Several organisations and political parties in Mizoram on Tuesday condemned the torching of houses in Manipur’s Kamjong district (formerly Ukhrul).
The incident took place on Monday.
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Parties and organisations that condemned the incident included Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) and Zo Re-Unification Organisation (ZoRO).
The organisations demanded stringent punishment for those involved in arson.
A statement issued by the MZP alleged that some miscreants backed by suspected NSCN (IM) cadres barged into a Kuki inhabited Chassad and torched houses apart from harming innocent civilians.
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Terming the incident barbaric, the student body said it can’t imagine how someone could set ablaze a village of innocent persons.
While extending solidarity to the victims, the student organisation also expressed concern about the safety of Kuki residents and asked the Manipur government to provide humanitarian help and ensure the safety of the villagers.
It also demanded stringent punishment against the culprits involved in the arson.
ZoRO, the Chin-Kuki- Mizo-Zomi group organization which seeks reunification of all Zo people and bringing them under one administrative unit, also blamed the incident.
The meeting was presided over by R Sangkawia, who alleged that NSCN-IM militants and Tangkhul villagers are behind the incident of arson.
The media cell of the Mizoram Congress also strongly condemned the incident and extended solidarity to the victims.
The party also asked the BJP-led government at the Centre and Manipur to take immediate steps to restore normalcy in the village.
According to sources, communal tension flared up in Chassad village after villagers of Kamjong torched houses in the Kuki inhabited village over a boundary dispute.
The Manipur government has suspended mobile internet service and clamped section 144 of the CrPC in and around the district headquarters to calm the situation.
The situation is under control at the time of filing this report.