A major fire broke out at an abandoned building near the Manipur secretariat complex in Imphal on Saturday evening, raising serious security concerns. The building is just a few hundred metres from the official bungalow of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, reports claimed.
At least three fire tenders had been pressed into the service to douse the blaze, police said, adding that they were trying to ascertain the reason for the fire.
Following the incident, security has been tightened for the chief minister’s bungalow.
According to reports, the building that caught fire belonged to the family of late IAS officer T. Kipgen, former chief secretary of Goa, and has been abandoned since violence broke out in Manipur last year.
The fire incident took place less than a week after CM Singh's advance security convoy in Kangpokpi district was ambushed by suspected militants on Monday and amid the recent surge of violence in Jiribam district.
The convoy was on its way to Jiribam when it came under attack near Kotlen village along a stretch of National Highway-53.
The chief minister had termed it a direct attack on himself and the people of the state, assuring that the "rule of law" will be established.
Manipur has remained gripped by recurring bouts of violence since ethnic clashes between Kuki and Meitei communities erupted on May 3, 2023. Over 219 people have been killed in the violence.
