Manipur violence: Mob sets Union Minister RK Ranjan Singh’s house in Imphal on fire

The residence of Union Minister of State for External Affairs RK Ranjan Singh at Kongba in Imphal was set on fire by a mob late on Thursday night amid ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, the state government confirmed.

The Union minister and his family members were not present at their house when the petrol bombs were hurled and informed that "no one was injured".

“Currently I am in Kerala on official work. Fortunately, no one was hurt at my home in Imphal last night. Miscreants came with petrol bombs and the ground floor and first floor of my house were damaged,” RK Ranjan Singh told ANI. The Minister said that the situation in Manipur is very worrying and that he is still pressing for peace. He described those who indulge in these acts of violence as "absolutely inhuman".

Earlier on Thursday, a mob torched two houses as clashes broke out between enraged rioters and security personnel in Imphal on Thursday. This comes after a new outbreak of violence on Wednesday, in which nine people were shot dead and ten others were injured.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday said the government was holding talks at several levels and strict action would be taken against those found guilty of violence.