NEW DELHI, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The house of federal Junior Minister of External Affairs R.K. Ranjan Singh was set on fire by a mob Thursday night in a fresh flare-up of violence, confirmed a state government official.
The development followed the burning of two houses and clashes between the Rapid Action Force of Manipur and a mob in the heart of Manipur's capital city of Imphal on Thursday afternoon.
Ranjan expressed grief over the incident, saying "I am shocked. The law and order situation in Manipur has totally failed," local media reported on Friday.
News agency the Press Trust of India quoted state government officials as saying that security guards and fire-fighters managed to control arson attempts by the mob and saved the minister's house from being completely burnt down.
Earlier on Wednesday, the official residence of Manipur's Minister Nemcha Kipgen in the Lamphel area in Imphal West district was set on fire by unidentified people. This incident occurred a day after nine people were killed and 10 injured in a village in the Khamenlok area of ethnic strife-hit Manipur.
Fortunately, no one was present in the house of Kipgen, a Kuki community leader, when it was torched, said media reports.
Meanwhile, the ban on Internet services was extended till June 20 in the state. ■