Manipur human rights activist’s home vandalised

Earlier on Thursday, members of Meitei Leepun issued a “boycott call” against Loitongbam and former police officer Thounaojam Brinda – both from the Meitei community – directing them to not appear on public platforms till the ongoing conflict was resolved. Loitongbam could not be reached for comment following the vandalisation of his house.

Around the month of May – the same time violence had first broken out in the state – Loitongbam in an interview with NewsClick pointed out the emergence of “some new groups called Meitei Leepun and Arambai Tenggol”. While discussing the causes of the violence in Manipur, he said these groups had “injected militancy” into the Meitei community. He has also been consistently critical of the role of Chief Minister Biren Singh and has called for his resignation.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Lanjing Hanjaba of Meetei Leepun alleged that Loitongbam and Thounaojam had “falsely accused” the organisation of igniting the violence. Terming the allegations baseless, Hanjaba had warned that both Loitongbam and Brinda would be “held responsible for any untoward incidents arising from violation of the restrictions.”

Earlier on Wednesday, a group of people including volunteers of these organisations and women had gathered at the Moirangkhom residence of Thounaojam Brinda asking her to “clarify” allegations she had purportedly levelled against Meetei Leepun and another Meitei group, Arambai Tenggol, of instigating violence.

Police said that on Wednesday night, an “unknown miscreant” had torched some firewood belonging to a Meitei family in Keithelmanbi in the adjoining area of Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts. Police said that security was beefed up in the area.