IMPHAL: Violence continues in the northeastern state of Manipur, with a group of miscreants torching the residence of Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh in Imphal’s Kongba on Thursday night. The house was almost completely burnt down. It is reported that around a thousand people surrounded the house with petrol bombs and other weapons. Although security personnel were present, they could not do anything to stop the assailants. The minister was not at home at the time of the incident. No one was injured.

Ranjan Singh has been trying hard to end the conflict in the state. He had held peace talks with the two groups last month. He also wrote to the Prime Minister demanding that the leaders responsible for the conflict be found and punished.

On June 14 in Imphal East, nine people were killed while more than 10 were injured. Yesterday, the state government extended the clamp on the internet in the state up to June 20. On Wednesday, miscreants tried to burn down the official residence of Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgen in Imphal West. His home was partly burnt.

Since the last month and a half, there have been restrictions in the state of Manipur, including clamp down on the internet. On May 29, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the northeastern state for a period of four days during which he held meetings with Chief Minister N Biren Singh, leaders of all political parties, civil society, women groups, tribal groups and security personnel. Shah had announced that a peace committee would be formed in the state. The committee was formed days after the announcement by the Home Minister.