Guwahati: The Taphou Kuki Village Authority has condemned the burning and destruction of a residential house belonging to a family from Taphou Kuki village in Manipur’s Senapati district in the early hours of Monday morning.
In a press release issued on August 24, the village authority described the incident as “deplorable, inhuman and unacceptable” and said the destruction of the house had caused loss of property and livelihood while creating fear and insecurity among the affected family.
The authority said a home represents safety, dignity and years of hard work, and called the deliberate destruction of residential property a serious violation of the rights and dignity of civilians.
It appealed to individuals and groups to refrain from violence, arson, destruction of property and any action that could further escalate tensions. The authority said differences and grievances should be addressed through peaceful dialogue and lawful means.
The Taphou Kuki Village Authority also urged the district administration, police and other competent authorities to immediately investigate the incident, identify those responsible and take action in accordance with the law.
It said the safety and security of civilians and their properties should be given the highest priority.
The village authority has given a 24-hour deadline to those allegedly responsible for the burning of the house to come forward and resolve the matter according to Kuki customary law.
It warned that failure to do so would mean the Village Authority would not be responsible for any “untoward incident”.
The authority also appealed to all communities to maintain peace, exercise restraint and work towards restoring trust, security and peaceful coexistence.