The legislators and their family members were not at home when the angry mob stormed their residential compounds…reports Asian Lite News
Irate mobs set fire to the residences of three more BJP legislators, one of whom is a senior minister, and a Congress MLA in various districts of Imphal Valley even as security forces foiled the attempt of agitators to storm the ancestral residence of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, officials said.
The fresh incidents of violent protests took place on Saturday night even as indefinite curfew was clamped after people, agitated by the killing of three women and children each by militants in Jiribam district, attacked the residences of three state ministers and six MLAs earlier on Saturday.
Enraged people torched the houses of PWD Minister Govindas Konthoujam at Ningthoukhong, Hiyanglam’s BJP MLA Y Radheshyam at Langmeidong Bazar, Wangjing Tentha’s BJP MLA Paonam Brojen in Thoubal district and Khundrakpam’s Congress MLA Th Lokeshwar in Imphal East district, the officials said.
The legislators and their family members were not at home when the angry mob stormed their residential compounds, vandalised properties and set the houses on fire, police said, adding the houses were partially burnt in the incidents.
Fire services rushed to the spots and doused the blaze before the flames engulfed the entire houses. On Saturday night, protesters also advanced towards Biren Singh’s ancestral residence at Luwangshangbam in Imphal East but were stopped short of 100-200 metres by security forces.
Security personnel, including Assam Rifles, BSF and state forces, fired several rounds of tear gas shells, rubber bullets to disperse the protesters and foiled the attempt to damage Singh’s house, officials said.
Later, protesters burnt tyres on the main road leading to Biren Singh’s residence and piled iron roads to prevent vehicular movement. Protests continued till around 11 pm in Mantripukhri area, some 3-4 km from the CM’s ancestral home.
Officials said that many of the protesters had come in vehicles from other constituencies, and not from Heingang assembly seat, which the CM represented. On Sunday morning, the situation remained calm but tense in all five districts of Imphal Valley, where an indefinite curfew has been imposed and internet services suspended following violent protests after the discovery of the bodies of six persons, three women and children each, allegedly abducted and killed by militants in Jiribam.
Piles of burnt debris remained on the roads of state capital Imphal, a day after the violent protests. Security forces have intensified patrolling in parts of Imphal and increased deployment at many of the residences of legislators which were attacked on Saturday as well as all major roads leading to the secretariat, state BJP headquarters and Raj Bhavan.
On Saturday, agitators ransacked the houses of three legislators, including that of Biren Singh’s son-in-law R K Imo, who is also a BJP MLA, and set their properties on fire while security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters in different parts of Imphal, police said.
Among the ministers whose residences were stormed by the protesters are Sapam Ranjan, L Susindro Singh and Y Khemchand, an official said. Curfew was imposed for an indefinite period in Imphal East and West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching districts of Imphal Valley “due to developing law and order situation”, he said.
Shah cancels rallies, returns to Delhi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah cancelled his rallies in poll-bound Maharashtra and is headed back to Delhi as the situation in Manipur continues to be volatile, according to sources. “The Home Minister is likely to hold a meeting to review the situation in the Northeastern State,” the sources said.
Irate mobs set fire to the residences of three more BJP legislators, one of whom is a senior Minister, and a Congress MLA in various districts of Imphal Valley on Saturday night even as security forces foiled an attempt by agitators to storm the ancestral residence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
Shah was supposed to attend a few election rallies as part of the BJP’s campaign in Maharashtra but he has cancelled them and is returning to the national capital, the sources said. Though there was no official word on the reason behind the cancellation of the Minister’s rallies, the sources indicated that it could be due to the volatile situation in Manipur.
A team of central security officers is expected to visit Manipur soon to assess the situation and assist the State government in tackling the situation, they said. The fresh incidents of violence took place on Saturday night even as an indefinite curfew was clamped after people, agitated by the killing of three women and children each by militants in Jiribam district, attacked the residences of three state ministers and six MLAs earlier in the day.
Armed miscreants from both Meiti and Kuki communities in conflict have been indulging in violence leading to unfortunate loss of lives and disruption in public order in Manipur.
A day ago the Ministry of Home Affairs had informed that all the security forces were directed to take necessary steps to restore order and peace in Manipur.
It was also informed that strict action would be initiated against anyone trying to indulge in violent and disruptive activities.
The ministry also mentioned that important cases were handed over to the National Investigation Agency for effective investigation.
Meanwhile, the MHA requested public to maintain peace and not to believe in rumours and cooperate with the security forces to maintain law and order in the state.
In light of continued tensions in the region, the Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Anish Dayal Singh also reached Manipur earlier on Sunday.
This visit comes as the security situation remains volatile, with the CRPF playing a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability.
The Director General’s visit aims to assess the ground situation firsthand, meet with local security officials, and explore further measures to de-escalate tensions in the area. This high-level visit underscores the government’s commitment to addressing ongoing issues and ensuring the safety and well-being of the communities. (ANI)
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