Taphou VA Hits Back at NPO, Says ‘Vested Interests’ Must Not Turn Individual Acts Into Communal Hostility

The Taphou Kuki Village Authority has hit back at the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO), Senapati, over its allegations concerning a series of arson incidents in and around Taphou Kuki village, asserting that “misconduct by a few vested interests” must not be allowed to poison relations between neighbouring communities.

In a rejoinder to the NPO’s August 24 press release, the village authority said Taphou Kuki had “no intention whatsoever” of provoking, targeting or creating hostility against any community and maintained that it had consistently stood for peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and harmonious relations with its neighbours.

The rebuttal comes amid allegations and counter-allegations surrounding fires that damaged buildings in the Taphou Kuki area, with both sides calling for investigations into the incidents.

The Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) had accused Taphou Kuki villagers of provoking and targeting the people of Senapati over the recent violent incidents in the Kangpokpi-Senapati border belt.

Rejecting any attempt to portray the village as a source of communal hostility, the Taphou Kuki Village Authority said its relationship with neighbouring communities had been built over decades through mutual respect, shared celebrations and assistance during times of need.

It alleged that the peaceful atmosphere had instead been disrupted on occasions by “a few individuals” whose irresponsible conduct had created fear and confusion among the local population.

According to the village authority, an arson incident in the early hours of August 24 completely destroyed residential properties and belongings. Later that day, at around 9.20 am, heavily armed assailants allegedly attacked the village with sophisticated weaponry and burnt down two more houses.

The authority said several properties were partially damaged and livestock and personal belongings were lost in the attack.

It further alleged that an attempted arson attack took place again on August 26 targeting an RCC building belonging to Taphou Kuki, located opposite the NPF office at Liangmei Taphou.

The timely intervention of Senapati Police and CRPF personnel deployed in the area prevented major destruction of the building, it said.

Condemning what it described as “cowardly acts of arson and indiscriminate firing on civilians”, the village authority said such incidents could deliberately sow mistrust between communities.

It appealed to law-enforcement agencies, district administrations and civil society organisations to conduct a fair, impartial and time-bound investigation, identify the actual perpetrators and initiate appropriate legal action against those found responsible.

The authority also urged authorities to prevent intoxicated or miscreant individuals from creating disturbances and take effective measures to avert further incidents.

“Few individuals’ misconduct must not become a reason for collective hostility between communities,” the authority said, underscoring that individual acts should not be allowed to rupture longstanding ties between neighbouring communities.