As tensions escalate, protests turn violent with a BJP office torched and a minister’s residence set ablaze, while the death toll rises
Violence continues to escalate in Manipur as protests and clashes between security forces and demonstrators intensify. On Monday, several BJP office bearers from the Jiribam district submitted their resignations, citing the “unwelcome” situation in the state. The BJP state office, however, clarified that it had yet to receive the resignation letters, even as the political turmoil deepens. The leaders addressed their resignations to Manipur BJP chief Sharda Devi, adding to the ongoing unrest.
The violence stems from a deadly incident on November 11 when six Meitei civilians, abducted by Kuki militants, were found dead, sparking widespread protests. On Sunday, the situation worsened when a protester was killed and another injured after security forces opened fire to disperse a violent mob in Jiribam. The fatality, identified as 20-year-old K Athouba, occurred around 11 pm in Babupara, where the crowd ransacked and set fire to BJP and Congress local offices.
In another disturbing development, an angry mob attacked the residence of Public Works and Youth Affairs Minister Govindas Konthoujam, setting it ablaze. The fire caused extensive damage, with losses estimated at around Rs 3 crore. The protesters, numbering between 300 and 400, also destroyed the minister’s office located within the premises, adding to the unrest that has gripped the region.
The ongoing violence and destruction have prompted Union Home Minister Amit Shah to review the security situation in Manipur. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed security forces to take immediate steps to restore order and peace in the region, where inter-communal violence has already claimed at least 250 lives and displaced over 60,000 people since May 2023.
The situation remains tense as Manipur grapples with deep-rooted ethnic divisions and political instability, with authorities struggling to bring peace to the beleaguered state.
