After setting fire to a warehouse, rioters attempted to attack the minister’s residence in Hulai, Imphal East District, Manipur.
Published Date – Sat 23/24 at 2:39pm
Imphal: Plastic pipes and other materials worth 1.2 billion rupees were reduced to ashes after a mob burned Manipur minister L. Susindro Meitei’s private warehouse in Chingarel, East District of Imphal, police said on Saturday.
Mobs tried to storm the minister’s residence in Khurai, Imphal’s east district, on Friday night after setting fire to a warehouse, police said.
The attack was stopped and the mob dispersed thanks to the timely intervention of security forces.
Security forces fired several rounds of tear gas to disperse rioters in the Hu Lai area until midnight on Friday, police said.
No casualties were reported in the incident.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, the minister in charge of public health works, consumer affairs and food said it was a politically motivated attack.
Earlier, mobs torched the homes of several ministers, MLAs and leaders of various political parties. These include the residences of Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Manipur Single Ladies Minister Nemcha Kipgen and Public Welfare Minister Konthoujam Govindas, Uripok Constituency MLA Raghumani Singh, Sugnoo MLA K. Ranjit Singh and Naoriya Pakhanglakpa MLA S. Kebi Devi.
Friday night’s incident came as there were still ongoing reports of shootings between militants and security forces in various parts of the Imphaldong and Compobi areas.
Police said the mob, made up of both men and women, demanded an early resolution to the racial conflict between Mingting and Jiuxi communities.
The mob accused all ministers and MLAs of not doing enough to end the crisis in Manipur.
