Former Indian Army chief general (retired) Ved Prakash Malik has called for “urgent attention” to the situation in Manipur which saw a spurt in violence as riotous mobs combatted Rapid Action Force, set up flaming roadblocks and torched properties in the heart of Imphal town on Friday. The ethnic violence between the Meiteis and the Kuki tribe in Manipur continues despite the Centre and state government’s appeals for peace.
Tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh and Union home Minister Amit Shah on Twitter, general Malik asked for “urgent attention at the highest level”.
The former army chief was responding to a tweet by lieutenant general (retired) L Nishikanta Singh, a resident of Imphal, claiming that “the state is now stateless”.
“I’m just an ordinary Indian from Manipur living a retired life. The state is now ‘stateless’. Life and property can be destroyed anytime by anyone just like in Libya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Syria, etc. It appears Manipur has been left to stew in its own juice. Is anyone listening ?” lieutenant general Singh tweeted.
Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Union minister RK Ranjan Singh’s house attacked. On Thursday night, a house belonging to Union minister RK Ranjan Singh was attacked and attempts were made to burn it down. A warehouse near the royal palace belonging to a retired tribal IAS officer was burnt down completely.
