Manipur Violence: Mob Attacks Union Minister's Residence, Security Forces Use Tear Gas
Security forces dispersed a mob attempting to surround Singh's residence in the Kongba area of the district with the use of tear gas shells at approximately 8 pm on Thursday.
Officials reported on Friday that a crowd attempted to surround the residence of Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, who is the Union Minister of State for External Affairs, in Imphal East district. The mob asserted that the government is not taking adequate measures to safeguard the local populace from militants belonging to a different community, news agency PTI reported.
Security forces dispersed a mob attempting to surround Singh's residence in the Kongba area of the district with the use of tear gas shells at approximately 8 pm on Thursday.
Singh, an esteemed member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a representative of the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, holds a senior position in the party.
On Thursday night, suspected Kuki militants engaged in gunfire with security forces in the Toronglaobi locality of Bishnupur district, according to reports.
A group of individuals asserted that the government is failing to safeguard community members from militants of a different group and, as a result, targeted the residence of Manipur PWD Minister Konthoujam Govindas in Bishnupur district on Wednesday.
BJP leader Govindas and his family were not at home during the mob attack that occurred in the Ningthoukhong area. The mob caused damage to parts of the house including a gate, windows, and various furniture and electronic items.
For the initial instance, a residence belonging to a minister was targeted in the current ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki community in the region that commenced three weeks ago, resulting in over 70 fatalities.
Clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3 following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in the hill regions to oppose the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The violence in Manipur was preceded by a series of smaller agitations against the displacement of Kuki people from reserve forest land.
Meiteis make up around 53% of Manipur's population and dwell mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals – Nagas and Kukis – make up another 40% of the population and live in the hill areas.
Over 70 people were killed in ethnic confrontations, and 10,000 army and paramilitary men were needed to restore order in the northeastern state.
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