Manipur Violence : Petrol Bombs Hurled At MPs House

In another act of aggression from ongoing Manipur violence, petrol bombs hurled at MP RK Ranjan Singh’s House

During the ongoing turmoil in Manipur, a mob in Imphal targeted the residence of RK Ranjan Singh, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, setting it on fire late Thursday night. Speaking to the media, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, a member of the Ministry of External Affairs, stated that he was currently in Kerala for official duties and fortunately, no one was injured during the incident at his Imphal home. He explained that the assailants used petrol bombs, resulting in damage to both the ground floor and first floor of his house.

Manipur: Petrol bombs hurled at Union Minister RK Ranjan's residence in Imphal

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Around 11 pm on Thursday, a group forcefully entered Ranjan Singh’s residence and attempted to set his property on fire. The outnumbered house guards stationed at the residential gate were unable to prevent the mob from entering.

This attack on Singh’s house adds to a series of similar attacks on politicians’ residences. The official residence of Manipur Minister Nemcha Kipgen was set on fire by unidentified individuals when she was absent on Wednesday. No injuries were reported. This incident marks the second time the minister’s house has been targeted by a mob. During a previous attack in May, security personnel fired warning shots to disperse the crowd.

The violence in Manipur shows no sign of stopping

This latest act of violence is part of a string of conflicts in the northeastern state, which has witnessed clashes between two groups due to the demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. The unrest began after a “Tribal Solidarity March” took place in the hill districts on May 3, protesting against the Meitei community’s call for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Since May 3, over 100 individuals have lost their lives in clashes between the Meiteis, residing in and around the state capital’s Imphal valley, and the Kuki tribe, settled in the hills, as the valley residents seek inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.

Opinion On Prime Minister Modi’s Silence On The Issue

It is high time that the center government should take some stern steps to restore peace in the state as hundreds have been killed so far in the ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities which started on 8th May 2023. The union home minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state a few weeks ago is proving to be of no use as the violence has only increased since then and there is no sign or even a word from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue so far and opposition politicians as well as the BJP cadre from Manipur is asking for Prime Minister’s intervention to save the state from further loss of lives and property.

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