Govt building gutted, minister's house attacked in Manipur

IMPHAL: Fresh violence was witnessed in Manipur as agitators torched a government building and attacked the house of a minister in Churachandpur district even as the curfew relaxation period was curtailed in district headquarters town, police said today.

The agitators set ablaze the old building of the sub-divisional officer at Singngat, 98 km from here, at about 7.30 PM last night, Superintendent of Police Mangkhogin Haokip said.

Most of the important files have already been shifted from the old building to the new one, construction of which was nearly completed, he said.

The protestors also attacked Health Minister Phungzathang Tonsing' house which was badly damaged by them on August 31 last. They broke open the gate and damaged the boundary wall of the complex last night, he said.

Meanwhile, curfew was relaxed from 5 AM to 10 AM in Churachandpur town today, while it was till 1 PM yesterday.

The agitators have been opposing passage of three bills by the Manipur Assembly on August 31 last relating to the protection of indigenous people of the state.