India: Federal Minister’s House Burnt In Fresh Violence In Manipur

violence

NEW DELHI, Jun 17 (NNN-PTI) – The house of federal Junior Minister of External Affairs, R.K. Ranjan Singh, was set on fire by a mob, Thursday night, in a fresh flare-up of violence, confirmed a state government official.

The development followed the burning of two houses and clashes between the Rapid Action Force of Manipur, and a mob in the heart of Manipur’s capital city of Imphal on Thursday.

Ranjan expressed grief over the incident, saying “I am shocked. The law and order situation in Manipur has totally failed,” local media reported, yesterday.

State government officials, said that, security guards and fire-fighters managed to control arson attempts by the mob, and saved the minister’s house from being completely burnt.

Earlier on Wednesday, the official residence of Manipur’s Minister, Nemcha Kipgen, in the Lamphel area in Imphal West district, was set on fire by unidentified people. This incident occurred a day after nine people were killed and 10 injured in a village in the Khamenlok area of ethnic strife-hit Manipur.

Fortunately, no one was present in the house at that moment, when it was torched, said media reports.

Meanwhile, the ban on Internet services was extended till Jun 20, in the state.