Page 2 - Imphal

Gunfight in Manipur's Jiribam kills 11 militants, violence erupts in Imphal

Eleven suspected militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces on Monday after insurgents in camouflage uniforms, armed with sophisticated weapons, fired indiscriminately at a police station and an adjacent CRPF camp in Manipur's Jiribam district, officials said. Two CRPF personnel also sustained injuries during the heavy exchange of fire at Borobekra, and the condition of one of them was stated to be critical, they said. Following this incident, fresh violence was reported from multiple places in Imphal Valley where armed groups from the two warring sides engaged in exchanges of fire, police said. The Kuki-Zo Council called for a total shutdown in the hill areas of the state from 5 am to 6 pm on Tuesday "to express our collective grief and solidarity who were brutally shot dead". In a series of attacks, the militants torched several shops and houses in and around the Jakurador Karong market, besides the Borobekra police station and the CRPF camp located adjacent

Internet suspended in Manipur for 5 days: What triggered fresh protests?

The Manipur government suspended internet services statewide from September 10-15 due to violent student protests demanding the removal of key government officials

People shifted from Moreh, Imphal to safer areas to save lives: Manipur CM

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday asserted that his government shifted people from ethnic violence-hit areas such as Churachandpur, Moreh and Imphal to safer places to protect them. Responding to the opposition's queries on shifting of people from Churachandpur and Moreh to Imphal Valley and from the state capital to hills, Singh said, "The night violence broke out (May 3), we couldn't sleep. We were in the office discussing things to be done immediately." "Those affected in Moreh were kept at an Assam Rifles camp and those in Churachandpur were in the Secretariat. Initially, we thought of keeping them there itself but there were constant cries for help and there was pressure from all sides claiming the affected were not safe in their present locations. Hence, with saving lives being our top priority, the government decided to evacuate them," he said. Questions are now being raised as to why they were shifted from Churachandpur and Moreh to Imphal Valley and vice vers

Curfew imposed in Manipur's Jiribam after protests over killing of man

The Manipur government has imposed curfew in Jiribam district for an indefinite period after people staged protests over the killing of a 59-year-old man by suspected militants, an official said on Friday. The prohibitory orders were clamped on Thursday night after locals set a few abandoned structures on fire following the recovery of the body of Soibam Saratkumar Singh. The situation remained tense but calm on Friday morning after locals demonstrated over the killing of the man. "There is the likelihood of widespread disturbance to peace and public tranquillity or riot or an affray..because of unlawful activities of anti-social elements," the official said, citing the orders issued by the Office of District Magistrate Jiribam. The local administration also prohibited "assembly of five persons or more, which is likely to turn unlawful, carrying of firearms, sticks... and movement of any person outside their respective residences within the revenue jurisdiction of the district". S

Incessant rainfall affects normal life in Manipur, several areas inundated

Incessant heavy rainfall inundated several areas of Manipur on Tuesday affecting normal life, officials said. In Imphal East district traffic movement was affected at Andro parking, Checkon, Mahabali and Wangkhei due to waterlogging caused by clogged drains. Major roads were also inundated at Kakwa in Imphal West district affecting traffic movement, they said. No report of death or injury have been reported in the heavy rain, officials said. Heavy train triggered a mudslide near Sinam village in Kangpokpi district on NH 37 Imphal-Silchar highway sweeping off a truck into a gorge. Several other trucks have been left stranded waiting for excavators to clear the debris, officials said. In Senapati district many rivers are overflowing and flood waters have entered several localities of the district. Several rivers in Imphal valley including the largest Imphal river have also swelled due to the incessant heavy rainfall, they said.

One dead, two people injured in blast at Manipur University campus

In a separate incident, the United Committee Manipur (UCM) office in Lamphel, Imphal, was set on fire

2 killed, 2 injured in fresh clashes between rival ethnic groups in Manipur

Two village volunteers were killed and two others injured after their camp was attacked in Manipur on Tuesday, police said. The incident happened at the camp situated near Kadangband village in Lamshang area at the border of the Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts, they said. The deceased were identified as N Michael, 33, and M Khaba, 23, they added. "Two individuals were killed in a firing incident between armed miscreants at bordering area of Kangpokpi and Imphal West districts," the Police Control Room said in a statement. The injured persons were taken to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal for treatment, officials said. After the camp was attacked, the village volunteers retaliated, resulting in a gunfight. "Following the retaliation, the attackers retreated, regrouped and attacked again. The gunfight is underway," a police officer said. After the gun battle began, several women, children and elderly from Kadangband and neighbouring Koutruk village fl

