A mob of more than 1,000 people set the house of an Indian minister on fire in the north-eastern state of Manipur.
The incident took place on Thursday when the group surrounded Rajkumar Ranjan Singh’s home in Kongba, Imphal, and threw petrol bombs.
Mr Singh, India’s junior foreign minister, was not at home at the time of the attack.
“I am currently in Kerala for official work,” Mr Ranjan said. "Thankfully, nobody got injured last night at my Imphal home. The miscreants came with petrol bombs and damage has been done to the ground floor and first floor of my home.
“Those indulging in this kind of violence are absolutely inhuman,” he said.
It is the second time a minister’s house has been set ablaze by protestors.
On Wednesday, the official residence of Nemcha Kipgen, the only female minister in Manipur, was targeted in Imphal.
Large-scale violence has left at least 100 dead and displaced tens of thousands since May 3, when clashes began between the majority Hindu Meitei community and Christian Kuki tribes over a government policy that would grant greater benefits to Meiteis.
Manipur has borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh, with many hills and valleys. It is governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
About 34 ethnic tribes, roughly 40 per cent of the population, have traditionally inhabited the hilly areas that comprise 90 per cent of the territory.
The Meiteis, who make up more than half of the population and dominate the valley areas, are confined to only 10 per cent of the land mass.
They have long demanded to be included in the tribe list to gain access to exclusive land rights and job benefits while rising to the status of other tribal groups.
But opposing tribes – mostly Kukis – have expressed their opposition, claiming the Meiteis already dominate the demographic, political and social landscape.
The attacks on the ministers’ houses come after nine armed Meiteis, who were guarding their village at night, were attacked by suspected militants on Tuesday.
Mr Singh had met with a group of leaders from Manipur's Meitei and Kuki communities last month to discuss ways to install peace.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
