Imphal:
Widespread arson was witnessed in Manipur tonight with houses of a state minister, an MP and five MLAs being set on fire by unidentified people in Churachandpur district apparently over passage of some bills in the Assembly, prompting imposition of curfew in the town.
Altogether seven houses were torched in the incidents that took place hours after the Assembly passed three bills to protect the indigenous people of Manipur.
The bills are The Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015, The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh amendment) Bill, 2015, and The Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015.
A police officer said the houses of the MP of Outer Manipur Thangso Baite, the state’s minister-in-charge for Family Welfare Phungzaphang Tonsimg and five MLAs, including Manga Vaiphei of Henglep Assembly constituency and Vungzagin Valte of Thanlom, were torched.
In view of the situation, the administration imposed indefinite curfew in Churachandpur town, the officer said.
One of the arsonists was hospitalised after sustaining serious injuries while trying to set fire to a house, the officer added.
Three tribal students’ organisations, which had called a 12-hour bandh today in the hill districts to protest against the passing of some Bills in the Manipur Assembly, are suspected to be behind the arson, the officer said.
