Page 3 - Imphal

3 tribals belonging to Kuki-Zo community shot dead in Manipur: Officials

Three tribals belonging to the Kuki-Zo community were shot dead on Tuesday morning allegedly by militants of banned terror groups in Kangpopki district in Manipur, officials said here. They said the assailants came in a vehicle and attacked the villagers between the Ireng and Karam areas located in the bordering areas of Imphal West and Kangpopki districts. This village is located in the hills and is dominated by the tribal people. Manipur has been witnessing frequent clashes between the majority Meitei community and tribal Kukis since May 3 and more than 160 people have lost their lives so far.

Chidambaram slams govt, claims 'ethnic cleansing complete' in Imphal valley

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday alleged that "ethnic cleansing is complete" in Manipur's Imphal Valley and said there can be nothing more "shameful" than this development. The former home minister cited a media report which claimed that the last five Kuki families in Imphal were "forcibly removed" from their homes by the authorities. "This means that 'ethnic cleansing' is complete in the Imphal Valley that is dominated by the Meitei people," he said in a post on X "A state government presides over 'ethnic cleansing' and the central government claims that the government of the state is being carried on in accordance with the Constitution," Chidambaram said. There can be nothing more shameful than this development, he said. "It marks a new low in India's descent into lawlessness," Chidambaram said. More than 160 people lost their lives and several hundreds were injured since the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur in early May after a Tribal Solidarity March was orga

Three houses burnt in Manipur's Imphal, policemen's guns snatched

Unidentified men torched three abandoned houses at New Lambulane locality in Manipur's capital Imphal on Sunday afternoon. Firemen rushed to the spot and put off the blaze, officials said. Soon after the incident, people gathered in the area and demanded state and central forces deployed in the locality to allow them to enter the area, officials said, adding that the security forces later fired a few rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. In another development, unidentified men snatched three weapons from the security personnel guarding the residence of former health and family welfare director K Rajo around 2am on Sunday, police said. The incident took place at Sagolband Bijoy Govinda under Imphal PS in Imphal West district, police said, adding the snatched weapons included two AK series rifles and a carbine. Investigation is on to determine the circumstances leading to the incident, officials said. Police, meanwhile, have launched multiple operations to retrieve the

Arms, ammunition recovered in Manipur as situation continues to be tense

Eight firearms and 112 rounds of ammunition were recovered from different districts of violence-hit Manipur during search operations by security forces, police said. Besides, the forces also seized six explosives, they said. The recoveries were made on Wednesday from Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi and Imphal West districts, the police said in a statement. "The situation in the state was tense with sporadic incidents of firing and congregation of protesters," it said. Also, six bunkers have been dismantled in Tengnoupal district, it added. Meanwhile, four people from Assam were arrested in Mantripukhri area of Imphal East district with 1,240 bottles of syrups containing codeine phosphate, an opioid analgesic. The arrests were made by the officers of Narcotics & Affairs of Border (NAB) on Tuesday, police said. Ethnic clashes broke out in the state in May, and have been continuing for more than three months, leading to the deaths of over 160 people.

Torch rally in Imphal Valley demands special session of Manipur assembly

Hundreds of women took out torch rallies across the Imphal valley, demanding that a special session of the Manipur assembly be convened before the monsoon session of Parliament ends. The rallies were held around 9.30 pm on Wednesday at Keisampat, Keisamthong and Kwakeithel in Imphal West district, and Wangkhei and Kongba in Imphal East district. "In the assembly session, the government should pass a resolution to protect the state's territorial integrity and send it to Parliament while it is still in session," Ingudam Babita, one of the participants of the rally, told reporters at Wangkhei. The women also raised slogans against the demand for separate administration by Kuki groups, and for the implementation of NRC to identify "illegal" immigrants in the state and deport them. The Manipur cabinet last week recommended Governor Anusuiya Uikey to convene a session of the assembly from August 21. The previous assembly session was held in March, and violence broke out in the state in

Manipur reports fresh violence, 15 houses torched, 1 person shot

Fifteen houses were set on fire in Manipur's Imphal West district where fresh violence broke out, officials said on Sunday. The incident happened on Saturday evening at Langol Games village as a mob went on a rampage, they said. Security personnel fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the mob and bring the situation under control, they added. A 45-year-old man was shot during the violence. He was admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) with bullet wounds on his left thigh, and is stated to be out of danger at present, officials said. The situation improved on Sunday morning, but restrictions remained in place, they said. Fresh violence was also reported from Imphal East district's Checkon area where a large commercial establishment was torched on Saturday, officials said. Three nearby houses were also set on fire, they said, adding that firefighters doused the blaze. The incidents of violence were reported amid the 24-hour general strike calle

