Mob sets fire to private godown of Manipur minister, plastic pipes worth Rs 120 cr burnt

Imphal: Police said on Saturday that a mob thrashed Manipur minister L.K. A private godown of Susindro Meitei was torched, reducing plastic pipes and other materials worth Rs 120 crore to ashes. Police said that after setting the godown on fire on Friday night, the mob tried to attack the minister’s residence at Khurai in the same Imphal East district.

Due to the timely intervention of the security forces, the attack was stopped and the crowd dispersed. Police said security forces fired several rounds of tear gas shells till midnight on Friday to disperse the mob from Khurai areas. There is no information about any casualty in the incident.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, the Minister, who holds the portfolios of Public Health Engineering, Consumer Affairs, Food, said that it was a politically motivated attack.

Earlier, the mob had burnt the residences of several ministers, legislators and leaders of various political parties. These include Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Manipur’s only woman minister Nemcha Kipgen and PWD Minister Konthoujam Govindas, Uripok constituency MLA Raghumani Singh, Suganu MLA K. Ranjit Singh and Naoria Pakhangalkapa MLA S. Contains the residence of KB Devi.

Friday night’s incident came as incidents of exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces were being reported from various places in Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts.

Police said the mob, which consisted of men and women, demanded an early resolution of the ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The mob accused all ministers and legislators of not doing enough to end the Manipur crisis.