Imphal, January 20: The Revolutionary People's Front has today expressed deep regret over the incident at Sawombung wherein unidentified miscreants burnt the Gan-Ngai gate of the Sawombung villagers on January 16.Such incident is against the principle of the RPF which equally respects all religious beliefs and all festivals of any community in Manipur, said the outfit in a statement.

The incident not only tarnished the image of the people of Manipur but also had the potential to drive a wedge amongst the different communities residing here for ages, said the statement.

However the incident was the handiwork of a few individual who fell prey to the divide and rule policy of the Indian Government, said the statement and added that the people as a whole are against the ugly incident.

Though the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) are engaged in a peace talk and the threat posed to the territory of Manipur is real it does not mean that differences have cropped up amongst the various communities residing here, observed RPF.

Differences between the people may be true for only those handful of people who support the concept of Greater Nagaland, it added.

RPF further said that it is committed to protecting the boundary of Manipur but its first step would be to defeat the divide and rule policy of the Indian Government and hold sincere and honest discussion with the Naga people and the Naga underground organizations so that the people of Nagaland and Manipur can live as friendly neighbours.

However if any organizations or any individual try to break up Manipur, then RPF will meet the challenge squarely.