A significant fire erupted today at a building close to the high-security secretariat complex in Manipur’s capital, Imphal. The building, located just a few hundred meters from Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s official residence, caught fire this evening, according to police reports.
Emergency response teams, including four fire trucks, were dispatched to the scene and successfully extinguished the blaze. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire.
Breaking News | Fire At Manipur Secretariat Near Chief Minister’s Bungalow.#Manipur | #CMBirenSingh pic.twitter.com/6Ja3blGq1B
— News EXPO (@NewsExpo_) June 15, 2024
The affected building is situated within the same complex as the main office of Kuki Inpi, a civil society organization representing the Kuki tribes. This group has been supporting the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a Churachandpur-based Kuki organization advocating for a “separate administration” in Manipur.
Sources have indicated that arson has not been ruled out as a potential cause of the fire.
This incident follows a recent surge in violence in Manipur’s Jiribam district, which borders Assam. Clashes have erupted between the valley-dominant Meitei community and the hill-dominant Hmar tribes, contributing to the region’s ongoing tensions.
The situation in Manipur remains tense as authorities continue to monitor developments closely.
Also Read: ‘Manipur has been waiting for peace for a year’: Mohan Bhagwat on violence in state
Following the BJP’s lackluster performance in the recent general elections, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has publicly urged the party to reflect and take action. Speaking to a group of RSS trainees in Nagpur, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat expressed concerns this evening about the ongoing violence in Manipur and the recent Lok Sabha election results.
For the first time since the violence erupted in Manipur in May last year, Mohan Bhagwat addressed the situation in the northeastern state, stressing the critical need for peace. “Manipur has been waiting for peace for a year. Violence has to be stopped, and it has to be given priority,” he asserted.
Bhagwat also commented on the country’s progress in various areas, stating, “We have made strides in many fields like economy, defence strategy, sports, culture, technology, etc. That does not mean that we have overcome all the challenges.”
