Page 12 - Manipur

PM should visit Manipur, HM Shah resign on moral grounds: INDIA bloc

Opposition INDIA bloc leaders on Monday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should visit Manipur, as they held a sit-in at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over the situation in the north-eastern state that has been reeling from ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023. Leaders from Congress, CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation and AIFB were among those who participated in the protest "for an immediate restoration of peace and normalcy" in Manipur. In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should urgently visit Manipur and Home Minister Amit Shah should resign on "moral grounds" over the situation in the state. The opposition parties also demanded Chief Minister N Biren Singh's sacking as they attacked the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state. Former chief minister of Manipur O Ibobi Singh, Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, former Union minister Shashi ..

SC asks Manipur govt to give details on arson, property encroachments

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Manipur government to submit a detailed sealed cover report on the number of properties that were fully or partially burnt, looted, or encroached upon during the ongoing ethnic violence in the state. The bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar emphasised the need for the state to address the grievances of the displaced persons and take steps to restore their properties. It therefore asked the Manipur government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, to provide specific details such as buildings burnt or partially burnt, buildings looted, buildings trespassed or encroached upon. The report should also provide information about the owners and current occupants of these properties, along with the details of any legal actions taken against trespassers, the CJI said. "We also direct the state government to provide the following details: 1. Buildings burnt and partially burnt, 2. buildings which are looted; a

Manipur violence: SC asks state for details on arson, encroachments

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Manipur government to provide details in a sealed cover on the dwelling units and properties burnt either fully or partially, and encroached upon during the ethnic violence in the state. The top court asked the state government to spell out details of its actions taken against the culprits and the encroachers. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar fixed the plea for hearing in the week commencing January 20. In August last year, the top court had ordered the setting up of a committee of three former women high court judges to oversee relief and rehabilitation of victims and compensation to them besides asking former Maharashtra police chief Dattatray Padsalgikar to monitor the probe in criminal cases. More than 160 people have been killed and several hundred injured since ethnic violence first broke out in the state on May 3, 2023 when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protes

Security forces recover arms, ammunition during joint operations in Manipur

Acting on specific intelligence of the presence of arms and ammunition in the general area of Loiching Ridge in Kangpokpi district, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police launched a joint operation on Dec 2

Net shutdown, violence, curfew affecting students in Manipur: Academics

Prolonged violence in Manipur with frequent internet shutdowns, curfews and general strikes is affecting the academic and career pursuits of students pursuing higher education in the northeastern state, many educationists said. With frequent internet shutdowns, students are facing problems in having access to online resources and many recruiters are hesitant to visit campuses in Manipur for placement drive due to curfews and general strikes, they said. Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and also in charge of placement of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Manipur, K H Johnson Singh told PTI "We have witnessed a decline in recruitment drives after violence broke out in the state. At least 40 companies (online mode) came and 70 students have been selected this year. This is much less than what we were used to before the outbreak of violence. We had expected selection of some 100 students and some 50 companies." He said, "Recruiters who prefer offline mode o

DRI seizes 123 kg Methamphetamine in H1FY25; max cases in Assam, Mizoram

Seizures of the narcotic drug Methamphetamine have increased in the northeastern states of Assam and Mizoram in the current year, with the DRI confiscating 123 kg of the contraband during April-September. Methamphetamine, also known as 'ice' or 'crystal meth', has become a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies in India, particularly through the porous northeastern borders. According to a report by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the smuggling trend indicates that Methamphetamine is being illegally brought into India through sea routes in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. For smuggling, the drug is brought to coastal hamlets like Rameswaram, Tuticorin and Nagapattinam, concealed within specially designed compartments in buses, trains, or cars. From these locations, it is smuggled across the maritime border to Sri Lanka through mid-sea transfers involving Indian fishing boats. In the first half of FY 2024-25, DRI seized 123 kg of methamphetamine in 11 cas

Manipur govt extends ban on mobile internet in nine districts till Dec 9

The Manipur government extended the ban on mobile data services in nine restive districts till December 9, according to an order issued by the Home Department on Saturday. The decision was taken after reviewing the prevailing law and order situation in Imphal West, Imphal East, Kakching, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Pherzawl and Jiribam districts and its co-relation with internet services, the order said. Mobile internet and mobile data services, including VSATs and VPN, will remain suspended till 5.15 pm on December 9 in public interest, it added. However, exemption was granted to "cases allowed by the state government", it said. Internet services were suspended in these districts on November 16 after violence broke out in the state following the recovery of the bodies of three women and three children in the Jiri and Barak rivers. The government lifted the suspension on broadband services on November 19, considering the problems faced by healthcare facilities, .

