Minister's house vanadalised in Manipur

In sporadic violence, the house of a minister in north eastern Indian state of Manipur was vandalised today by a group of people alleging the state government is not doing enough to protect locals from militants belonging to another community, officials said.

The house of PWD Minister Konthoujam Govindas, who is also a leader of the state's ruling BJP, in Bishnupur district was vandalised today. However, the minister and his family members were not present when the mob, comprising mostly of women, attacked the house in Ningthoukhong area and damaged a portion of a gate, windows, a few furniture and electronic gadgets.

This is the first time a minister's house was attacked during the ongoing ethnic violence between majority Meitei and minority Kuki community people in the state that started three weeks ago and claimed more than 70 lives.

"The locals were angry. They alleged that Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Govindas, and other BJP MLAs have been silent over the ongoing violence and not doing enough to protect them from armed militants," PTI quoted an official as saying.

Clashes had erupted in Manipur after a "Tribal Solidarity March" was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest non-tribal Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status which would give them preference in government jobs and admission in educational institutions.

The violence in Manipur was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land.