Imphal, May 01 2009: Three churches located in Imphal West district have been set afire twice by unidentified miscreants.

However, main structures of the churches were saved from the fire by timely action of local people although doors, windows, furniture and Rs 10,000 in cash were destroyed in the inferno.

The first case of arson took place at Phumlou Baptist Church and Taothong ECA Church located at Taothong Ayungba Ward No 9.These two churches were set afire by unidentified miscreants in the night of May 10 using petrol and straw.

The fire destroyed doors, windows and some furniture of Taothong ECA Church but the church was saved from total devastation by timely action of the local people.

The church made of wood in 2003 was being run by 15 Christian followers of the locality.

In all these years, there was no objection or disapproval from any quarter.

Taking strong exception to the act of arson, one church member, who preferred to remain anonymous, appealed to all concerned not to attack the church in any manner in future.

The RCC building of Phumlou Baptist Church also suffered damages to some furniture items and loud speaker in addition to Rs 10,000 kept in a wooden chest inside the church charred to ashes.

But the raging fire was effectively put under control by the local people before it could cause further damage.

The second incident of arson that occurred last night was targeted at St Joseph Catholic Church located at Phayeng Sabal Leikai.

Furniture and decorative items kept inside the church were destroyed by the fire though it was doused off before engulfing the whole structure.

The church celebrated its silver jubilee on January 22 last year.

The damages caused to the three churches on two occasions of arson were assessed by functionaries of the Manipur Baptist Convention, Meitei Baptist Convention and Evangelical Church Association today.

Later, speaking to media persons, the functionaries noted that Manipur is inhabited by different communities and people professing different religions and faiths.

As such, only respecting each of these religions and promoting co-existence among peoples professing different faiths can ensure a peaceful and progressive society, they observed.

Calling upon all the communities to strive towards bringing a peaceful and progressive society without any discrimination on communal or religious line, the church functionaries appealed to all the people to avert such incidents in future.

They also appealed to relax the objection raised by some people against the proposed construction of a church for Meitei Christians in Langol area.

meanwhile, All manipur Catholic Union, Sangakpham expressed shock that some anti-social elements attempted to burn down the Catholic Church at Phayeng.

Conveying that the religious structure had been in existence for the part 25 years, the Union in a release issued by its president Edmund Chiphang condemned the act of vandalism and arson but fervently appealed to all peace loving citizens not to engage in such acts so as to help maintain peace and harmony in the society.

The Union also prevailed upon the Government to book the culprits as well as ensure such incidents do not recur in the future.

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