Manipur violence: Mob Attacks Union Minister's Residence; CM Appeals For Peace

Amid the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, a group of people tried to gherao the residence of Union Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh in Imphal East district claiming that the government in the strife-torn state is not doing enough to protect locals from militants belonging to another community, officials said on Friday.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh has once again appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony and announced holding of peace talks with all communities and stakeholders to normalise the situation.

He also said that additional security forces had been brought to the state and security personnel comprising CAPF, Manipur Police, Manipur Rifles, IRB and VDF have been deployed at 38 vulnerable areas.

Clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The violence in Manipur was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

The ethnic clashes claimed over 70 lives and some 10,000 army and paramilitary personnel had to be deployed to restore normalcy in the northeastern state.