Manipur Minister’s House Set Ablaze by Miscreants

By Sobhapati Samom 

Imphal, Jun 3 : Unidentified miscreants set on fire a Manipur Minister’s house in Senapati district last night. However, there is no report of any casualty.

Police said the incident took place when some unidentified miscreants poured inflammable substances on the Senapati residence of the Tribal Development Minister D D Thaissi located at the hill district headquarter, 60 km north of here, in the intervening night of June 1 and 2.

“We have taken up a case in connection with the incident,” Superintendent of Police Nishit Kumar Ujjal of Senapati district said over phone. “Investigation is on”, he added.

Minister Thaisii, a Poumai Naga leader, who was away in his official quarter here when the incident occurred, could not be contacted for details. The Minister’s two niece and some others were inside the house at the time of the incident.

No one has claimed responsibility for the incident so far. However, All Naga Students Association Manipur, demanding amendment of the Manipur District Council Act, had been imposing indefinite economic blockade on the National Highways 39 and 53 since April 11 last. It may also be noted that out of nine Naga legislators in the Manipur Assembly, seven MLAs have submitted their resignation to Speaker Dr S Budhichandra in the aftermath of the stand off between some Naga bodies and Manipur Government over NSCN-IM General Secretary Th Muivah’s proposed visit to his native Somdal village in Ukhrul district.

Last night’s incident happened soon after reports of destruction of around 10 houses belonging to candidates of the second phase Autonomous District Council (ADC) election which was held in the three hill districts of Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul on Wednesday.

Each ADC has 24 members. Of the 72 seats in the three districts, 36 candidates were declared elected uncontested. Thus elections were held in 30 seats – 20 in Tamenglong district, four in Ukhrul and six in Senapati to decide the fate of 184 candidates who are in fray.

Polling in almost all the polling booths were reportedly poor. But district authorities are planning to hold re-polling in some polling booths. Sources from Ukhrul said poll percentage in the district is said to be nil. But officials are likely to recommend repolling in Huishu, Laihoaram and Etham.

Senapati also witnessed a similar scene except a couple of booths which saw some voters.

More than 40 polling booths out of 77 are expected to see repollling in Tamenglong district.