Manipur Govt

Curfew imposed in Manipur's Ukhrul after miscreants set houses on fire

According to the press note, while the situation in the affected areas remains tense, it has largely been brought under control

Violence erupts in Manipur's Churachandpur over Deputy CMs swearing-in

Assam Rifles officials, including the Commander of the 27 Sectors, were deployed to calm the situation, but initial attempts yielded little success

Kuki groups warn MLAs against joining Manipur govt formation, call shutdown

Several Kuki groups in Manipur have warned their community legislators not to participate in government formation in the northeastern state, with calls for a "total shutdown" in Churachandpur and protest demonstrations at several places. BJP MLA Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday became the 13th Chief Minister of Manipur, nearly a year after the resignation of BJP leader N Biren Singh, following months of ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in the state, leading to the imposition of President's Rule. Nemcha Kipgen, a BJP MLA who belongs to the Kuki community, and Naga People's Front legislator L Dikho, took oath as deputy chief ministers of Manipur. Reacting to the development , the Joint Forum of Seven (JF7), a tribal organisation based in Churachandpur district, called for a "total shutdown" in Kuki Zo-dominated areas from 6 am to 6 pm on Friday. It urged all community members to join the protests across villages in a democratic way, reiterating the demand for a

Y Khemchand Singh takes oath as Manipur CM; two deputies sworn in

BJP leader Y Khemchand Singh was sworn in as the chief minister of Manipur on Wednesday. Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administered the oath of office and secrecy to him. The swearing-in ceremony was held at Lok Bhavan here, hours after the President's rule in Manipur was revoked. Restive Manipur had been under the President's rule since February last year. The ceremony was attended by several BJP legislators, senior party functionaries, and top leaders of the NDA in the state.

President's Rule lifted in Manipur as Y Khemchand Singh set to take oath

President's Rule was imposed after the BJP-led government headed by N Biren Singh resigned on February 9 last year, following prolonged ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities

Manipur: NDA legislature leader Y Khemchand Singh stakes claim to form govt

NDA legislature party leader Y Khemchand Singh on Wednesday staked a claim to form a government in Manipur, state BJP chief A Sharda Devi said. Restive Manipur has been under the President's rule since February last year. An NDA team led by Singh met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Lok Bhavan here and staked the claim to form a popular government, she said. Two MLAs from the Kuki-Zo majority districts of Churachandpur and Pherzawl were among the delegates who met Bhalla here. "We met the governor in the presence of our newly elected legislature party leader and BJP observer Tarun Chugh. The NDA staked a claim to form a popular government in the state," Devi told reporters here.

Y Khemchand Singh will be next Manipur CM; woman Kuki MLA to be deputy CM

Y Khemchand Singh was elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party in Manipur on Tuesday, paving the way for the formation of a popular government in the northeastern state with him as chief minister. Nemcha Kipgen, a woman Kuki leader and former minister, is likely to be the deputy chief minister in the new Manipur government when it is formed, sources said. A meeting of the legislators of all constituents of the National Democratic Alliance will be held on Tuesday night, where Singh and Kipgen's names are expected to be endorsed. Sources said Singh, a former minister, was elected as leader of the Manipur legislature party at a meeting of BJP MLAs held at the party headquarters here. Except for two BJP MLAs, who are unwell, all other party legislators attended the meeting. Former chief minister N Biren Singh, Assembly speaker Satyabrata Singh, BJP state president A Sharda Devi, the party's central observer Tarun Chugh and its northeast in-charge Sambit Patra, among others, w

Meitei man shot dead in Manipur's Churachandpur amid fresh rise in tensions

A man belonging to the Meitei community was shot dead after being abducted by suspected Kuki militants in Churachandpur district, in a fresh escalation of the tensions in restive Manipur. Mayanglambam Rishikanta Singh was abducted from his home in the Tuibong area on Wednesday and shot dead in the vicinity of Natjang village, police said. The kidnappers are suspected to be members of the United Kuki National Army (UNKA), a non-signatory to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement. The SoO agreement was signed between the Centre, the Manipur government and dozens of Kuki-Zo militant groups. Singh, who hailed from Kakching Khunou in Kakching district, was married to Chingnu Haokip of Churachandpur and assumed a tribal name, Ginminthang. He returned to Churachandpur from Nepal on January 19, according to local sources. He was allowed to stay with his wife, a Kuki, by some local groups, they said. Kukis and Meiteis do not venture into each other's areas after the violence broke o

