Unrest In Manipur Continues With Three Incidents Of Violence, Minister’s House Vandalised

Eastern Army commander Lieutenant General R P Kalita went on a three-day visit to Manipur till Wednesday and took stock of ground security situation.

Three fresh incidents of violence were reported in Manipur today ( Image Source :PTI )

Unrest in strife-torn Manipur continues as three fresh incidents of violence were reported in Kadangband of Imphal West district after which the security has been tightened in the area. As per Security Advisor to Manipur government, Kuldeep Singh, the incident took place at around 1:30 am “by some suspected armed miscreants”. One person received bullet injuries on his right little finger and right thigh after which he was evacuated to RIMS Hospital for treatment, he added, reported ANI. 

“BSF and one Section of MR rushed to the spot and conducted an operation and dominated the area,” Singh said. 

The ethnic violence between the Meiti and Kuki communities in the northeastern state started three weeks ago and has claimed the lives of more than 70 people. Clashes broke out in the picturesque state after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. 

Army and paramilitary forces have been deployed to control the situation in the state.

Mob Torches Minister’s House 

A mob vandalised the home of Manipur PWD Minister Konthoujam Govindas in Bishnupur district on Wednesday.  The group of people who attacked the house claimed that the government was not doing enough to protect locals from militants belonging to another community, officials said, as per a report by PTI. 

The BJP leader and his family members were not at home when the mob, mostly women, attacked the house in Ningthoukhong area and damaged a portion of a gate, windows, a few furniture and electronic gadgets.

It’s the first time that a minister’s house was attacked since the unrest began three weeks ago. 

“The locals were angry. They alleged that Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Govindas and other BJP MLAs have been silent over the ongoing violence and not doing enough to protect them from armed militants,” an official said.

Eastern Army Commander Visits Manipur 

Eastern Army commander Lieutenant General R P Kalita undertook a three-day visit to Manipur till Wednesday to assess and review the ground security situation, a defence official said in Kolkata. The northeastern state shares international borders with Myanmar.

The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Army Command, held meetings with local stakeholders, including members of all communities and several civil society organisations, the official said.

In his meetings with the stakeholders, the Eastern Army commander "urged suspension of hostilities by all sections of society".