Manipur govt extends ban on mobile internet till Dec 7 in nine districts

The Manipur government on Thursday extended the suspension of mobile internet for two days in nine districts of the state till December 7. An order issued by the Home Department said the suspension was extended in Imphal West, Imphal East, Kakching, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Pherzawl and Jiribam till 5.15 pm of December 7. "The state government after reviewing the prevailing law and order situation and its correlation with the general operation of internet services has decided to continue suspension of mobile internet and mobile data services, including VSATs and VPN services..., it said. Internet services have been temporarily suspended since November 16, after violence broke out in the state following the recovery of the bodies of three women and three children in Jiri and Barak rivers in Manipur and Assam, respectively. The Manipur government had conditionally lifted the suspension on broadband services on November 19, considering the hardships faced by commo

Incidents in Manipur very unfortunate: Bhutia urges govt to restore peace

I hope the state and central government work together with the community and bring back peace because that is the most important thing, Bhaichung Bhutia added

Govt gives extension till May 20 to 3-member panel probing Manipur violence

The Centre has given another extension till May 20, 2025 to a Commission of Inquiry to submit its report on the investigations into the series of violence in Manipur that has claimed at least 258 lives so far. The Commission of Inquiry, headed by former chief justice of the Gauhati High Court Ajai Lamba, was set up on June 4, 2023. The panel, also comprising retired IAS officer Himanshu Shekhar Das and retired IPS officer Aloka Prabhakar, was mandated to make inquiry with respect of the causes and spread of the violence and riots targeting members of different communities, which began in Manipur on May 3, 2023. The commission was supposed to submit its report to the central government "as soon as possible but not later than six months from the date of its first sitting", according to the notification issued on June 4, 2023. In its last extension, the Ministry of Home Affairs had given the commission time till November 20 to submit its report. According to the fresh notification is

Protest in Manipur against scrapping FMR, fencing India-Myanmar border

A demonstration was held in Manipur's Churachandpur district on Tuesday to protest the government's decision to scrap the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR). The demonstration, led by the United Zou Organisation (UZO), started at the 'Wall of Remembrance' around 11.30 am. Carrying posters and placards, the demonstrators raised slogans against the government's decision to scrap FMR and fence the international border. "No border fencing can our cultural ties," said a demonstrator. The demonstration was attended by Saikot MLA Paolienlal Haokip, Henglep MLA Letzamang Haokip and Singngat MLA Chinlunthang, besides leaders of various Kuki-Zo tribes. A one-minute silence was also observed in remembrance of those killed in the ongoing ethnic violence in the state that has claimed over 250 lives since May last year. Leaders of the Kuki Zo Council, Zomi Council, Kuki Inpi Manipur and Hmar Inpui addressed the gathering. At the end of the programme, a memorandum addressed to Union Home

Over 2,000 Army personnel, drones deployed to search missing man in Manipur

The Indian Army has deployed over 2,000 personnel for the search of the Meitei man who has been missing for over a week, police said. Laishram Kamalbabu Singh, a native of Assam's Cachar district who lived in Khukrul in Imphal West, was a works supervisor for a contractor working with the Military Engineering Services (MES) in Leimakhong Military Station of the 57th Mountain Division, according to the Army. Chief Minister N Biren Singh had said he went missing from the military station, asking its authorities to take responsibility for finding him. "Massive joint search operations by Manipur Police assisted by Indian Army is being undertaken with effect from 25.11.2024 to trace Laishram Kamalbabu Singh (56 yrs) who has been missing since 25.11.2024," the Manipur Police said in a Facebook post on Monday night. "Indian Army has extended all support and resources to trace him utilising 2000 plus troops, helicopters, drones and Army tracker dogs. Further investigation using technical .

