At least three government buildings — a dispensary, a school and a veterinary hospital — were torched on Saturday morning at Kangchup in Imphal West district by unknown persons.
The fire-fighters and villagers could not save the buildings. Police suspect villagers who have been protesting against the inclusion of the nearby villages of Kangchup, which have been hitherto under the Imphal West district, in the newly demarcated Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council (ADC).
In practical terms, it means that the villagers will have the voting rights to elect tribal representatives but cannot contest the seats.
The fate of the non-tribal voters in seven Assembly segments is similar.
They can elect one tribal MP but cannot contest the seat and this is regarded as a negation of democratic norms. The government has been turning a deaf ear to the protests by the villagers of Kangchup not to bring the villages under the reserved ADC.
Police have picked up some protesters.
However, it is not known whether those persons are involved in the incident.
Four bridges opened
Manipur Works Minister K. Ranjit on Saturday inaugurated four bridges located at Kyamgei, Bijoy Govinda, Thoubal Haokha and Thoubal Babu. They were constructed with financial assistances under the Central non-lapsable resources.
