SF refutes ‘Temple decrated’ story

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Aug 4 : Taking note of the news story which appeared under the caption ‘Kukis desecrate Temple’ in the August 4 edition of The Sangai Express General Staff Officer (Colonel GS) of 57 Mountain Division has asserted that the news story contains factually inaccurate details.
In a statement, Colonel GS said that there are two Temples in Gwaltabi village and no damage has been inflicted on the two temples and produced two photographs of the said Temples, reportedly taken on August 4. The uncorroborated news story appears to be an attempt to malign the image of the security forces, said the Colonel.
No fresh incident has taken place in the village after the deployment of Indian Army in the area from May 6, said the Colonel and added that no one has been denied access to the village including the chairman Chirom Mangijao. The villagers have been visiting the village frequently, as has been brought out in the news article as well, it said.
The Colonel also gave a detailed account of how the Army has been able to thwart all attempts to disturb the peace of the area and how personnel of 20 JAT Regiment had also rescued five miscreants who were held captive by the villagers for allegedly trying to torch some houses on July 1.
Gwaltabi villagers have been doing their farming without any interruption and villagers feel absolutely safe under the watch of security forces.
The Indian Army is present in the Buffer Zone alongwith BSF and police and is ensuring safety and security of both the communities, further said the Colonel.
The story relates to the theft of the roofing material of a Mandop (Mandap) of a Temple, as informed by the secretary of Gwaltabi Village Committee, which is a part of any Temple in Manipur.