Page 17 - Manipur

Govt extends AFSPA in Manipur by another six months, with effect from Oct 1

The government on Monday extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) by another six months in Manipur excluding 19 police station areas falling under the Imphal valley and a region that shares its boundary with Assam. In a notification, the state government's Home Department said the extension will come into effect from October 1. "The state government is of the opinion after analysing the prevailing law and order situation in the state that it is not expedient to have a detailed assessment on the ground as security agencies are preoccupied with maintenance of law and order, the notification said. The issue of declaration of Disturbed Area status is very sensitive and may likely attract public criticism and resistance if proper care is not taken, it said. The governor of Manipur hereby accords approval to declare the entire state of Manipur excluding the areas falling under the jurisdiction of 19 police stations as Disturbed Area for a period of six months with effect fr

Manipur DGP asked to secure release of two kidnapped youth: CM Biren Singh

Security forces in Manipur are making all-out efforts to trace two of the three youths, who were allegedly abducted by armed men in Manipur's Kangpokpi district three days ago, police said on Monday. One of the three youths has already been rescued. Accompanied by his two friends, N. Johnson Singh, who was rescued by the army, went for the SSC GD recruitment test for central forces at New Keithelmanbi in Manipur's Imphal West district but took a wrong turn, ending up in Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi, a police officer said. The three hail from Thoubal district. Singh was safe and handed over to the police, while Th. Thoithoiba Singh and O. Thoithoi Singh were still missing, he said. "In connection with the case of two youths, who were allegedly abducted by miscreants on September 27 in Kangpokpi district, security forces are making all-out efforts to rescue the missing/kidnapped youths as quickly as possible," the police said in a statement. The state police and the central forces have

Siddaramaiah questions PM's silence on Hindenburg report, Manipur violence

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the Hindenburg report and the Manipur violence, as he hit back at the latter, for raising the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case against him, to target the Congress during poll campaign in Haryana. Alleging that there are many corrupt people in the BJP, he asked the prime minister to correct things within his party first. "There are many corrupt people in his party (BJP). Let him correct it first. Why doesn't Narendra Modi speak about Hindenburg (report)? on Manipur? Why hasn't he visited Manipur? Rahul Gandhi (Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha) has raised these issues. Why don't he speak on that?" Siddaramaiah asked in response to a question by reporters. Targeting the Congress over the issue of corruption, Modi, addressing a poll rally in Haryana's Sonipat on Wednesday, had cited an example of Congress-ruled Karnataka, saying Chief

'No basis': Manipur govt retracts remark on Kuki militants' possible attack

The Manipur government retracted claims of a planned attack by 900 Kuki militants on the Meitei community in peripheral villager , noting that the "inputs" could not be substantiated

Congress MP slams BJP, asks why Manipur allowed to go 'Afghan way'

Amid the lingering crisis in Manipur, Congress MP A Bimol Akoijam raises pointed questions over the Centre's "inaction", suggesting that such a situation would not have been left unaddressed if it happened in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In an interview with PTI Videos, Akoijam vehemently criticised the Centre's handling of the situation in Manipur, asking why the government of India was allowing the northeastern state to become like Afghanistan, which he described as a "banana republic". "With 60,000 troops stationed in Manipur, the central government should have prevented this crisis from persisting for so long," Akoijam stated. "If this were happening in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, or Madhya Pradesh, would it have been allowed to linger? Most people would say no," he added. Ethnic violence in Manipur erupted on May 3, 2022, following a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community's push for Scheduled Tribe status.