Manipur petrol pumps shut indefinitely after bomb attack, extortion threats

Two days after a bomb attack at a fuel station in Bishnupur district, the Manipur Petroleum Dealers Fraternity (MPDF) announced an indefinite closure of all petrol pumps in the "valley area and its peripherals" starting from Saturday till its demands are met. The MPDF, in a letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, said, "Though the state authorities have taken up strict actions towards the safety of petrol pump/dealers, we are still facing severe threats as evidenced from the bomb blast on Thursday night." Requesting compensation for the damages caused by the bomb blast at the fuel station, the MPDF said it has unanimously resolved to indefinitely shut all petrol pumps in valley areas and its periphery from Saturday till an "immediate attention and amicable solution" is provided. On Thursday night, unidentified miscreants hurled a bomb at a fuel station at Moirang in Bishnupur district, triggering an explosion. No one was injured in the incident. The MPDF demanded the government to ..

Two injured in consecutive blasts at abandoned house in Manipur's Bishnupur

Two persons were injured in two consecutive explosions in Manipur's Bishnupur district on Monday morning, police said. The first explosion, suspected to have been caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), occurred around 5.45 am at an abandoned house in Ngaukon in the Phougakchao police station area, they said. The house has remained abandoned since ethnic violence broke out in the state in May 2023, with its owner and his family currently living at a relief camp. The second explosion occurred nearly 200 metres away around 8.45 am, when locals gathered after getting news of the earlier blast, police said. Two persons, identified as Sanatomba Singh and Indubala Devi, sustained splinter injuries on their right legs. They were admitted to a government hospital and are stated to be out of danger. Police said they have inspected the blast sites and started an investigation. Meanwhile, irate locals engaged in a war of words with security forces, who were visiting the site followi

Security forces neutralise 27 bombs, recover arms in Manipur's Imphal East

Security forces recovered 27 bombs and neutralised them in Manipur's Imphal East district, police said on Friday. During an operation, the country-made bombs were found on Thursday and neutralised at a place near Monglham village, a senior officer said. In a separate operation, security forces also recovered three arms and ammunition from Langdum Nungjengbi area in the district on Wednesday, he said. Security forces have been conducting search operations in Manipur since ethnic violence broke out two years ago. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic strife between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. The Centre had imposed the President's rule in Manipur after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned. The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.

Manipur Police recovers arms, ammunition; arrests 3 militants, drug peddler

The arrested militants were identified as Amom Somendro Singh alias Kangleibung (32), RK Bishworjit Singh alias Boinao (38), and Ningthoujam Santosh Singh (30)

Manipur Police recover arms and ammunition; arrest PLA extortionist

Security Forces conducted intelligence-based cordon and search operations in Imphal West District, arresting active RPF/PLA cadres

Manipur petrol pump dealers threaten to shut ops over extortion demands

Petrol pump dealers in Manipur said they would have to suspend operations if the government fails to take action against extortion demands by the end of this week. In a statement, the Manipur Petroleum Dealers Fraternity (MPDF) said they were deeply disappointed that the government has taken no concrete action regarding their security, even as a memorandum about it was submitted to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on December 10. Manipur has been under President's Rule since February after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned amid criticisms of his government's handling of the ethnic clashes that broke out in May 2023. Taking advantage of the ongoing crisis, various militant outfits have been targeting local businesses, including petrol pumps, for extortion. Hundreds of members of such outfits have been arrested in connection with extortion demands so far. The MPDF, in the memorandum, had sought urgent intervention of the governor against what it described as escalating threats to life

Displaced families clash with security forces in Manipur's Imphal East

Hundreds of displaced people, seeking to return to their homes, clashed with security forces in Manipur's Imphal East district on Saturday, officials said. The displaced people, who have been staying at different relief camps after ethnic violence broke out in May 2023, were stopped by security forces at Yaingangpokpi when they were marching towards their homes at Gwaltabi, located on the periphery of the district. As the situation escalated, security forces lobbed several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the agitators. One of the agitators, S Ibemcha Devi, said, "According to the government, normalcy has been restored in the state. Then, why are we not allowed to return to our homes?" An official said the situation continues to remain tense but under control. Such clashes between internally displaced persons (IDPs) and security forces have happened multiple times since the Sangai Festival began on November 21.