48-hour strike disrupts normal life across Manipur's Imphal valley

Normal life was disrupted across Manipur's Imphal valley on Saturday due to a 48-hour strike called by a committee formed in connection with the recent killing of a 23-year old village volunteer. The Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising leaders of civil society organisations, has called the strike that began at 5 am. The village volunteer was killed in a gunfight between two warring communities in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on January 17, officials had said. Markets and other business establishments remained closed in Imphal valley, while public transport services did not operate. Attendance in offices was also reportedly thin. No untoward incident has been reported so far, a police officer said. The hill districts, however, were not affected by the strike. "We had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister N Biren Singh in connection with the killing. However, there has been no response from the government... the JAC claimed in a statement. The committee has demanded the ..

Death toll in Manipur gunfight rises to 2, women block road to airport

The death toll in the gunfight between state security forces and militants at Moreh in Manipur's Tengnoupal district rose to two after another security personnel was shot dead on Wednesday evening, officials said. The deceased has been identified as Takhellambam Saileshwore from Lamshang in Imphal West district, they said. Earlier in the day during an ambush near Ima Kondong Lairembi Devi temple, 32-year-old Wangkhem Somorjit, a Manipur Police personnel, died after being hit by bullets. He succumbed to injuries during treatment at Key Location Point (KLP) of Assam Rifles. Two more Manipur Police personnel were injured in the exchange of fire between security forces and militants, officials added. The militants had also fired RPG shells at the temporary commando post damaging several vehicles parked in the vicinity. Meanwhile, large number of women from Malom in Imphal West district blocked the road to the airport in protest against the killing of the policemen in Moreh. Spokesper

3 people shot dead in Manipur, curfew reimposed in valley districts

Three persons were allegedly shot dead and five others injured in Manipur's Thoubal district on Monday evening, following which curfew was reimposed in the five valley districts of the state, officials said. Gunmen, who are yet to be identified, arrived in camouflage dresses in the Lilong Chingjao area, and opened fire targeting locals, they said. While three people died on the spot, five others were injured. Those injured were admitted to a hospital, officials said. After the attack, the enraged locals set three four-wheelers on fire. It was not immediately clear to whom these cars belonged. Following the fresh violence, curfew was reimposed in Thoubal, Imphal East and Imphal West, Kakching and Bishnupur districts, officials said. In a video message, Chief Minister N Biren Singh condemned the violence, and appealed to the people, particularly the residents of Lilong, for maintaining peace. "Police are working to arrest those behind the attack. They will be arrested soon and puni

Stealth-guided missile destroyer INS Imphal commissioned into Navy

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony Admiral Hari Kumar said that the INS Imphal is the first warship to be named after a prominent city of the north-east

Manipur govt in peace talks with Imphal Valley-based insurgent group: CM

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said his government was holding "peace talks" with an Imphal Valley-based insurgent group. Speaking to PTI-Video, Singh said the talks were at an advanced stage, even though he stayed away from naming the underground organisation. This was for the first time that there was an official confirmation about such talks being held by the government, since ethnic violence broke out on May 3. Earlier, sources had said that the government was holding talks with one faction of the proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF). More than 180 people have been killed since the violence broke out on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly i

Air Force sends Rafales after 'UFO' sighting near Imphal airport on Sunday

The Eastern Command of the Indian Air Force said that it had activated its air defence response mechanism

Situation calm but tense in Imphal day after attack by mob on Rifles camp

The situation in Manipur's capital Imphal remained calm but tense on Thursday, a day after security forces fired several rounds in the air to disperse a large mob of more than 2,000 people who tried to loot an armoury within the camp of the 1 Manipur Rifles. Several markets in the city remained closed but educational institutions, government offices and the Manipur High Court were functioning normally, while vehicles were seen plying on roads after the curfew was relaxed from 10 am. The administration deployed additional state and central forces at major junctions and police personnel were seen patrolling the area near the Manipur Rifles camp. "Yesterday's attempt to loot arms and ammunitions at 1st MR Battalion by armed miscreants was repulsed by combined security forces effectively," the state police said on Thursday. The mob targeted the Manipur Rifles camp, close to the Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister's Office in Imphal West district on Wednesday. Responding to the situation

