4 min readImphalJun 17, 2023 02:04 AM IST
First published on: Jun 16, 2023 at 06:38 PM IST
A Union minister’s home was set on fire in Manipur, hours after a similar incident at the residence of a state cabinet minister – the latest in a series of attacks on private residences and official quarters of elected representatives.
The arson at the Imphal home of Union MoS for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh was carried out by a mob around 10.30 pm Thursday, after which he called the law and order situation in Manipur a “total failure” and said the state government had failed to maintain it.
Singh is the BJP MP representing Inner Manipur in Lok Sabha.
Friday evening also saw fresh clashes between the state Rapid Action Force and a mob that torched a warehouse belonging to a retired IAS officer from the tribal community. Police used teargas shells to disperse the rioters as they feared other properties could be targeted.
Thursday night’s attack was the second one targeting Singh’s residence, located in Kongba in Imphal East district, since violence broke out in Manipur. The first took place on May 25 night when a mob tried to storm the residence while he was inside.
While nobody from the family has been living in the house since that incident, two security vehicles and a private vehicle were charred in Thursday night’s attack.
A securityman at the residence, Ramu Thaonaojam, said the mob used petrol bombs. “A large number of people came from two directions. Some miscreants threw a petrol bomb from behind the house. As we were trying to put out the fire, there was an attack from the front. There were over a thousand people,” he said.
Speaking to ANI, Singh said: “If someone is trying to vandalise and demolish (the house), I feel shocked. I never expected such a kind of attitude and activities from my fellow citizens of the state… And this is the second time. Now I feel that the first time, I somehow convinced them and security protected (us), and that was in the early evening. This time, it was late at night. Everything was normal and suddenly crowds… came and attacked, I was told. Even the Fire Brigade cannot enter the area, people blocked it. I don’t know why, for what reason, they are attacking me… The burning… throwing petrol, it seems to be an attempt on my life also… The law and order condition in the state of Manipur is totally a failure. The existing government could not maintain this despite the Central government sending a lot of protection and Rapid Action Force.”
The previous evening, state cabinet minister and Kangpokpi MLA Nemcha Kipgen’s official quarters had been set on fire in Imphal. Following that incident, nine Manipur police personnel were suspended for negligence and dereliction of duty while being posted for guarding her quarters.
On Tuesday night, nine Meitei people were killed in Kangpokpi district.
Meanwhile, BJP’s ally, the National People’s Party, said it would be compelled to reconsider their equation if the prevailing unrest persists. The NPP is the second largest party in Manipur with seven elected representatives in the House of 60.
Former Deputy CM Y Joykumar Singh said the Centre and the state have lost their grip on the situation.
“After Article 355 was invoked, law and order became the responsibility of the MHA. Subsequently, a security advisor was appointed to oversee the operations. However, it appears there is confusion about who has control over law and order. The confusion has aggravated the situation,” said Joykumar, who is also the national vice-president of NPP.
“Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his visit to the state, gave an assurance that there will be some significant development after 15 days. However, we cannot see any significant improvement in the situation; instead it is deteriorating,” he said.
“How long can we wait and watch when the state is burning? The NPP will be forced to reconsider our equation with the state government if the situation persists,” he said.
Imphal: Police personnel at Union Minister of State for External Affairs R K Ranjan Singhs residence in Imphal, Friday, June 16, 2023. (PTI Photo) 
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