Manipur govt destroys over 19,000 acres of illegal poppy cultivation

The Manipur government has destroyed a total of 19,135.6 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in at least 12 districts since 2017, according to an official report. In Kangpokpi district, the highest of 4,454.4 acres were destroyed during the period, followed by 3,348 acres in Ukhrul and 2,713.8 acres in Churachandpur, the study Mapping and Estimation of Opium Poppy Cultivation Area using Remote Sensing and GIS Technology revealed. The exercise was conducted by the Manipur Remote Sensing Applications Centre under the Planning Department, based on data provided by the Narcotics and Affairs of Border' wing of the state police. The other districts where illegal poppy cultivation was destroyed include 2,575 acres in Tengnoupal, 1,982.5 acres in Chandel and 1,682 acres in Senapati, the report said. It showed that the area under poppy cultivation in nine districts in 2021-22 was 28,598.91 acres, which declined to 11,288.1 acres in 2023-24. Between 2023 and 2024, poppy cultivation decreas

DMK MP moves adjournment notice in RS for debate on Manipur violence

DMK MP Tiruchi Siva Tiruchi said that the Manipur violence has claimed more than 250 lives and it was crucial to find a solution to the crisis

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Indian Army conducts medical camps in Manipur, benefitting over 800 people

Over the two days, more than 813 people of all age groups benefited from the camps

Manipur not like Mizoram, we joined India with defined boundaries: CM Biren

A day after the Manipur government urged Mizoram CM Lalduhoma to demonstrate "better statesmanship" by being a "good neighbour" rather than fueling hatred through "unwarranted comments", Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday said Manipur is not like Mizoram, "which was once just a district in Assam". Speaking at a function for construction of infrastructure to relocate the Assam Rifles from the premises of the historic Langthabal Old Palace, Singh said, "Manipur is not like Mizoram. We have a written history of 2,000 years. Manipur merged with the Union of India as a single entity in 1949. Our boundaries were not newly created but we joined with the Union with intact boundaries." The Manipur CM's reaction came in the backdrop of a recent interview given by Lalduhoma to a national daily in which he said Singh was a liability for the state, its people and the BJP, and even President's Rule is preferable compared to his administration. "Assam Rifles is here to serve the nation. They

Arambai Tenggol chief, Kuki militants on NIA radar over Manipur attacks

Meitei radical organisation Arambai Tenggol's supremo Korou Nganba Khuman and Kuki militants are under the radar of the National Investigation Agency, which has been tasked with probing four cases of attacks on security forces and an IED explosion in strife-torn Manipur. The cases include looting of arms and ammunition from the 1st Manipur Rifles complex in Imphal, attack on Indian Reserve Battalion post in Moreh and IED explosion in Bishnupur. The Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs has recently ordered the NIA to undertake further investigation of the four cases. The cases have recently been transferred by the Supreme court from the NIA Court in Imphal to NIA Special Court in Guwahati. A copy of the transfer petition filed by the NIA before the Supreme Court said, "The first case involving Khuman is related to an incident that occurred on November 1 last year when a large number of Arambai Tenggol members led by him and armed with

Talks fail to resolve demand for rollback of seven districts in Manipur

The tripartite talks among the Centre, Manipur government and United Naga Council (UNC) held on Friday in Senapati district over the demand for the rollback of the seven districts created in 2016 did not yield any results, officials said. The UNC has been demanding the rollback of the creation of Kamjong, Pherzawl, Kakching, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Noney and Jiribam. These districts were created during the previous Congress government led by O Ibobi Singh. "The discussions focussed on the issue of creation of seven districts by the Manipur government in December 2016," a joint statement issued by the representatives of the Centre, state government and the UNC said. "Representatives of the government of Manipur expressed inability to present a concrete proposal in view of certain difficulties. However, UNC expressed strong exceptions over non-submission of the concrete proposal and insisted that it be submitted in the next rounds of talks," it said. The meeting was held in a cordial

Be good neighbour, don't spread hatred: Manipur govt attacks Mizoram CM

The Manipur government on Friday night hit out at Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, asking him to show "better statesmanship" by being a "good neighbour" rather than stoking the fire of "hatred and division" through "unwarranted comments". In a statement, the state government said that India must be wary of the "greater agenda of carving a Kuki-Chin Christian nation" out of contiguous areas of Myanmar, India and Bangladesh, played out over decades of meticulous planning. It said it will not allow fragmentation of Northeast India at the behest of foreign vested interests, or "secessionist interests as openly espoused by the Mizoram CM". "Mizoram CM reveals his democratic credentials by espousing imposition of President's Rule in Manipur while opposing boundary fencing of the Indo-Myanmar international border. He also calls for reunification of the Zo people. He also talks about possibility of armed militias in Manipur pointing their guns at Delhi and need for disarming, and sincere .