COPTAM blames Govt for Silent incident
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Saikul, May 07 2013:
Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) has said that the recent Silent village arson incident was due to the communication gap between the Silent village and that of Saijang village.
COPTAM however, blames the state government of Manipur for the incident saying had the government done what COPTAM had suggested on district boundary issue the May 3 incident would have been averted.
COPTAM general secretary Thangkam Lupheng along with his team visited Silent village and donated 20 bags of rice to the villagers.
He said the leaders of Silent and Saijang villages ought to sit down and resolve the misunderstanding.
"No room should be given for any vested interest element to communalise the May 3 incident but better sense should be allowed to prevail," said Thangkam Lupheng while talking to the Silent villagers.
Terming it as very unfortunate, Thangkam Lupheng said COPTAM strongly condemns the incident but suggested, "The best move is to hold dialogue between the two villages" .
Meanwhile, Saikul Area Naga Peoples' Organisation (SANPO) has also donated 5 bags of rice to the Silent villages where 36 houses were razed to ashes by the Seijang villagers on May 3 .