The house of Union Minister of State for External Affairs Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh in Imphal town was vandalised by a mob, officials said. Security guards and firefighters managed to control arson attempts by the mob and save the minister’s house from being burnt down on Thursday night, they said.

The development comes after the burning of two houses, and clashes between the Rapid Action Force of Manipur and a mob in the heart of Imphal town on Thursday afternoon.

The mob which roamed the town late on Thursday also clashed with security forces, the officials said.

Sound of firing could be heard in Imphal East district till the early hours of Friday as security forces fired numerous rounds of tear gas shells and mock bombs to disperse angry locals protesting the killing of nine civilians on Wednesday.

Two protesters and one Rapid Action Force personnel were injured during the confrontation. RAF constable was hit by a stone on his head, said officials.

Protesters at Nongmeibung and Wangkhei blocked the main streets by piling up stones and construction materials and engaged in pitch battles with security forces, they said.

Reacting to the developments, Ranjan Singh told PTI Video, “There was an incident at my residence in Manipur last night.”

The Minister, who is currently in Kochi to attend a party program, said, “I am trying to bring peace and stop violence since May 3 (when ethnic clashes began in the state) this is all a misunderstanding between two communities. The government has set up a peace committee, the process is on. Civil society leaders are sitting together.”

Ranjan Singh said the government will talk to all communities and find a way out.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, on Friday, wrote on Twitter that he was “disturbed by the unabated incidents of violence in Manipur” and appealed the “brothers and sisters from our sister State to come together for peace.”

I am deeply disturbed by the unabated incidents of violence in Manipur. The loss of lives, property, and destruction of religious places must end. I fervently appeal to our brothers and sisters from our sister State to come together for peace.

— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) June 16, 2023

Read more: Manipur violence: Security forces clash with mob, houses set on fire at Imphal

Mob tries to gherao Union minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh’s residence in Manipur