Page 12 - Manipur Govt

Efforts underway to eradicate illegal poppy cultivation in Manipur: CM

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh asserted that efforts are underway to eradicate illegal poppy cultivation in the northeastern state. He said a review meeting was held in the CM Secretariat on Thursday to "deliberate on measures and renewed strategies to end the menace". "Satellite mapping is being carried out and surveys are being conducted through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to pinpoint locations of poppy plantations," he said. During the meeting, images of the poppy cultivation were handed over to the superintendents of police of Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Senapati and Ukhrul districts and they were asked to destroy the plantations by the end of this month with assistance from other agencies, the CM said. "Poppy harvesting season is on... hence efforts are being made to destroy the poppy plantations before harvesting," he said. Singh also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the Centre's decision to erect fencing along the India-Myan

PM continues to maintain 'total silence' on Manipur situation, says Cong

The Congress on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to maintain a "total silence" on the situation in Manipur, and alleged that he had committed a "horrific injustice" on the people there. The opposition party's attack came a day after Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh met Home Minister Amit Shah. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh tagged a media report on the CM's meeting with Shah and said, "9 months to the day and yet no meeting with the PM who continues to maintain total silence on Manipur." "The PM goes to Guwahati for a road show but cannot and will not go to Imphal," he said. "A horrific ANYAY by the PM on the people of Manipur!" Ramesh added. After meeting Shah, Singh said the Centre is set to take "some important decisions" in the interests of the people of the state. During the meeting "matters of paramount importance" concerning Manipur were discussed. Ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023 after a tribal solidarity

Cong to raise issues of unemployment, inflation, Manipur in Budget Session

The Congress on Wednesday asserted that it would raise the issues of inflation, unemployment and Manipur unrest during the Budget Session of Parliament. The party's strategy for the Budget Session was discussed in a meeting of the Congress parliamentary strategy group chaired by the party's parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and other party leaders attended the meeting. After the meeting, Congress' deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari said, "In the presence of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, a meeting was held." "The President of India's address (at the joint sitting of both the Houses ahead of the Budget Session) is usually about the steps that the government will undertake in future; there was no mention of inflation, unemployment, doubling farmer's income and the Manipur issue. We want these issues to be raised," the Congress leader said. Congress' chief whip in Lok Sabha K Suresh said there w

Time for people to unite, identify real enemies: Manipur CM Singh

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said the state is passing through a difficult phase and it is time for the people to unite and identify who the real enemies are. He said this at the flagging-off ceremony of the Imphal Ring Road project. "We are passing through a difficult phase today. This is not the first time that we are facing a difficult phase. During the 1992-1993 ethnic conflict, more than 1,000 lives were lost. Today we are struggling. We are dealing with elements who want to break up a state with more than 2,000 years of history", Singh said. The state has not slept for more than nine months now, he said. "We will never allow them to win or achieve it. More than 3,000 state forces have been deployed at peripheral areas" Singh said and appealed to the people "not to foment disturbances in Imphal Valley. Let the valley be peaceful. Let the protection of Manipur be our sole duty. No more rallies. Let's identify and face the real enemies of the state". He claime

One village volunteer killed, 2 injured in gunfight in Manipur's Kangpokpi

One village volunteer was killed and two others were injured during a gunfight between two armed groups in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Saturday morning, police said. The gunfight broke out after armed miscreants entered the vicinity of the hill village of Satang Kuki and launched a gun and bomb attack. The fighting stopped after the attackers retreated following the arrival of additional backup forces at Satang village, they said. The injured has been rushed to a private hospital in Imphal. One of the injured person received splinter injuries on the face and another on his thigh, hospital sources said. Further details are awaited, they added.

Manipur CM meets representatives from 10 political parties to find solution

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said he has chaired a meeting with representatives of 10 political parties to address the current situation in the ethnic violence-hit state. He also said "constructive discussions" were held during the meeting at the CM secretariat on Sunday. "Chaired a meeting with representatives of the 10 political parties at my secretariat to address the current situation in Manipur. "Constructive discussions were held, reflecting a united commitment to navigate challenges and work collectively for the well-being of our state," Singh said on social media. After Sunday's meeting, Congress Legislative Party leader Okram Ibobi said the "10 political parties have urged the chief minister to seek an appointment with the prime minister and his intervention to end the more-than-8-month-long crisis". "Protecting the lives and properties of the people is the duty of the state government and the state has the right to ask the Centre for manpower and tools required f

PM Modi greets people on statehood day of Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday greeted people of three northeast states -- Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya -- on their statehood day. In a post in X, Modi said, "On Manipur's Statehood Day, my best wishes to the people of the state. Manipur has made a strong contribution to India's progress." "We take pride in the culture and traditions of the state. I pray for the continued development of Manipur," he said. Modi also greeted the people of Tripura on their statehood day, wishing that may this day celebrate the unique history and rich heritage of the state. "Wishing prosperity and harmony to the people of Tripura," he said. In another post, Modi said, "Happy Statehood Day to the people of Meghalaya! Today is an occasion to celebrate the incredible culture of Meghalaya and the achievements of the people there." "May Meghalaya scale new heights of progress in the times to come," the prime minister said.