Manipur Police recovers 1,195 looted arms so far from across the state

The Manipur Police said it has so far recovered 1,195 looted arms from different parts of the state. In a statement, it said 1,057 arms were recovered from the valley districts and 138 arms from the hill districts. Besides, thousands of ammunition were also recovered, mostly from the valley districts. "Security forces have been continuously raiding the hill and valley areas to recover the looted arms and ammunition," it said in a statement on Saturday evening. Director-General of Police Rajiv Singh said strict action will be taken against the people indulging in looting of arms from security forces. 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 (ST) status. The violence, which has been continuing for the last three months, has claimed over 160 lives so far. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the

General strike called by assembly committee cripples regular life in Imphal

The 24-hour general strike called by the co-ordinating committee of 27 assembly constituencies in Manipur on Saturday paralysed normal life in Imphal Valley, with markets and business establishments remaining shut in almost all localities. Public transport stayed off the road and only a few private vehicles were seen plying on the streets. Schools also remained closed due to the strike from midnight. The hill districts, however, have largely been unaffected by the strike, which was called by the committee to demand an emergency assembly session to discuss various issues. The committee's convenor L Binod had earlier said that the strike is not to add to the hardships of the people, but to pressure the government. Meanwhile, the Manipur Cabinet on Friday recommended Governor Anusuiya Uikey to convene a session of the assembly from August 21. The previous assembly session was held in March. Manipur has been witnessing ethnic violence that broke out in May, and sporadically continue

Curfew relaxed for 7 hrs in twin districts of Imphal for essential shopping

The Manipur government relaxed the curfew in Imphal East and West districts for seven hours from 5 am on Friday to facilitate common people to purchase essential items, officials said. Following fresh violence in various parts of the ethnic strife-torn state, the administration had on Thursday imposed a total curfew in the two districts as a precautionary measure, withdrawing relaxations announced earlier. The curfew was relaxed on Friday from 5 am to 12 pm "to facilitate the general public to purchase essential commodities, including medicines and food items", according to orders issued by districts magistrates of Imphal East and West. Over 25 people were injured in clashes as Army and RAF personnel fired tear gas shells in Kangvai and Phougakchao areas in Bishnupur district on Thursday to stop processions from proceeding to a proposed burial site, violating restrictions on gatherings. A Manipur Rifles policeman was killed and one person injured in a gunfight at Senjam Chirang in

Manipur HC orders status quo on mass burial site; 17 injured in violence

Hours before a planned mass burial of Kuki-Zomi people killed in Manipur's ethnic violence, the high court on Thursday ordered that the status quo be maintained at the proposed burial site in Churachandpur district, while ITLF, an apex tribal body, said it was postponing the funeral service plans by seven days following requests from the Union home ministry. Meanwhile, 17 people were injured in clashes as Army and RAF personnel fired tear gas shells in Kangvai and Phougakchao areas in Bishnupur district on Thursday to stop a procession from proceeding to the proposed burial site violating restrictions on gatherings, officials said. The district magistrates of Imphal East and Imphal West withdrew curfew relaxations earlier announced, imposing the restrictions during the day as a precautionary measure, on top of the night curfew throughout the Imphal valley. The Kuki-Zomi organisation, Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum, had planned the burial of 35 people, who were killed in ethnic rio

17 injured in clashes in Bishnupur; day after curfew reimposed in Imphal

Altogether 17 people were injured in clashes as the Army and RAF personnel fired tear gas shells at Kangvai and Phougakchao area in Bishnupur district on Thursday, officials said. The district magistrates of Imphal East and Imphal West also withdrew curfew relaxations earlier announced, imposing the restrictions during the day on top of night curfew throughout the Imphal valley. Hours before the clashes, a planned mass burial of Kuki-Zomi people killed in Manipur's ethnic violence was stalled after the state's High Court on Thursday morning ordered status quo to be maintained at the proposed burial site in Churachandpur district. The ITLF, an apex tribal body, also said it was postponing the burial of 35 people at the site in Haolai Khopi village of Churachandpur district, on the border with Bishnupur. Tension has been brewing since morning in Bishnupur district as thousands of locals came out on the streets to block the movement of security forces. Locals led by women tried to pa

Curfew relaxation period increased by 1 hour in 2 Manipur districts

The Manipur government has extended the curfew relaxation period by one hour in Imphal East and West districts in view of improvement in law and order situation, an official statement said. The curfew relaxation period in the twin Imphal districts was now from 5 am to 8 pm. Separate orders issued by the office of the district magistrates of the two districts said that "there is a considerable improvement in law and order and there is a need to relax the restriction of movement to facilitate general public to purchase essential items including medicines and food items". The curfew relaxation period in other valley districts of Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur remained unchanged from 5 am to 5 pm. A separate press release issued by the Manipur Police Control Room stated that the "situation in the state was still volatile and tense but under control" and that "security forces conducted search operations in the vulnerable and fringe areas of the state". Meanwhile, Kom Union Manipur ...

