TYCM, TKLI condemn Silent incident
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 04, 2013: Tribal Youth Council, Manipur (TYCM) and Tangkhul Katamnao Long, Imphal (TKLI) have observed that they are extremely shocked and failed to understand the turn of event of 3rd of May 2013 in which 36 houses including granaries, a vehicle, Rice Mill, Pigs and Rs.3 lakhs belonging to a Tangkhul Naga village, Silent, under Saikul Constituency, Senapati district, was set ablazed and looted by the neighbouring village, Seijan, under Lamlai Police Station.

In a joint statement, TYCM and TKLI said that they strongly condemn the criminal act of the perpetrators numbering over 1000 people who attacked Silent village with dangerous weapons of destruction of the houses and properties.

It will not be a mistake to state here that the attack on the Silent village by Seijan villagers and cohorts was a premeditated intended to cause physical harm and destruction which is not acceptable by any human standard.

It is unfortunate to learn that such barbaric tactics is being resorted to create discord between long time neighbouring villages.

TYCM and TKLI questioned the logic and rationale of settling land dispute by torching the village on fire while the case between the parties is under the judicial process.

TYCM and TKLI are dismayed at the slow and lackadaisical response of the law enforcement agencies of the Manipur Government.

It is regrettable that poor villagers have been forced out from their homes because of the unreasonable act of violence and shortsightedness of those perpetrators who went berserk forgetting the negative fallout for the future relationship between communities.

Such incident has the potential of fanning communal disharmony and clash if not taken proper preventive measures were not taken up by the concerned authorities at the right time.

The Government of Manipur is reminded that Tribal land/areas be kept out of the touch of non-tribals as per the Constitution of India.

We demand that the land dispute between the villages be immediately resolved by the Government of Manipur without further delay so that peaceful atmosphere is restored in the vicinity of the villages.

We demand that those perpetrators of violence be brought to justice and normal habitation be immediately restored to the Silent villagers who have been victimized and traumatised in their own homes and land, the joint statement added.

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