Violence continues in the northeastern state of Manipur, with miscreants torching the residence of Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh in Imphal’s Kongba on June 15 night.
The residence in Imphal was set on fire while the minister was in Kerala. Speaking to media , MoS MEA said, “It is extremely sad to see what happened last night. I was told that more than 50 miscreants attacked my home at around 10 pm. Damage has been done to the ground floor and the first floor of my residence. Neither me or anybody from my family was present during that time. Thankfully, nobody got injured.”
While Singh comes from the Meiti community, he has continued to appeal to both sides to stay away from violence and restore peace in the State.
“An eye for an eye will make the whole world go blind. Violence doesn’t help any cause. Those who are indulging in this violence are doing a huge disservice to the nation. It also reflects that they are enemies of humanity,” said Singh .
On June 14 in Imphal East, nine people were killed while more than 10 were injured. Yesterday, the state government extended the clamp on internet in the State up to June 20.
In the same day, miscreants tried to burn down the official residence of Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgen in Imphal West. His home was partly burnt.
Since the last month and a half, there have been restrictions in the State of Manipur, including clamp down on the internet.
On May 29, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the northeastern state for a period of four days during which he held meetings with Chief Minister N Biren Singh, leaders of all political parties, civil society, women groups, tribal groups and security personnel. Shah had announced that a peace committee would be formed in the state. The committee was formed days after the announcement by the Home Minister.
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.
Violence gripped Manipur on May 3, as clashes were witnessed during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list.
The ethnic violence continues to grip the state for over a month, in the wake of a directive of the High Court asking the State Government to consider including the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (Sts).
Central paramilitary forces were posted in the state to control the violence and they still continue to be deployed across the state.
