The Hindu newspaper reported that a mob destroyed the home of a housing and communal services minister in the Indian state of Manipur due to the authorities’ failure to protect residents from armed extremists.
On the evening of May 24, a mob vandalized the home of Minister Kuntugam Govindas in Bishnupur over the alleged failure of the state government to take action to protect the local population from armed tribal extremists.
The newspaper notes that a crowd of about 100 people, mostly women, damaged the gates, windows, furniture, electronics and cars parked outside the minister’s house.
For its part, API news agency, citing officials, said that on Sunday three young men were wounded and taken to hospital after a group of suspected militants opened fire on local residents in the city.
Earlier, the authorities of Manipur ordered the army units to use weapons against the instigators of unrest and clashes on tribal grounds. The army managed to take control of the situation in 2 of the 10 districts of Manipur, where there were major clashes between representatives of the Koki and Mete tribes earlier this week. The cause of the clashes was the demand of immigrants from the Mete tribe to receive the status of the so-called “registered caste” in Manipur. This status gives members of the said caste many privileges, including when applying for a job in a government agency or institution, and when entering institutions of higher learning, among other benefits.
This caused a protest from the Koki tribe, which is the indigenous population of the state, which considered such demands an infringement on their rights.
Source: News
