Page 13 - Manipur

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 .

Schools, colleges reopen in Manipur's Imphal Valley, Jiribam district

Schools and colleges in Manipur's Imphal Valley and Jiribam district resumed classes on Friday after a hiatus of 13 days, officials said. Students in their school uniforms and parents were seen waiting for buses in the state's capital Imphal with the law and order situation improving in the valley districts. The Directorate of Education Schools and the Higher and Technical Education Department had on Thursday ordered the resumption of classes in Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Kakching, Thoubal and Jiribam districts. K Biken Singh, a central government official whose two children study in a private school in Imphal, said, "It is a great relief that schools have reopened. Final exams of my children, who are in Class 6 and Class 7, were scheduled to start from the second week of December and parts of the syllabus are yet to be completed. Reopening of schools will allow the teachers to interact with their students." Educational institutes in the valley districts and Jiribam have

Security forces conduct search operation in Manipur, install 94 checkpoints

The police ensured safe movement of various vehicles carrying essential items, providing a security convoy to vulnerable areas

Army enhances camaraderie; Kukis, Meiteis work together: General Dwivedi

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi has said the force plays a pivotal role as a melting pot and noted that members of the Kuki and Meitei communities from Manipur operate in the same unit with great harmony. Being a casteless Army, it enhances the camaraderie and diminishes the fault lines, he said delivering a lecture here on Wednesday. Notably, Manipur has been rocked by ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities since last year. Delivering a lecture on 'Role and Contribution of Indian Army in Securing India's Growth Story', under General BC Joshi Memorial Lecture Series, General Dwivedi also talked about Agniveers and said these young individuals are shaped by discipline and knowledge. The Army is an apolitical force which draws its human capital from all over the country, he said. At the lecture organised by the Department of Defence & Strategic Studies (DDSS) of the Savitribai Phule Pune University, the Army chief also spoke about the internal security ..

Victims autopsy report in Jiribam killings show multiple bullet wounds

The autopsy reports of the remaining three victims of the Jiribam killings showed brutal injuries, multiple bullet wounds and severe trauma, officials said on Wednesday. The post-mortem reports of two women and a child were released earlier. Three women and three children were abducted from Borobekra area in Jiribam district of Manipur by suspected Kuki militants after a gunfight with security forces on November 17. Their bodies were found in Jiri river in Jiribam district, and the nearby Barak river in Assam's Cachar over the next few days. Laishram Lamnganba, a 10-month-old infant, suffered a bullet injury to the left knee joint and had both eyeballs missing, officials said, quoting the report of the post-mortem examination conducted at the Silchar Medical College Hospital (SMCH) in Assam's Cachar district. The report said there were multiple lacerations including wounds over the front chest wall, blunt weapon injury over the right lower jaw to the chin and back of the head, hard

Kukis who fled Manipur will be sent back, talks to begin soon: Assam's KAAC

The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) in Assam said it will facilitate the return of around 1,000 Kuki-Zo people who took shelter in the Singhason hills since the outbreak of violence in Manipur last year. Meetings will be held with different stakeholders on the issue to facilitate the return of the Kuki-Zos who have come here, KAAC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Tuliram Ronghang said. "We are not going to forcefully evict them but will facilitate their return after discussions with various social and political organisations, including those from the Kuki community," he said. Ronghang said land rights would be given only to people who have lived in the Karbi Anglong district since its establishment or have been longstanding permanent residents. "Individuals migrating from outside the district, particularly those from Manipur, would not be granted land rights through our initiative of distributing land documents," he said on the sidelines of a land rights distribution programme

Cong pushes for discussion in LS on deteriorating condition in Manipur

In his notice, Hibi Eden urged the government to take accountability and implement immediate measures to restore peace

Massive combing operations underway in Jiribam to nab culprits: Manipur CM

The Chief Minister also addressed the media regarding a missing person from Loitang Khunou saying that the police have filed a zero FIR, and a search operation is underway

Parliament Winter Session update: Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11 am on Nov 27

Before adjourning for the day, Union Minister Manohar Lal moved a motion for the election of one member to the advisory council of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA)

Security forces recover arms, ammunition from various districts of Manipur

A thorough search operation was conducted in the area, resulting in the recovery of significant war-like stores

Parliament session kickstarts today: Waqf bill, Adani case to be discussed

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to decide the strategy

Tripura CM urges BJP workers to establish strong connections with masses

He also mentioned that people have immense faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Attack on MLAs' residences: 2 more arrested in Manipur for vandalism, arson

Two more persons were arrested in Manipur for allegedly being involved in vandalism and arson at residences of legislators in Imphal Valley on November 16, police said on Saturday. With these arrests, the number of people apprehended for arson at the residences of MLAs reached 34, a senior officer said. Police also said that they are examining inputs and looking for additional suspects in various localities of Imphal Valley for arson incidents on November 16. An investigation into the incidents of vandalism and arson at the residences of legislators is underway, the officer said. The violence escalated after three women and three children belonging to the Meitei community had gone missing from a relief camp in Jiribam district after a gunfight between security forces and suspected Kuki-Zo militants resulted in the deaths of 10 insurgents on November 11. Bodies of those six were later found. Mobs set fire to the residences of three BJP legislators, one of whom is a senior minister

Best of BS Opinion: Manipur story gets bigger, capturing zeitgeist in word

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Manipur violence claimed 258 lives since May last year: Security Advisor

The ethnic violence in Manipur has claimed 258 lives since May last year, the state government's Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh said on Friday. He said that the state would get around 90 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), over and above the 198 companies that are already in Manipur. "The total number of deaths is 258 including militants," Singh while addressing a press conference after holding a security review meeting here. The security advisor said that 32 people were arrested in connection with vandalism and torching of properties of ministers and MLAs while around 3,000 looted weapons have been recovered.

Manipur story gets bigger as Conrad Sangma withdraws support to state govt

By withdrawing support from the government, Conrad Sangma has stood up to be counted in the eyes of the Kuki-Zo. Whether that matters is a proposition yet to be tested

Manipur crisis: War of words between BJP and Congress

As Manipur grapples with violence, a political war of words has broken out between the BJP and Congress, playing the blame game about who is accountable for the worsening situation in the state.