The residence of Union Minister R K Ranjan in Imphal was set on fire by a mob on Thursday night, officials said. The mob of over 1000 people hurled petrol bombs at Ranjan's house at Kongba in Imphal East district despite the presence of security forces.
There are no casualities as Singh and his family were not at their house in Imphal at the time of the incident. "I am currently in Kerala for official work. Thankfully, nobody got injured last night at my Imphal home. The miscreants came with petrol bombs and damage has been done to the ground floor and first floor of my home."
He added that he would continue to appeal for peace. "It is very sad to see what is happening in my home state. I will still continue to appeal for peace. Those indulging in this kind of violence are absolutely inhuman," he added.
Despite a curfew in place at Imphal, the mob managed to reach the minister's house at Kongba. Security personnel posted at the minister's house said the petrol bombs were hurled from all directions during the attack.
#WATCH | Manipur: A mob torched Union Minister of State for External Affairs RK Ranjan Singh's residence at Kongba in Imphal on Thursday late night. https://t.co/zItifvGwoG pic.twitter.com/LWAWiJnRwc
— ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2023
There were nine security escorts personnel, five security guards and eight additional guards at the time of the incident. "We couldn't prevent the incident as the mob was overwhelming and we couldn't control the situation. They threw petrol bombs coming in from all directions.. from the bye lane behind the building and from the front entrance. so we simply couldn't control the mob," Escort Commander L Dineshwor Singh was quoted by NDTV.
Singh's house had come under attack earlier too. On May 26, a mob had stormed his residence, following which Imphal East Police rushed to the spot to control the situation. The RAP personnel on duty had resorted to tear gas shelling and fired five blank rounds to disperse the crowd.
The strife-torn state witnessed fresh incidents of violence on Thursday. More incidents of arson were reported after two abandoned houses were were set on fire by a mob. An attack in the Khamenlok area had left nine people dead and injured ten others. No casualty was reported.
The incident happened as the army and Assam Rifles intensified their area domination operations after violence broke out in a Kuki village in the Khamenlok area bordering Imphal East and Kangpoki districts on Wednesday. The villagers had fired at miscreants who attacked the village. Security forces tried to quell the mob used force and fired tear gas shells.
The miscreants also set on fire the official quarters of woman Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgen in the Lamphel area in Imphal West district. Firefighters reached the spot and doused the flames before the blaze could spread to the neighbourhood.
