Bid to set Hindu Temple afire evokes strong condemnations

Correspondent/NDTV
Senapati, Sep 25 : In an apparent attempt to hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus, some miscreants tried to burn the Shri Shri Pashupati Nath Mandir at Makhrelui Village, Senapati in the wee hours today.  
Who started the fire, however, is not known yet though involvement of local drug addicts in the incident is suspected.
Citing sources, NDTV reported that the Lord Shiva Temple was partially damaged after some people sneaked into the compound at night and set it on fire. The Temple was attacked twice weeks apart, and in the second attack in the early hours today it was set on fire.
CCTV footage shows a burning log being thrown towards a door inside the Temple's courtyard.
In another footage, which locals said is from the first attack, a masked man is seen hiding behind a pillar for some time, before he ran away.
Residents and Temple caretakers managed to douse the fire before it spread, a local civil society organisation told NDTV.
Sources alleged the arson was meant to create communal and ethnic tension amid the violence between the Meitei community and the Kuki tribe.
Manipur Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba in a post on X condemned the attack on the Temple.
"Strongly condemn looting and setting of Shri Pashupati Nath Mandir, Senapati, Manipur on fire at around 1 am of 25/9/24. Every responsible citizen should condemn such barbaric acts as an infringement on secularism. The culprit(s) should be booked at the earliest," he said.
A police officer in Senapati told NDTV they have taken the matter very seriously as it seemed the suspects wanted to create communal tension in the multi-ethnic district that has remained free from violence, amid the Meitei-Kuki clashes that began in May 2023.
The officer said they are investigating the matter. The police are, however, yet to give a full statement on the matter.
Many places of worship of both the valley-dominant Meitei community and the Kuki tribes, who are dominant in the hill districts in southern Manipur and a few other areas, were destroyed last year.
Taking note of the incident which may create misunderstanding among people of different faiths, officials from the district administrations, SP, members of Naga Peoples’ Organization (NPO), different activists  and sympathizers visited the site of the Temple.
Members of Makhrelui Village Authority, where the Temple falls under its jurisdiction also visited the Temple and equivocally condemned the atrocious act.
In the light of the alleged arson attempt which occurred at  around 1 am, Senapati Deputy Commissioner Mamoni Doley convened a meeting with the members of the Mandir Committee members in the presence of Additional Deputy Commissioner and Sub-Divisional Officer, Senapati.
The Deputy Commissioner strongly condemned the incident and assured that swift action will be taken to identify and arrest the culprit.
The Deputy Commissioner has also appealed to the Mandir Committee to monitor spread of misinformation as the matter is sensitive and may provoke communal tension and assured to take up security measures at the Temple premises.
In this regard the Superintendent of Police, Senapati has already issued directives for a dedicated security team to be posted at the Mandir apart from instructing Quick Response Team (QRT) from the Senapati Police Station and Reserve Line to monitor all religious and Government institutions within the district headquarters.
The Deputy Commissioner further stated that Senapati has been a peaceful district wherein people of various communities have been living in harmony.
She therefore, appealed to all the inhabitants of Senapati district to continue to maintain the peace, calm, law and order in the district.
In a press release, the Naga Peoples’ Organization (NPO) and Karong Senapati Town Committee (KSTC) also strongly condemned the alleged attempt to set the Shri Shri Pashupatinath Siddheshwar Mandir, Senapati, on fire.
The two organizations asserted that respect for secular practice laid down in the Constitution of India should be upheld.
‘Senapati is a peace loving town where everyone has been practising their religion. Any element which works to break the social serenity is highly condemnable’, it stated. The Organizations also demanded that the culprit be booked at the earliest.
The Makhrelui Youth and Students Organisation also condemned the attack on Pashupatinath Mandir under Makhrelui Village, Senapati district.
In a statement, it stated that the  reprehensible act of violence against a place of worship is an attack not only on the individuals who hold the place as sacred but also on the principles of religious freedom and mutual respect that form the foundation of the diverse society of the country.
The body urged the local authorities to take swift and decisive action to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety and security of all places of worship.