Manipur social activists hurl shoes at minister's residence

Activists of social organization Apunba Lup (AL) today hurled shoes at the private residence of Manipur minister for sports N. Biren, the official spokesman of Secular Progressive Front ministry, at Luwangsangbam protesting against the death of a youth in an alleged encounter in July.

As part of the practice to target the houses of ministers for past several weeks, the AL members broke open the gate of Biren's residence, hurled shoes and pelted stones at around 1:30 pm, official sources said.

The AL members had been agitating for the past two months for resignation of chief minister O. Ibobi Singh on moral grounds in connection with the death of a youth in the allegedly fake encounter on July 23 with police commandos.

The organisation had been targeting the houses of ministers for past several weeks to press for their demands which also included dismissal of police commandos involved in the July 23 incident and action against senior police officials for charges of cover up.

Biren was appointed as official spokesperson of Congress-led SPF ministry some days ago, sources said adding that it appeared the AL activists were not happy with some recent statements made by the minister.