Mob vandalises house of Manipur PWD minister Konthoujam Govindas, alleging government’s failure to protect locals from militants.
The house of Manipur PWD Minister Konthoujam Govindas in Bishnupur district was vandalised on Wednesday by a group of people alleging that the state government had not taken sufficient action to protect locals from armed militants belonging to another community. The minister, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and his family were not present at the house during the attack.
The incident marked the first time that a minister’s residence had been targeted since the outbreak of ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur three weeks ago. The clashes have so far claimed the lives of more than 70 people and left over 300 injured. In response to the escalating violence, the army and paramilitary forces have been deployed to the state to restore calm.
According to officials, the mob, consisting mostly of women, stormed the house located in the Ningthoukhong area, damaging the gate, windows, furniture, electronic gadgets, and parked vehicles. The attackers expressed their anger towards Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Govindas, and other BJP MLAs, accusing them of remaining silent and failing to protect them from armed militants.
Additional Incidents of Violence and Property Damage Reported
In another incident, militants reportedly set fire to several houses in Toronglaobi, Bishnupur district, late Tuesday night. As a result, the authorities decided to reduce the relaxation hours of the curfew. While there were rumours of casualties in Churachandpur district, no official confirmation has been provided.
In a separate incident, the army recovered five shotguns, five improvised local grenades, and three cartons of shotgun ammunition from a car in Senapati district. Three individuals were apprehended and handed over to the police along with the seized items.
Army Commander Assesses Security Situation in Manipur
To assess and review the ground security situation, Eastern Army commander Lieutenant General R P Kalita conducted a three-day visit to strife-torn Manipur, concluding on Wednesday. The state, which shares international borders with Myanmar, has been facing a challenging security scenario. During his visit, Lt. Gen. Kalita held meetings with local stakeholders, including representatives from all communities and civil society organisations. He emphasised the need for a suspension of hostilities by all sections of society.
Lt. Gen. Kalita also met with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and senior government officials to discuss the ongoing situation and explore measures to promote unity among all agencies and restore normalcy as soon as possible. He urged the people of Manipur to maintain peace, harmony, and engage in constructive dialogue for lasting peace in the region.
Background: Trigger and Intensification of Ethnic Violence in Manipur
The violence in Manipur was sparked by a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The clashes further intensified due to tensions over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, leading to a series of smaller agitations.
Manipur’s population comprises approximately 53 percent Meiteis, who primarily reside in the Imphal Valley, and 40 percent Nagas and Kukis, who are predominantly found in the hill districts. The clashes between these communities have resulted in a significant loss of life and necessitated the deployment of approximately 10,000 army and paramilitary personnel to restore peace in the northeastern state.
