Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Rajkumar Ranjan Singh on Saturday said that the violence in Manipur was unpredicted. The Union minister’s house was on Friday attacked by a mob that asserted that the government is not taking adequate measures to safeguard the local populace from militants belonging to a different community.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Singh said, “The Manipur violence was unpredicted...it was a bit difficult to find out and secure the vulnerable area...now we have identified the vulnerable areas and CM has deployed central paramilitary forces, rapid action forces, state commandos and state civil forces..."
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.
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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.
He is the second minister whose house was targeted by an enraged mob claiming that adequate measures are not being taken up to safeguard the locals.
On Wednesday, 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.
The BJP leader 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.
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.