GUWAHATI: The house of a federal Indian minister was set ablaze by a mob in the remote northeastern state of Manipur on Friday, which has been affected by deadly clashes between members of rival ethnic groups since May.
Junior foreign minister R. K. Ranjan Singh’s office confirmed the reports that a mob attacked and set ablaze his house in the Imphal, Manipur. Luckily, none of the family members or caretakers were wounded in the attack on the house, he said.
Singh said that he was shocked as the law and order situation in the area had totally failed, Reuters reported.
Minister hails from Metei community
The incident occurred after weeks of violent clashes between members of the ethnic community Kuki, which mostly live in the hills, and Meiteis, the dominant population in the low lands of Manipur. Singh hails from the Meitei community.
No group has taken the responsibility for the attack.
Clashes between the two rival communities started on 3 May, caused by resentment over financial benefits and quotas for smoth access to government employment and education opportunities reserved for the Kukis.
Meiteis account for half of the state population and increasing their limited quotas would mean they would get a lion share in the opportunities reserved for Kukis and others.
Latest federal home ministry records revealed taht 83 people have been killed and more than 60,000 residents displaced since the violence erupted in May.
Civil society groups from the both communities said that hundreds of their people were wounded and homeless.