Both Meitei, Kuki must learn to live, co-exist together: Scindia on Manipur

Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday said both the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur must learn to live and co-exist together. Ethnic violence has been going on in Manipur since May 3 last year after a tribal solidarity march was taken out in the hill districts of the northeastern state to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. More than 220 people, including members of both the Kuki and Meitei communities and security personnel, have been killed in the continuing violence. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of North East Students Festival, Scindia said the principle of unity in diversity should be followed by every citizen of the country. "This is an issue which has been present since the last many many decades. We are all praying that both sides will certainly, hopefully live in peace, come together. They must learn to live and co-exist together," he sai

CRPF launches 'Bhandars' in Manipur, offers essential commodities to public

Home Minister Amit Shah launched this initiative to provide goods to the people of Manipur at reasonable prices

If Manipur situation normal like Shah's claims, why hasn't PM visited: Cong

Hitting out at Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks on Manipur, the Congress on Tuesday asked if the situation there was as normal as he made it out to be why hasn't Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state yet or met its political leaders. Addressing a press conference here, Shah said the government is talking to both the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur to ensure lasting peace and has begun fencing the country's border with Myanmar to check infiltration. Barring three days of violence last week, the overall situation in Manipur has been calm and the government has been working to restore peace in the restive Northeastern state, Shah said at the press conference on the achievements of 100 days of the Modi government 3.0. Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said, "If the situation in Manipur is as normal as the self-styled Chanakya has made it out to be today (and) if the chief minister of Manipur is doing as good a job as the self-styled Chanak

Govt talking to Meitei, Kuki communities for peace in Manipur: HM Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday said the government is talking to both the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur to ensure lasting peace and has begun fencing the country's border with Myanmar to check infiltration. Addressing a press conference on the achievements of the 100 days of the Modi 3.0 government, Shah said barring three days of violence last week, the overall situation in Manipur has been calm and the government has been working to restore peace in the restive Northeastern state. "We are talking to both the communities for maintaining peace. We are also preparing a roadmap for a permanent peace in Manipur," he said. The home minister said fencing of 30 km of the international border with Myanmar has been completed while funds have been approved for a total of 1,500 km and the work will start soon. He said that the government has already scrapped the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR), which allows people residing close to the India-Myanmar border to

PM making plans to travel within country, abroad but avoiding Manipur: Cong

The Congress on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Manipur situation and said he continues to make plans to travel in other parts of the country and abroad, but "studiously avoiding" a visit to the "most troubled state". Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that on May 3, 2023, Manipur began burning and on June 4, 2023, a three-member Commission of Enquiry was set up to investigate the causes and spread of violence and riots. "It was given six months to submit its report. No report has been submitted till now. The Commission has just been given time till Nov 24, 2024 to do so," he said. "Meanwhile the anguish and agony of the people of Manipur continues unabated. And the non-biological PM continues to make plans to travel in other parts of the country and abroad, studiously avoiding a visit to this most troubled state," Ramesh said in his post on X. His remarks come a day after the Centre granted time till November 20 to a ...

BJP's muscular approach in NE falters, but party sticks to its strategy

Manipur represents the BJP's unique ideological approach to governing Northeast by playing identity politics jiu-jitsu. It hasn't gone well yet and is getting worse, but party insists on continuing

Manipur Governor leaves for Assam after student unrest; exams postponed

A day after students clashed with security forces during their march to Raj Bhavan, Manipur Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Wednesday left Imphal for Guwahati, officials said. Manipur University has also postponed all postgraduate and undergraduate examinations till further orders. Acharya, who is the governor of Assam with additional charge of Manipur, left the state for Guwahati around 10 am, officials told PTI without divulging further details. More than 55 students and security personnel received minor injuries during the clash on Tuesday near the Raj Bhavan. The agitators were demanding removal of the DGP and security advisor to the state government for their alleged inability to deal with the law and order situation in Manipur, where drones and rockets were used recently in the ethnic violence. Hours after the clash near Raj Bhavan, the governor met 11 student representatives on Tuesday night. Police said that no fresh protests and violence were reported on Wednesday in

Manipur violence: Tensions escalate, colleges, internet shut; latest updates

Tensions have escalated in Manipur once again, with students staging massive protests particularly in valley areas to demand the removal of the state's Director General of Police (DGP) and the Securit

