Source: The Sangai express
Imphal, June 18:
Assembly Secretariat, Chief Minister’s Secretariat, political party offices, MLA’s quarters and the bungalow of the Speaker were set on fire as angry protestors went on the rampage today.
Trouble started when enraged mobs from different directions of the State capital made their way towards Raj Bhavan.
The mobs bulldozed their way through various points where police, MR and IRB personnel were positioned at Keishampat, Sagolband, Uripok Machin and Moirangkhom.
The enraged mob broke through the security cordon and made their way towards Raj Bhavan.
The mob first set afire the MSCP office located opposite the Electricity office then next targeted Congress Bhavan and the office of the MPP.
These offices were all reduced to cinders in no time.
The mob did not spare even the State Assembly and set it aflame reducing it to cinders.
Two MLAs, S Bihari and K Tomba sustained grievous burn injuries in the Assembly fire.
The Chief Minister’s Secretariat and the quarters of Union MoS for food Processing Th Chaoba were set ablaze.
Seven MLA quarters located at Babupara were also reduced to ashes as the mob went about systematically setting them on fire.
The fire destroyed the Chief Minister’s office, conference hall and all other rooms.
All vehicles were also reduced to cinders.
Efforts by the fire brigade personnel to save the bungalow prove fertile.
The mob however left the living quarter, security room, front outhouse and the place of worship untouched.
The enraged mob rushed to the wing of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat where the Advisor to the governor, K Kipgen is housed and set it aflame reducing it to rubbles in no time.
The next target was the official residence of Union MoS Thounaojam Chaoba.
The mob set the quarters ablaze after thoroughly ransacking it.
According to MR personnel on sentry duty at Chaoba’s quarters, the mob attacked the quarters from different directions and after breaking through the main gate set it on fire.
A sum of about Rs 1 lakh including two months pay of the ten MR personnel went up in smoke during the fire.
A Mark IV rifle was also destroyed in the fire.
The burnt remains of the rifle were displayed before media persons.
The office of the Samata Party, CPI office and the official bungalow of the Speaker were also set ablaze.
The official quarters of FPM MLA Prof Gangumei was also set aflame by the enraged mob.
The quarters of MLA M Kunjo was also reduced to cinders.
One Ambassador Car and two Gypsies were destroyed by the fire.
The mob also set on fire the official residences of MLAs P Achou, Kashim Ruivah, Z Mangaibou, Hangkhalian, Dr L Chandramani and Songchinkhup located at Lamphel just after the killing of more than 10 demonstrators and injuring more than 50 this afternoon.
Police fired several rounds in the air to disperse the mob at Lamphel.
Except for the quarters of Songchinkhup, the four other quarters were badly burnt.
The official residences of L Tomba and S Chandro were also set ablaze and reduced to ashes.
The Planning office located at Babupara was also torched.
Properties worth crores of rupees were destroyed.
Fire personnel who rushed to the spot of the fire were turned back by the enraged mob in front Imphal Talkies.
Fire service personnel were caught in a fix as all the fire came up simultaneously.
The quarters of MLA Onjamang was also reduced to ashes.
Samata Party MLA M Oken was more fortunate as the mob did not set his official residence on fire.
However the living quarters was dismantled.
Two Gypsy’s were also destroyed by the enraged mob.