IRATE mobs set fire to the residences of three more BJP legislators, one of whom is a senior minister, and a Congress MLA in various districts of Imphal Valley even as security forces foiled the attempt of agitators to storm the ancestral residence of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, officials said. The fresh incidents of violent protests took place on Saturday night even as indefinite curfew was clamped after people, agitated by the killing of three women and children each by militants in Jiribam district, attacked the residences of three State Ministers and six MLAs earlier on Saturday. Enraged people torched the houses of PWD Minister Govindas Konthoujam at Ningthoukhong, Hiyanglam’s BJP MLA Y Radheshyam at Langmeidong Bazar, Wangjing Tentha’s BJP MLA Paonam Brojen in Thoubal district and Khundrakpam’s Congress MLA Th Lokeshwar in Imphal East district, the officials said.

 

The legislators and their family members were not at home when the angry mob stormed their residential compounds, vandalised properties and set the houses on fire, police said, adding the houses were partiallyburntintheincidents. Fire services rushed to the spots and doused the blaze beforetheflamesengulfedthe entire houses. On Saturdaynight, protesters also advanced towards Biren Singh’s ancestral residenceatLuwangshangbamin ImphalEastbutwerestopped short of 100-200 metres by security forces. Security personnel,including Assam Rifles, BSF and State forces, fired severalrounds of tear gas shells, rubber bullets to disperse the protesters and foiled the attempt to damage Singh’s house, officials said.

 

Later,protestersburnttyres on the main road leading to Biren Singh’s residence and piled iron roads to prevent vehicular movement. Protests continued till around11pminMantripukhri area, some 3-4 km from the CM’s ancestral home. Officials told PTIthatmany of the protesters had come in vehicles from other constituencies, and not from Heingang Assembly seat, which the CM represented. OnSundaymorning,thesituation remained calm but tense in all five districts of ImphalValley,whereanindefinitecurfewhasbeenimposed and internet services suspended following violent protests afterthe discovery of thebodiesofsixpersons,three women and children each, allegedly abducted and killed by militants in Jiribam. Piles of burnt debris remainedontheroadsofState capitalImphal, a day afterthe violent protests.

 

BJP DELIBERATELY WANTS MANIPURTOBURN: KHARGE: As fresh violence eruptedinManipur,Congress president MallikarjunKharge on Sunday alleged the ruling party deliberately wants the border state to burn as "it serves their hateful divisive politics". Kharge said the people of state will never forgive or forget that Prime Minister Narendra Modi left them to fend for themselves and never setfootintheir state toheal their miseries. “@narendramodi ji, Under your doubleenginegovernments, 'neither Manipur is one, nor is Manipur Safe',” the Congress president said in a post on X. 

 

 

THE Manipur Government has request- ed the Centre to review and withdraw AFSPA from areas falling under the jurisdiction of six police stations in the State, an official said. The Centre has reimposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in Manipur’s six police station areas, including violence-hit Jiribam. A letter from the Joint Secretary (Home) to the Centre on Saturday, mentioned that “the State Cabinet has deliberated upon the sam (reimposition of AFSPA) in its meeting held on November 15 and has decided to recommend to the Central Government to review and withdraw the said declarationofareasfallingunder the jurisdiction of six police stations in the State as disturbed areas under Section 3 of AFSPA 1958.”“Itis accordingly requested to kindly review and withdraw the notification dated 14- 11-2024 in public interest,” it said. The Ministry of Home AffairshadonNovember14reimposed AFSPA in areas falling under Sekmai PS and Lamsang PSinImphalWestdistrict,Lamlai in Imphal East, Moirang in Bishnupur, Leimakhong in KangpokpiandJiribaminJiribam district.

 

 

UNION Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday reviewed the security situa- tion in Manipur and directed top secu- rity officials to take all possible steps to ensure peace in the Northeastern State, sources said. Shah held the meeting soon after he returned from Maharashtra after cancelling his election rallies there. The Home Minister reviewed the security situation in Manipur with top security officials and directed them to take all possible steps to ensure peace, the sources said