IMPHAL, May 2: Several civil society organisations of the State have condemned the Gwaltabi incident of April 30.
The All Manipur United Clubs`™ Organisation called on the general public to remain calm and not allow such incident from recurring.
Speaking to media persons at their office today, AMUCO president Y Mani Khuman said we must try to understand one another to bring an end to such communal disintegration.
Mani also lamented the government`™s failure to act and bring back normalcy in the area.
The local MLA has also failed to act and bring peace and harmony in the area, he continued.
The press meet was also attended by leaders of AMOVA, Porei Leimarol Apunba Nupi Lup, COHR and AMESCO.
Later in the evening, the United Committee Manipur also called a press meet at its Lamphel office.
Former president Y Nabachandra said a team of UCM has already visited Gwaltabi with the aim of bringing communal harmony in the area.
He said the team comprised of himself, secretary organisation Sanjit Soraisam, finance secretary RK Mangisana and asst finance secretary I Doren.
The team also distributed a few eatable items for the victims as a relief measure, he said.
The UCM team also joined hands with the Tangkhul Naga Foothill Organisation and village chiefs of New Canal, Murei, Chadong, Mayorphung, RIha and Wungshon villages and resolved not to allow such incident to happen again, he continued.
He said the incident which occurred due to some misunderstanding is unfortunate.
Regretting that the State government has so far continued to remain silent on the incident, he demanded that the concerned authorities must look into the incident and bring peace and harmony at the earliest.
Nabachandra also appealed to all against carrying out communal agenda while supporting bandhs/ blockade.
Meanwhile, the Threatened Indigenous People`™s Society (TIPS), Manipur has also strongly condemned the dismantling of 15 houses, 10 shops and vehicles of Gwaltabi village by around 200 villagers of Thawai village.
According to a release of TIPS, the incident has caused a rift between the indigenous communities. It said the incident is unfortunate and all communities residing in the State should condemn it.
However, the action of a few villagers of Thawai Village should not be considered as an act of the whole community, it said appealing to all communities to maintain calm and peace in the State.
The government should also provide compensation to the victims, it demanded.
The Biramangol College Students`™ union has also strongly condemned the incident and further appealed to the government to take strong measures and bring an amicable solution to the incident at the earliest.
A statement of the student body said the government should also take up positive measures so that such incidents don`™t recur in the future.
The incident was a result of a weak police force in the area, it said and appealed to lift the bandh along the Imp-Ukl road on May 4 considering the student union`™s election.
Meanwhile, terming the April 30 incident that took place at Gwaltabi thereby inviting unwanted tension between two groups as unfortunate; the Imphal East United Clubs`™ Organisation (IEUCO) has alleged that the prevailing situation was the fallout of the incompetency of the police in handling the situation.
A statement issued by KR Singh president IEUCO, held that the incident could have been prevented from further escalating had the police personnel were efficient enough and urged the police department to take up effective measures to counter such menace.
It appealed to all the community leaders to take initiative to ease the tension from turning sour.