a full statement on the matter.
Manipur has not fully recovered from the ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023 between the valley-dominant Meitei community and the Kukis, a term used during British colonial times for the nearly two dozen tribes that are prominent in certain hill areas of the state. Over 220 people were killed, and nearly 50,000 were internally displaced as a result of the conflict.
The Meiteis, who belong to the general category, are seeking inclusion under the Scheduled Tribes category. Meanwhile, the Kukis, who have ethnic ties to people in neighbouring Myanmar's Chin State and Mizoram, are advocating for a separate administration carved out of Manipur, citing discrimination and an unequal distribution of resources and power compared to the Meiteis.
Image source: NDTV
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