Imphal witnessed yet another episode of violent clashes between riotous mob and Manipur’s Rapid Action Force on Friday evening after it had torched a warehouse. Police used tear gas shells to disperse the mob as it was believed that it would target other properties.
Manipur officials have said that the violence occurred near the Imphal palace grounds.
Fire personnel and security forces rushed to the site and brought the warehouse fire under control and prevented it from spreading to the neighbouring houses.
The property belonged to a retired high-profile IAS officer from the tribal community.
On June 14 in Imphal East, nine people were killed while more than 10 were injured. Yesterday, the state government also extended the clamp on internet in the state up to 20 June.
On 14 June, unidentified individuals had set on fire the official residence of woman Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgen, located in the Lamphel area of Imphal West district. In a separate incident that occurred around 1 am, armed miscreants surrounded the Kuki village located in the Khamenlok area, which borders the Imphal East district and Kangpoki district.
These individuals launched an attack on the village, leading to a gun battle between the attackers and the villagers. Both sides incurred casualties and injuries during the confrontation, according to officials.
Earlier last night Union Minister of State for External Affairs R K Ranjan Singh’s house in Imphal town was vandalised by a mob which also tried to burn it down, officials said.
This development comes after the burning of two houses, and clashes between the Rapid Action Force of Manipur and a mob in the heart of Imphal town on Thursday afternoon. The mob which roamed the town late on Thursday also clashed with security forces, officials said.
Reacting to the developments, RK Ranjan Singh told news agency PTI, “I am trying to bring peace and stop violence since May 3 (when ethnic clashes began in the state) … this is all a misunderstanding between two communities. The government has set up a peace committee, the process is on. Civil society leaders are sitting together.”
