Senapati, Sept 25:    An attempted arson early this morning targeted the Pashupati Nath Mandir in Senapati around 1 a.m., with the attack caught on the temple’s CCTV. The footage revealed alarming scenes of a tyre and a burning log being thrown at a door within the temple’s courtyard.

This incident follows a foiled arson attempt in the past few weeks, highlighting a disturbing trend of violence against religious sites. Despite the damage to parts of the temple’s mandap, residents and caretakers successfully extinguished the fire before it could spread further.

In response, the Naga Peoples’ Organisation (NPO) and the Karong-Senapati Town Committee (KSTC) have strongly condemned the attack. They underscored the town’s dedication to secular values and called for the immediate arrest of those responsible. The groups stressed the importance of swift action by authorities to restore and protect the community’s harmony.

In their joint statement, both organizations reaffirmed their commitment to the secular values outlined in the Indian Constitution. They highlighted that Senapati is known for its harmonious coexistence among various religious groups and condemned any attempts to disrupt this peace.

The NPO and KSTC have urged the authorities to act promptly to arrest those responsible for the attack. They emphasized the importance of addressing this matter swiftly to maintain the town’s social harmony and ensure that such acts of violence are prevented in the future.

Manipur Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba also condemned the attack on the temple. In a post on X, he denounced the incident as an attack on secularism and urged that the perpetrators be apprehended promptly. “Every responsible citizen should condemn such barbaric acts as an infringement on secularism. The culprit(s) should be booked at the earliest,” he said.

Additionally, the Senapati District Police issued a warning regarding false information circulating online after a minor fire at the Pashupati Nath Temple on the night of September 24-25.

According to the police, various platforms, including X and Facebook, have been spreading images with misleading captions related to the incident. These misleading posts risk inciting communal tensions among the district’s diverse communities, which have coexisted peacefully for years.

The police have filed an FIR in connection with the fire and are making every effort to identify and apprehend those responsible. They advise the public to avoid jumping to conclusions and to await official updates as the investigation progresses.

Authorities are closely monitoring social media for misinformation and will take legal action against those found disseminating false content. The public is encouraged to report any suspicious posts and to rely solely on official communications from the police.