Situation tense but under control after Manipur students, police clash

The situation in Manipur remained tense but under control on Wednesday after students clashed with security forces during their march to Raj Bhavan here a day before, police said. Curfew, which was imposed in the state's capital Imphal on Tuesday afternoon, continued to be in place this morning, while additional security forces were deployed and frequent patrolling by policemen was underway in the town to avoid any untoward incident, a senior officer said. "The situation remains tense but under control," he said. A clash broke out between students and security forces during a march to the Raj Bhavan here on Tuesday. The government on Tuesday evening issued an amended order, stating that the suspension of internet services in the wake of intensified agitation by students applies only to the five valley districts. The agitating students attempted to march towards the Raj Bhavan in Imphal to press for their demands to remove the DGP and security advisor to the state government. The

Manipur govt fresh order says internet suspended only in 5 valley districts

The Manipur government on Tuesday evening issued an amended order, stating that the suspension of internet services in the wake of intensified agitation by students applies only to the state's five valley districts. Earlier, the state government had issued a notification for suspension of internet services in the entire state for five days. The hill districts do not come under the purview of the order, officials said. ... Temporary suspension/curbing of internet and mobile data services including Lease Lines, VSATs, Broadbands and VPN services in the territorial jurisdiction of the Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching Districts of Manipur for 5(five) days with effect from 3:00 P.M. of 10-09-2024, the latest Home Department order said. ... There is an imminent danger of loss of life and/or damage to public/private property, and widespread disturbances to public tranquillity and communal harmony, as a result of inflammatory material and false rumours, which might

Govt sends 2,000 more CRPF personnel to Manipur for security duties

The Centre has directed deployment of two fresh CRPF battalions comprising about 2,000 personnel for security duties in ethnic strife-torn Manipur, official sources said Tuesday. The battalion number 58 is being moved from Warangal in Telangana while the one numbered 112 is being sent from Latehar in Jharkhand. The first unit will have its headquarter in Kangvai (Churachandpur) in Manipur while the second will be stationed around Imphal, the sources told PTI. They said the move has been ordered following the withdrawal of two Assam Rifles battalions from Manipur for operational duties in Jammu and Kashmir and some other parts of the Northeast. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed that all the companies (about 6 each) of these new two units to be based in various parts of the strife-torn state that has been witnessing ethnic conflict since May last year claiming more than 200 lives. A CRPF battalion has an operational strength of about 1,000 personnel. The force has three

Congress accuses PM Modi of allowing Manipur to 'go up in flames'

Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the situation in Manipur, Congress Tuesday alleged he allowed the state to "go up in flames" and said he travels all over the globe engaging in "huglomacy" but cannot find time to visit the violence-hit state. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said democracy is a tall order and the rule of law itself has fallen apart in the state. "Here is the non-biological PM telling the people of Manipur that he will do in 15 months what the Congress couldn't do in 15 years," Ramesh said and shared a video of the prime minister speaking at a rally. "Indeed. Within 15 months of getting a decisive mandate from all sections of Manipur's society, he allowed the state to go up in flames," Ramesh said. "It is still burning with no respite in sight. The Supreme Court has declared that there is a breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the state. Yet Mr Narendra Modi is unmoved," he said in a post on X. The prime minister

Internet suspended in Manipur for 5 days: What triggered fresh protests?

The Manipur government suspended internet services statewide from September 10-15 due to violent student protests demanding the removal of key government officials

Manipur students stage protest over drone, missile attacks, demand action

Thousands of school and college students protested in front of Manipur Chief Minister's Secretariat and Raj Bhavan, calling for the protection of the state's "territorial and administrative integrity" and demanding decisive action against those responsible for recent drone and missile attacks that resulted in two deaths and over 10 injuries. The students, chanted slogans such as "Long Live Manipur," "Resign all incompetent MLAs," and "Give Unified Command to State Government," expressing their frustration with the authorities over their handling of the situation. Later, the students met Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Governor L Acharya. Student representatives who met Acharya later told reporters that they placed six demands, including the removal of the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Security Advisor to the state government for their alleged failure to control the violence. They also called for the Unified Command, currently chaired by former CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh, to b

TIFF: Raj Kapoor's restored evergreen hit 'Awara' to musings from Manipur

Indian films to include world premiere of Superboys of Malegaon on the life and work of auteur Nasir Shaikh