3 militants arrested for 'threatening' to bomb Manipur's Sangai festival

Security forces have arrested three militants, including a woman, for allegedly threatening to trigger explosions during the ongoing Sangai tourism festival in Manipur, police said on Thursday. The Manipur Police, along with Assam Rifles, conducted a joint operation and arrested three active cadres of the banned KCP (MFL) on Wednesday, they said. The action came following a video posted on Facebook by a user on November 21, which contained threats to bomb the festival being held from November 21 to November 30, a police officer said. The militants were apprehended from Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal districts, he said. Further investigation is underway. The Sangai tourism festival has been boycotted by displaced persons and civil society organisations in the northeastern state. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups in Manipur since May 2023.

Powerful groups diverting focus from illegal immigrants: Biren Singh

Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh claimed that certain powerful groups are deliberately trying to divert attention from the core problem of illegal immigrants in the state. Singh also said anti-nationals and anti-state elements must not be allowed to distract from the real issue of infiltrators. "When we began identifying illegal immigrants and refugees from the neighbouring country during the NDA government under my leadership, there was strong criticism from leaders of nearby states," he wrote on X on Friday evening. Singh also said, "Today, every neighbouring state, including Nagaland and Mizoram, has finally realised the gravity of the situation and has taken up strict action." His statement came in the wake of recent media reports of the Mizoram government completing 58.15 per cent of the biometric enrolment of 31,214 Myanmar refugees sheltered across 11 districts of the state. "Mizoram is moving at an impressive pace in identifying illegal immigrants. Yet Manipur,

Protesters clash with security forces in Manipur over Sangai festival

People demonstrating against the Sangai festival clashed with security forces in Manipur's Imphal East district on Friday, amid a 'cease work' called by the Meitei group COCOMI. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has been opposing the tourism festival by the state government, stating that organising such an event amid the crisis being faced by families displaced by the ethnic violence was "highly insensitive". The clash happened at Khurai Lamlong when security forces intercepted demonstrators, including several displaced persons, who were marching towards the venue of the festival, an official said. The demonstrators hurled stones at the forces, forcing them to lob several rounds of tear gas shells, he said. Demonstrators claimed that some of them sustained minor injuries as a result of the clash. The 'cease work', effectively a shutdown, affected normal life in the Imphal Valley districts, with markets and other commercial establishments remaining closed sin

Four UKNA militants killed in encounter in Manipur's Churachandpur

At least four militants, belonging to a banned outfit, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Manipur's Churachandpur district on Tuesday morning, police said. Based on inputs about the presence of armed cadres belonging to the proscribed United Kuki National Army (UKNA), an operation was launched around 5.30 am at Khanpi village under Henglep sub-division in the district, a senior officer said. UKNA is not a signatory to the Suspension of Operations pact signed between the Centre, the state government and the Kuki and Zomi militant groups. During the operation, a fierce gunfight broke out between army personnel and the militants, the officer said. "At least four militants were killed during the exchange of fire while several others managed to flee the spot," the officer said, adding that the identities of the deceased are yet to be established. A defence statement also said that in the early hours of Nov 4, terrorists resorted to unprovoked firing on the Army column

Peaceful dialogue only solution to ethnic conflict: Manipur police chief

Manipur police chief Rajiv Singh on Sunday said that peaceful dialogue is the only solution to resolve the ethnic conflict in the state. Speaking on the sidelines of the 134th Raising Day in Imphal, DGP Singh said, "These are very challenging times but we have been trying to tackle them with the best possible strength, and with the cooperation of everyone." "There are problems which we are trying to solve at the earliest because we also want peace and normalcy as quickly as possible. There has been a lot of damage and normal life has been disrupted... But things have improved in the last one-and-a-half years," Singh said. "Violence, deaths and injuries have come down. There are sporadic incidents of arson and firing, but the security forces are alert and everybody is on the job to see that nothing escalates. "I request communities on both sides to come forward with suggestions and try to talk it out. The only solution to this problem is peaceful dialogue between both communities ..