Here to represent people of Manipur: Oppn delegation on reaching Imphal

As per the itinerary, from the Imphal airport, the delegation will head towards the Churachandpur district, which has been epicentre of the ethnic clashes that erupted on May 3

Fresh violence in Imphal, BJP office attacked, tear gas shells fired

: Police fired tear gas shells on Thursday evening to disperse a mob which had gathered at Khwairanband Bazaar in the heart of Imphal where the body of a man killed on earlier in the morning in a gunfight in Kangpokpi district was brought and placed in a traditional coffin. Demonstrators gathered and a mob threatened to carry it in a procession to the chief minister's residence, officials said. In the melee, a BJP office was also attacked. More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state so far. Clashes first 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. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

Rahul Gandhi returns to Imphal after being stuck for hours at Bishnupur

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday returned to Imphal after remaining stuck for hours at Bishnupur, and is likely to take a helicopter to Churachandpur. Gandhi had to stop at Bishnupur after police halted his convoy fearing attacks on it. Tear gas was used by the local police on demonstrators - some of whom wanted him to proceed to Churanchandpur, while others opposed his visit. Gandhi's convoy was travelling to Churachandpur to visit relief camps in the area.

Top headlines: Standoff in Imphal ends, Wagner chief orders to halt march

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Stand-off in Imphal East's Itham ends as Army leaves with seized weapons

After a stand-off between a mob led by women and security forces that had cordoned off Itham village in Imphal East where a dozen members of militant group KYKL were hiding, the Army took "a mature decision" to not risk civilian lives and left with seized weapons and ammunition, officials said on Sunday. The Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), a Meitei militant group, was involved in a number of attacks, including the ambush of a 6 Dogra unit in 2015, they said. The stand-off in Itham went on throughout Saturday, and ended after a "mature decision by the operational commander keeping in view the sensitivity of use of kinetic force against large irate mob led by women and likely casualties due to such action", they added. Among those holed up in the village was self-styled Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam, a wanted terrorist who may have been the mastermind of the Dogra ambush tragedy, officials said. The 1,500-strong mob led by women surrounded the Army column and prevented forces

Arms, ammunition 'looted' from armouries: CBI visit crime scenes in Manipur

The special investigation team (SIT) of the CBI probing Manipur violence cases and forensic experts from the CFSL have visited the scenes in Imphal and Churachandpur linked to the alleged loot of arms and ammunition from armouries, officials said on Friday. The team faced protests from locals near Pangei when a group of women put up a roadblock. But it managed to complete its work and return safely on Thursday, the officials said. During the course of the investigation, the CBI team and the experts from the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) visited the crime scenes at the Manipur Police Training College (MPTC) at Pangei, besides Naoremthong, located close to the NG Collge near Imphal, they said. The forensic experts collected samples and took photographs at the MPTC. A mob allegedly made off with a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the MPTC armoury on May 3, the officials said. The SIT also visited Churachandpur in connection with the investigation of a case related

Army conducts flag march in Imphal valley amid violence in Manipur

The Indian Army conducted a flag march in the violence-affected area in Imphal Valley.Meanwhile, authorities in Imphal East district on Saturday decided to relax curfew hours from 5 am to 5 PM on Sunday, June 18 in order to facilitate the general public to purchase essential items including medicines and food items.As per the circular issued by the district magistrate, Imphal East, Khumanthem Diana Devi, "Total public curfew under Section 144 CrPC, 1973 prohibiting the movement of any person outside their respective residences imposed in Imphal East District vide this Office Order dated 3rd May 2023 is hereby relaxed from 5 AM to 5 PM on 18th June 2023 except for the area for which the schedule is given below in order to facilitate the general public to purchase essential items including medicines and food supplies".The areas where the curfew will be relaxed include the Hatta crossing to the RDS crossing, the Imphal River from Sanjenthong to Minuthong, Minuthong to Hatta crossing, and

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