Manipur government offered protection to BJP MP Rajkumar Ranjan Singh's House in May

The Manipur government had offered protection by central forces to the Imphal residence of Union minister of state for external affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh after it was identified as one of the vulnerable targets following stone pelting incidents in May, according to people in the know.

However, Singh, BJP MP from Inner Manipur, had refused the security cover fearing that it might attract the attention of miscreants, the people said.

When contacted, Singh said he would "like to remain silent at the moment". According to officials familiar with the development, Singh's house was attacked in May after a 40-year-old man from the Meitei community was killed in a second spate of violence in Bishnupur district.


"The mob had earlier tried to attack my house on May 25, but the security forces managed to stop them. I don't understand why they attacked my house again," Singh said after his house was set ablaze on Thursday night.

"The law and order situation in the state is a total failure and the state government could not maintain it despite the central government sending a lot of protection, including Rapid Action Force," he said.

Imphal East SP Shivakanta: "Security deployment for Imphal East is in two layers. One at the city town area and the other in the foothills. CRPF has been deployed in the foothills and Manipur Police is in sensitive areas with CRPF, under the supervision of DIG and IG for Imphal zone. We feel that people also do not want violence and police is taking preventive actions."