Major Fire Erupts Near Manipur Secretariat, Close To Chief Minister’s Bungalow

A massive fire broke out today at a building near the high-security secretariat complex in Imphal, the capital of Manipur. The building is located just a few hundred meters from the official residence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, according to the police.

Four fire trucks were dispatched to the scene and successfully extinguished the blaze this evening. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire.

The affected building is situated within the same complex as the main office of the Kuki Inpi, a civil society organization representing the Kuki tribes. The Kuki Inpi has been supporting the demand by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), based in Churachandpur, for a “separate administration” to be carved out of Manipur.

Also read: Delhi High Court Appoints Chief Secretary To Prevent Tree Felling For Delhi University Expansion

This incident comes less than a week after renewed violence erupted in Manipur’s Jiribam district, which borders Assam. The clashes involved the valley-dominant Meitei community and the hill-dominant Hmar tribes.