Shillong, June 27: The North East India Christian Council (NEICC) on Tuesday organized a candlelight vigil to express its solidarity with the people of Manipur, who are suffering due to the ongoing unrest in the state.

Leaders and representatives of various church bodies in and around Shillong took part in the candlelight vigil for peace in Manipur held at the All Saints Cathedral. They also displayed placards which read: “We pray for peace in Manipur”, “It’s time to stop violence”, “Love heals, hatred hurts” and “Violence never solves, dialogue does”.

Vice president of the NEICC, Shillong Rev SR Dkhar said, “(We) gathered this evening to pray for the restoration of peace and harmony in the strife torn state of Manipur.”

He said that the citizens of Manipur had desperately hoped that violence would cease after the visit of the Home Minister of India Amit Shah. However, to their great dismay the situation on the ground remained unchanged bringing about a significant setback and deepening the anguish of the affected population.

“It has been more than a month we are witnessing a situation where reconciliation seems to be a distant dream. In fact the situation has made everyone across Manipur to become so rigid and parochial that no one seems to think and act for the good and welfare of the state, especially for those who have suffered due to the unmindful violence,” Rev Dkhar added.

The vice president of the NEICC also said the peace vigil is bring the churches in the North East India together with the intention to pray and express solidarity with the families of those who have lost their loved ones, those who have been left homeless with nothing and displace to different places within the state and those who have suffered the psychological scars by witnessing violence and death being perpetrated to their near and dear ones, women, children, aged people, the sick and the defenceless.

It is also to pray for the church, religious community leaders across the society to have the wisdom, understanding and responsibility to come together to initiate the process of reconciliation.

Also praying for safeguarding religious freedom in Manipur, Rev Dkhar said it has been reported more than 300 religious places of worship have been burnt down and destroyed signalling the loss of the freedom to worship in many places and manifesting particular hatred towards certain religious traditions.

“(We also) pray for the leaders and those in power in the state of Manipur and in our country that concrete steps may address the situation and issues therein in order that their problems may be resolved,” he said.

“This vigil appeals to all leaders across the social and political spectrum in NE to come together because we believe they can play a vital role for restoration of peace in Manipur,” Rev Dkhar added.

Also Read: Manipur: CM N Biren Singh visits Relief Camp at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, shares pics

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