LNC, Namdilong Naga VA speaks out against firing incident at Kanglatongbi
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, May 28 2023:
The Liangmai Naga Council (LNC) and Namdilong Naga Village Authority have strongly condemned the firing incident of Saturday night in the Kanglatongbi Liangmai area by unidentified gunmen.
The "LNC and the Liangmai as a whole community" expressed their deep concern over the situation, it said.
In a statement, the LNC said that the Liangmai people as a community are peace loving people who have kept away from all forms of violence.
However, the Liangmai community is greatly perturbed and compelled to raise "our alarms against the deliberate gross violation of peace and tranquility in our village at Namdilong Kanglatongbi by the act of unprovoked firing incident that occurred on the night of May 27", the LNC stated.
LNC called it unfortunate that the village has been used as a battleground for violence between conflicting groups.
"The fear and distress that has been inflicted upon the innocent villagers will continue to haunt them throughout their lives.
Infants, children, aged citizens and sick people are frightened and were woken up in the middle of the night to the sound of firing arms," the Liangmai body stated.
"The Liangmai people have been giving free passage to every commuter irrespective of their background.
However, to our great disappointment, our Good Samaritan act is seen as an act of weakness by a certain conflicting community and taking undue advantage over our silence and good nature," it added.
The Liangmai Naga Council also said it is extremely disturbed "to know that commuters at Leimakhong Konsakhul IVR are often stopped, checked and frisked, often causing inconvenience to our commuters".
Saying that similar incidents are occuring at IT Road, the LNC said these are uncalled for.
The Liangmao body cautioned that if such "barbaric acts" continue to occur in the future the Liangmai people will be compelled to stop giving free passage to anyone passing by "our villages" .
The LNC further said no community should take the good will approach of the Liangmai people for granted, adding that it will not remain as mute spectators if they are tested.
"We expect good will from you as we have treated you well in your hard times.
Such an act of using our ancestral land to be a battleground, stopping peaceful commuters on the way, checking and frisking for no reason should be stopped henceforth," it added.
Thus, with a desire for peaceful co-existence, the Liangmai body urged the "warring groups" to shun the path of war and take up peace while also urging the concerned authorities, both the Central and the State, to restore immediate peace in the State.
Separtately expressing its deep concern, the Namdilong Naga Village Authority has urged no individual or group to attempt to disturb the peace and tranquility of the village.
The Namdilong Naga Village Authority then said such incidents of violence may lead to unfortunate episodes of harming the innocent and "neutral" civilians.
The villagers will not allow anybody to use its area as a battlefield, the village authority added.
The Namdilong Naga VA has also urged the concerned authorities to restore immediate peace and tranquility in the State.