Clashes continue in Manipur, BJP office vandalised

Two more people were injured in clashes between security forces and miscreants in Imphal late on Friday night, with attacks on the residences of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and party offices, as the Manipur administration struggled to put a lid on the ethnic violence that has roiled the state for well over a month

- Utpal Parashar

GUWAHATI : The attacks came a day after an irate mob set fire to the Imphal residence of Union minister of state for external affairs RK Ranjan Singh, the second time it was attacked in less than a month.

Senior police officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that mobs in Imphal tried to attack the residence of Manipur BJP president A Sharda Devi in Porompat, but were repelled by personnel of the army, paramilitary forces and Rapid Action Force. Vandals targeted the BJP offices in Singjamei and Thongju, also in Imphal East. While the attempt in Singmajei was foiled, there was damage to the BJP’s Thongju office.

“There was also an attempt to loot arms from the Iringbam police station in Imphal West on Friday night that was also prevented by security forces. In all of these incidents, two people have been injured in Imphal,” a senior police officer said.

On Friday, Union minister RK Ranjan Singh, shocked by the arson in his home, had admitted to a “total failure of law and order in Manipur”.

“The existing (state) government hasn’t been able to maintain peace despite the central government sending a lot of protection,” Ranjan said. In the violence on Thursday night, two protesters and one Rapid Action Force personnel were injured.