Law and order failure in Manipur despite presence of central forces: Union minister
Imphal (IANS) | Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh on Friday said that despite the presence of central forces in large numbers in Manipur, there has been a complete failure of law and order. Significantly, the mob ransacked and set on fire the house of minister Ranjan Singh in Imphal. Singh, who is currently in Kerala to attend a political event, said, “I completely fail to understand why people are targeting me and attacking my house for the second time.” I am trying my best and talking to the central government to bring normalcy in Manipur.
He said, I am shocked by this incident. The law and order situation in Manipur has completely failed. The present state government could not maintain the law and order situation despite the large number of central forces being provided by the Centre. I do not know why the state machinery has failed. Had I or my family members been at the residence at the time of the attack, it could have posed a serious threat to our lives. Union Home Minister Amit Shah called me after the incident.
He said that on Thursday night the mob hurled petrol bombs and even the fire brigade could not enter the house in time as the attackers were stopped.
Singh, an educationist-turned-politician who was elected to the Lok Sabha from Inner Manipur parliamentary seat on a BJP ticket, had earlier said that the demand for a separate state for tribals was made under tremendous pressure.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh had requested an end to the mechanical division in Manipur and suggested that the entire state be merged with Himachal Pradesh, without any discrimination between the hill dwellers and the people of the valley. On the pattern should be the people as a whole.
He said in the letter that if the need arises, Article 371C relating to special provisions for hilly areas of Manipur can be amended.
Singh told the Prime Minister that the Kuki leaders, including their 10 MLAs, in utter despair and desperation, demanded a separate political administration (equivalent to a separate state) for the tribals.
Singh and Naga People’s Front (NPF) MP Lorho S. Foje had earlier urged the people to maintain peace and ethnic harmony and keep their faith and trust in the government to control the situation.
Pophoj, a doctor-turned-politician, has been elected from the Outer Manipur seat.
According to police, defying curfew, a mob of 200 men and women attacked the residence of a Union minister on Thursday night.
A portion of the minister’s house was gutted, but security guards and firefighters contained the fire from spreading further.
Singh’s house was first targeted on May 25 when thousands of people attempted to gather in front of the residence, but were stopped by security forces.
Police said the crowd, which was demanding an early resolution to the caste conflict, accused all ministers and legislators of not doing enough to end the crisis.
–IANS
