After a series of fresh incidents of violence and attacks by Kuki militants, an angry mob storms into the house of Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh in Imphal. It was the second such incident in three days where an angry mob attacked the house of BJP leaders amid weeks of violence in the princely state.
On May 26, a group of people tried to vandalise the residence of Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, in Imphal, alleging the failure of the government to control the attacks of armed Kuki militants on the Meitei community.
However, security forces successfully thwarted the attempt to vandalise the house of the Union Minister. The security forces resorted to the use of tear gas to control the situation. The Organizer tried to communicate with the Union Minister, but Minister Singh was occupied with some other engagement.
Recently on May 24, after the fresh attack by the suspected Kuki militants, an angry mob stormed the residence of state minister Govindas Konthoujam in Ningthoukhong town in Bishnupur district and allegedly vandalised the property. The mob alleged that not enough action had been taken to control the attacks of Kuki militants in the hill districts.
Meiti community leaders alleged that the Kuki militants are targeting the Meitei people in the hill districts and attacking them. Their houses were set on fire, and militants were firing openly on the Meitei community. They demand immediate and stern action against the militants by the security forces.
Earlier on May 21, CM N Biren Singh admitted that the government failed to predict and contain the violence in the state. While talking to the media, CM Singh said, “It was a very unfortunate and sad incident. We take responsibility. It was our failure, our lapses in security and intelligence,”
After the fresh violence erupted in Manipur on May 24, the Indian Army and Assam Rifles intensified their movement across Manipur. A senior Army official told the Organiser that army chief General Manoj Pande and Eastern Command Chief Lt General Rana Pratap Kalita would reach Imphal from Delhi on May 27 to review the ground situation on the backdrop of ongoing ethnic clashes and attacks by Kuki militants. The Army chief will meet the Governor, Chief Minister and Security Advisor to discuss the situation. Gen Pande and Lt Gen Kalita will also meet the ground commanders, including those from other forces, and review the law and order situation.
Army spokesperson in Imphal said that security teams in Imphal East and Churachandpur prevented the firing incidents. Suspected militants opened fire in some places in Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts but ran away after security forces reached the spots.
However, there were no reports of casualties and further operations by the Indian Army, and Assam Rifles are continuing.
On May 26, Chief Minister Biren Singh informed that additional security forces had been brought into the state. The central government has sanctioned several companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and India Reserve Battalion (IRB) for immediate deployment in Manipur. Besides the central forces, several companies of Manipur Police, Manipur Rifles, and Village Defence Force (VDF) had been deployed at 38 vulnerable areas of the State.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh, and all MPs of the state, appealed to the public not to have apprehension as operations had been conducted against armed militants in various areas in the periphery of the state. Efforts are being made to hold peace talks with all sections of people, and the government has been meeting various peace committees formed in the wake of the prevailing situation in Manipur, CM Singh added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also slated to visit the State from Monday for three days. The Union Home Minister will meet various organisations and community leaders of the state.
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