Security forces not collaborating with militants, say Manipur Police

Manipur Police rejected the allegations by Kuki organisation that security forces collaborated with insurgent groups in Moreh town where incidents of violence were reported recently. Moreh is a town bordering Myanmar and it has been alleged by the state government that miscreants from the neighbouring country are fomenting trouble in the northeastern state. "The allegation of the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) and the Kuki Inpi Manipur regarding collaborations with valley-based insurgent groups and Meitei militants disguised as security force personnel in Moreh is not true. The allegations are baseless and misleading," the police said in a statement. Two police commandos were killed on January 17 in militant attacks in Moreh, while several others were injured. Kuki organisations alleged that surrendered valley-based insurgents were allowed to "mix freely" with the state police. Manipur has been rocked by ethnic strife since May last year and more than 180 people were killed. Th

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 ..

Four people shot dead in continuing violence in Manipur's Bishnupur

Four people were shot dead in Manipur's Bishnupur district on Thursday evening as ethnic violence continued in the northeastern state, police said. The incident occurred at Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou and the victims included a man and his 60-year-old father. Police said they are investigating the case. Quoting one person who escaped the shooting, an official said, "Five-six armed miscreants came when the labourers were tiling the farmland and shot them from point-blank range." After shooting them down, the miscreants fled to the hill ranges from where they had come, the official added. With these four, at least seven people including two police commandos were killed in separate districts of the state since Wednesday. Manipur has been rocked by ethnic violence since May last year and over 180 people were killed. The violence erupted 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)

Three BSF personnel sustain bullet injuries in mob attack in Manipur

At least three BSF personnel sustained bullet injuries after gunmen fired at security forces in Manipur's Thoubal district, police said on Thursday. The incident occurred late Wednesday night when the gunmen from a mob which "attempted to breach the Thoubal police headquarters" fired at the security personnel, a police statement said. The mob, first, targeted the 3rd Indian Reserve Battalion at Khangabok in Thoubal district and security forces repelled them using minimum force. "Further, the mob attempted to breach Thoubal police headquarters, prompting the security forces to use the force. Armed men from among the mob fired with live rounds. As a result, three personnel from BSF sustained bullet injuries," the police statement said. The three, identified as Constable Gourav Kumar, ASI Sobram Singh and ASI Ramji, have been sent to a private hospital. The district administration imposed a curfew in Thoubal. However, people, belonging to essential services including health, media,

Security personnel killed in militant attack in Manipur's Moreh town

One state police personnel was killed when suspected Kuki militants attacked a security forces vehicle in the border town of Moreh in Manipur's Tengnoupal district on Wednesday, police said. The deceased was identified as Wangkhem Somorjit an IRB personnel attached to state police commando in Moreh. Somorjit hails from Malom in Imphal West district, they said. The security forces also exchanged fire with suspected Kuki militants in three different locations in Moreh town on Wednesday morning, police said. The militants hurled bombs and fired at a post of security forces near SBI Moreh, police said, adding that the security forces retaliated the fire. The militants had also fired RPG shells at the temporary commando post damaging several vehicles parked in the vicinity. The suspected Kuki militants fired at the security forces post, 48 hours after two suspects in the killing of a police officer were arrested by state forces in the border town, police said. Earlier, following input

Bharat Jodo 2.0 kicks off in Manipur; Rahul talks unemployment, inflation

At the launch of the Yatra in Manipur's Thoubal, after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state refused Congress permission to hold a public meeting at Imphal's Palace Ground

We understand your pain, will bring back peace: Rahul to Manipur people

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday embarked on the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from here in Manipur with a promise to bring peace and harmony in the ethnic violence-hit state. The violence that broke out in the northeastern state in May last year has claimed more than 180 lives and rendered thousands homeless. Addressing a public meeting in Thoubal, which is south of Manipur capital Imphal, Gandhi also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying perhaps for the BJP and the RSS, Manipur was not a part of India. "Lakhs of people faced losses, but the prime minister has not come here to wipe your tears, hold your hand or embrace you. Maybe for Narendra Modi, the BJP and the RSS, Manipur is not a part of India. Your pain is not their pain," Gandhi said. "We understand the pain that the people of Manipur have been through, we understand the hurt, the sadness. We will bring back harmony, peace and affection for which this state was known," he said. The yatra will cover a distance of

Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to begin from pvt ground in Manipur's Thoubal

The Congress on Friday said that the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will be flagged off from a private ground in Manipur's Thoubal district on January 14, instead of state capital Imphal. Congress's Manipur president Keisham Meghachandra said that permission was sought to begin the yatra from the Hapta Kangjeibung ground in Imphal but the state government gave the go-ahead with certain conditions, forcing to change the venue at the last moment. "We had proposed to the state government on January 2 that Hapta Kangjeibung public ground in Imphal be allowed for flagging off the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. We had also announced that the Yatra will start from Imphal, and culminate in Mumbai," he said. "We met Chief Minister N Biren Singh in this regard on January 10 but were told that the permission will not be given. Later that night, an order was issued which gave permission for Hapta Kangjeibung ground but with a limited number of participants," he added. Meghachandra said that

'Heavy fuel' leaked from power station in Manipur spills into streams

Heavy fuel leaked from a power station in Manipur's Imphal West district and spilled into streams flowing alongside it, officials said on Thursday. The incident happened on Wednesday night at the Leimakhong power station. Streams passing through villages such as Kanto Sabal and Sekmai were affected by the spill, they said. These streams meet the Imphal river -- the lifeline of the region -- downstream, they added. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) directed the departments concerned to take "immediate necessary action to prevent an environment calamity, making use of all available resources in terms of machinery, manpower and expertise". Heavy machinery was deployed to divert the flow of the water in the affected streams towards fields, an official told PTI. "It is yet to be determined if miscreants were involved in this or if it was accidental," he said. Locals said the water of the streams is used by them for daily chores. "Not just aquatic life but also the communities that de

No state govt nod for venue of 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra': Manipur Congress

The Congress on Wednesday claimed that the Manipur government has declined to give its nod for the venue where the party's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' is scheduled to begin on January 14. Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president Keisham Megachandra termed the state government's decision as "unfortunate" and a "violation of people's rights". However, no comment from the state government is available. Megachandra said, "We met Chief Minister N Biren Singh and sought permission for the venue of 'Bharat Joro Nyay Yatra' at Hatta Kangjeibung in Imphal East district from where the rally is scheduled to be flagged off. However, the chief minister has declined to permit the same." A Congress delegation met Singh at the CM Secretariat. The 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' is scheduled to traverse 6,713 km in buses and on foot. It will cover 110 districts, 100 Lok Sabha seats and 337 assembly segments in 66 days. According to the proposed programme, it will culminate on March 20 in Mumbai. The .

Manipur denies permission to Congress to launch Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra

'Unfavourable situation' in Manipur were cited as the reason for the rejection of Congress rally ahead of the Lok Sabha elections

Gunfight breaks out between militants, security forces in Manipur's Moreh

A gunfight broke out between security forces and militants in Manipur's Moreh town along the India-Myanmar border on Sunday night, police said. Hills-based militants attacked state police forces, who retaliated, resulting in a gunfight, a police officer said. Further details are awaited. The border town in Tengnoupal district had witnessed a heavy gunfight on January 2, in which six security personnel, including a BSF jawan, were injured. They were airlifted to Imphal for better treatment. Before that, the town witnessed similar gun-battles since December 30. Chief Minister N Biren Singh had last week remarked that there were "high chances" that foreign mercenaries from Myanmar were involved in the attacks in Moreh.

Congress deplores arrest of 2 editors in Manipur, demands their release

The Congress on Sunday strongly deplored the reported arrest of two editors of vernacular newspapers in Manipur and demanded their immediate release, alleging a "double engine assault" by the Modi government and the Manipur dispensation on the state. In a statement, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said that in yet another crackdown on press freedom, two editors from two language newspapers have been arrested by the Manipur government. On December 31, 2023, the BJP-controlled police arrested Wangkhemcha Shyamjai, the editor of vernacular daily Kangleipaki Meira, for allegedly publishing "provocative news", Khera said. On January 5, the Manipur Police also arrested Meitei language newspaper Hueiyen Lanpao's editor Dhanabir Maibam for "promoting enmity on the ground of religion and race", the Congress leader said. In a joint statement, the All-Manipur Journalists' Union, of which Shyamjai was a former chief, and the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) condemned his .