Fresh violence breaks out in Manipur's Imphal Valley, two houses torched

Fresh violence broke out in Manipur's Imphal West district where at least two houses were set on fire and several rounds of bullets were fired, police said on Thursday. The incident happened in New Keithelmanbi in Patsoi police station area around 10 pm on Wednesday, they said. After the attack, the accused fled the spot, triggering tension in the area, they added. Security forces and fire services personnel brought the blaze under control, police said. A mob of Meitei women who gathered in the area following the incident was prevented by the security forces from proceeding further, they said. Additional security has been deployed and the situation is under control, police said. More than 180 people lost their lives and several hundreds were injured since the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. Meiteis account for about 53 p

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Situation in Manipur's Imphal valley calm but tense, curfew relaxed

The situation in Manipur's Imphal valley was calm but tense on Friday morning after a night of violent clashes including an attempt to attack the empty ancestral residence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh here. Authorities relaxed curfew in Imphal East and Imphal West districts from 5am to 11pm to help people buy essential items and medicines. The relaxation, however, shall not apply to "any gathering or large-scale movement of persons or sit-in protests which is unlawful in nature," an official order said. A mob tried to attack the CM's empty ancestral house on Thursday night, despite heavy security clampdown and curfew in Imphal valley. Security forces, however, foiled the attempt after firing several rounds of tear gas shells. "There was an attempt to attack the chief minister's ancestral house at Heingang locality in Imphal. Security forces stopped the mob around 100-150 metres away from the house," a police officer said. The chief minister lives in a separate, well-guarded .

Violent protests rock Imphal, DC office vandalised, 2 vehicles torched

Violent protests over the death of two youths in Manipur continued till the early hours of Thursday with a mob vandalising the deputy commissioner's office in Imphal West and torching two four-wheelers, officials said. A fresh bout of violence, this time led by students, broke out in the state capital on Tuesday after photos of the bodies of two youths who went missing in July went viral on social media. Last night, the protesters clashed with security personnel in Uripok, Yaiskul, Sagolband and Tera areas, prompting the forces to fire several rounds of tear gas shells to control the situation, officials said. The protesters blocked roads with burning tyres, boulders and iron pipes to prevent the security forces from entering residential areas, they said. A mob also vandalised the DC office and torched two four-wheelers. CRPF personnel brought the situation under control, they added. Curfew was re-imposed in the two districts -- Imphal East and West -- as the security forces comba

Normal life affected in Imphal as Meira Paibi, local clubs call for bandh

Normal life was affected in Imphal Valley districts on Tuesday as Meira Paibi, a collective of Meitei women, and five local clubs called for a 48-hour bandh from midnight demanding the release of five youths who were arrested for carrying firearms and sporting camouflage uniforms, officials said. Markets and commercial establishments remained closed and few vehicles plied the roads on Tuesday morning. On Monday, Meira Paibis blocked several important roads at Khurai and Kongba in Imphal East district, Kakwa in Imphal West district, Nambol in Bishnupur district and parts of Thoubal district demanding the release of the youths. Manipur Police had arrested five persons on Saturday for carrying sophisticated weapons and donning camouflage uniforms. In a statement, police said the five had been produced before the judicial magistrate and remanded to police custody. Yumnam Hitler, president of All Langthabal Kendra United Clubs Coordinating Committee, said, "The five arrested youths are

Village in Manipur's Imphal attacked by gunmen, bombs hurled, none injured

Conflict-torn Manipur witnessed a fresh incident of violence as unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cadres of banned terror groups, attacked people and hurled bombs at a village in Imphal West district, bordering Kangpokpi where three persons were killed a day before, officials said on Wednesday. No one was injured in the incident in Koutruk village where armed men hurled at least ten bombs late Tuesday night, they said. The bomb attack triggered panic among the villagers, an official said, adding that Indian Reserve Battalion personnel deployed at the area fired shots in retaliation. The fresh violence comes after unidentified armed men, suspected to be members of the outlawed terror groups, killed three persons from the tribal community on Tuesday morning near Kharam Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district. Tension is still running high in several parts of the district as there is apprehension of fresh attacks in the wake of the killing of three persons, the officials said. Koutr