Clash over religious construction, security tightened

ITANAGAR, Dec 20: At least two people were hurt and a few vehicles damaged in clashes between local residents and about 300 people belonging to one of the Christian denominations over a disputed construction site on Joypur Road within Namsai township in Lohit district on the wee hours of December 19.

According to police sources, some ten vehicles with people belonging to the religious group attempted to restart the construction of a church at Joypur that was stalled earlier, when local residents, mainly belonging to Buddhist community, gathered at the site in protest. This resulted in verbal duels that led to a scuffle between the two groups. In the clash that followed bamboo structures were demolished by the crowd.

“Two people received minor injuries and window panes of a few vehicles were damaged due to stone pelting,” the police said.

The local administration called upon the Missionaries and local leaders to come into a compromise. On the plea of the administration, the Missionaries accepted to withdraw the construction and dismantle the structure by themselves.

Sources informed The Sentinel that the construction of the Church at the site was disputed, since the locals, mostly Khamptis and Singphos, maintained that they were not consulted and that the site was a public place.

In a statement this evening from Namsai, the Tai Khampti Singphow Council (TKSC) claimed that on December 18 at a meeting at Namsai Forest IB with the Missionaries of Christian Revival Church, the local residents had urged them not to resort to any action in furtherance of construction of the Church. It also claimed that a written consent was adopted, including the Missionaries, to stop further construction.

“However, on December 19 morning, to the utter shock of the local inhabitants, a strong contingent of about 100 people in 11 vehicles arrived at Namsai from Itanagar and various parts of the State and marched on the streets of Namsai Bazaar with banners,” claimed TKSC general secretary C K Namchoom.

Defying directives of the local administration against construction of a church at the said site, Namchoom claimed, the visitors started construction works that triggered unrest amongst the local populace. Later, the Missionaries were escorted by the police out of Namsai on way to their respective places. Though normalcy prevailed after that, business establishments and traders of Namsai closed down their shops in support of the local sentiments. Blaming the local administration for failing to prevent the flare-up despite tensions brewing on the issue for weeks together, the TKSC cited the High Court verdict in respect of Angels Missionary School at Namsai WP© No. 366 (A.P.) of 2007 and in respect of Supreme Court’s interim measures. As an interim measure, the Supreme Court directs that ‘henceforth no unauthorized construction shall be carried out or permitted in the name of Temple, Church, Mosque or Gurudwara etc on public streets, public parks or other public places etc’. THE SENTINEL