Page 2 - Manipur

PM's Manipur visit 'merely symbolic', not aimed at bringing peace: Congress

Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra on Friday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the ethnic violence-hit state is "merely symbolic", and "not aimed at bringing peace and ensuring justice". Modi is scheduled to set foot in Manipur on Saturday, over two years after a deadly ethnic violence swept the northeastern state, and unveil projects to the tune of Rs 8,500 crore, Meghachandra, in a video message, claimed, "I take the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as merely symbolic and a show-off. The people, who have been suffering for months, including internally displaced persons staying in relief camps, had expected a concrete roadmap for peace, rehabilitation, and justice." The state Congress chief also alleged that Modi's visit is hollow. "It would have been better if they had let it be known that the visit is related to bringing peace and justice. Very upset with the absence of discussions with all stakeholders," the Wangkhem legislator said. The ..

Stage set for PM's maiden visit to Manipur since 2023 ethnic clashes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to set foot in Manipur on Saturday, over two years after a deadly ethnic violence swept the northeastern state, and unveil projects to the tune of Rs 8,500 crore, officials said. Modi will lay foundation stones for various development projects worth Rs 7,300 crore from Peace Ground in Churachandpur, where Kukis are in the majority. The PM will also inaugurate infrastructure projects totalling Rs 1,200 crore from Meitei-majority Imphal, they said. The prime minister's visit comes amid repeated criticism by opposition parties for not coming to the state following the ethnic strife between the Kuki and Meitei communities, which has left over 260 people dead and thousands homeless since May 2023. The Manipur government had on Thursday evening put up a large billboard, announcing the PM's programmes at Churachandpur's Peace Ground and Kangla Fort in Imphal on Saturday. The hoarding came up at Keisampat Junction, a key location in Imphal, which i

PM Modi's Manipur visit marks start of long peace process: Gaurav Gogoi

Senior Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's likely visit to Manipur should not be seen as the end of a goal, but rather as the start on a long journey to bring peace back to the state. Gogoi, the deputy leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, on the sidelines of a programme here on Friday, said, "We cannot say that normalcy has returned to Manipur... there is no elected government, so Modi's visit should not be seen as the end goal." It is only a start on a "long journey to bring peace, justice, reconciliation and democracy back to Manipur", the Congress MP said. Emphasising that the relationship among the people of Manipur must heal, their aspirations must be met, he said, "I hope that the BJP understands that the PM's visit is not the end but only a beginning which has come very much delayed". The likely visit of the PM should have been planned two years ago, and there are still many more milestones to overcome, the Assam Congress president ...

GST 2.0 reforms, PM Modi meets Singapore's Lawrence Wong, Manipur peace pact & more top #newsin1min

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong in New Delhi today.

Kuki-Zo groups sign peace pact with govt, agree to uphold Manipur's unity

Two prominent Kuki-Zo groups on Thursday signed a suspension of operations agreement with the government on re-negotiated terms and conditions under which they agreed on maintaining territorial integrity of Manipur, relocating designated camps away from vulnerable areas and working for a solution to bring lasting peace and stability in the state. The signing of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF) is also set to have a positive impact on peace efforts in Manipur, officials said. Separately, civil society group Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has decided to open the National Highway-02, which passes through Manipur for free movement of commuters and essential goods. The move comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's likely visit to Manipur next week, first since ethnic violence broke out between the Meiteis and Kukis in May 2023. The pact was signed after a series of meetings between the officials of Ministr

Centre, Manipur govt ink peace pact with Kuki-Zo groups to restore peace

The Centre, Manipur government and Kuki-Zo groups have signed a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement to restore peace, secure NH-2, and tighten oversight of armed groups in the state

Large cache of arms, ammunition seized in Manipur's Kangpokpi

A large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from Manipur's Kangpokpi district, police said on Thursday. In an operation conducted in the forest between Maohing and Changoubung village on Wednesday, an American M16 rifle along with its magazine having 10 rounds, a .303 rifle, two Colt Machine Guns or CMGs, three pistols, a .22 rifle, six bolt action rifles, two short-barreled rifles, three improvised projectile launchers, two hand grenades, and four radio sets were among the items recovered. In another operation in the vicinity of Kotzim village, security forces recovered a carbine, a single-barrel rifle, three improvised mortars, two hand grenades, and three pull-mechanism rifles, police said. Meanwhile, a man was arrested from the border town of Moreh in Tengnoupal district for his involvement in extortion of truckers and commercial establishments, smuggling, and supplying arms to militants. The accused, identified as V Shiva alias Ishwar Pandey (36), was arrested from ward

Influx of outsiders from Myanmar 'real, ongoing': Ex-Manipur CM Biren Singh

Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh hailed the Assam Rifles for collecting biometrics of those who have been entering India illegally from Myanmar and said the influx of outsiders is "real and ongoing". His comment comes after Assam Rifles Director General Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, while addressing a programme at Manipur University on Wednesday, said that from December 31, 2024, the paramilitary force had "mapped 42,000 people coming here". "It is equally reassuring that these individuals are being kept under close watch, accommodated only at secure locations, and monitored under strict authority," Singh said on X on Wednesday evening. He shared a video clip of the Assam Rifles DG addressing the programme. Quoting Lakhera that "around 42,000 outsiders entered Manipur since December 2024", the former CM said, "I thank Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, DG Assam Rifles, for confirming that biometrics are being collected from illegal entrants crossing the Indo-Myanmar border." He al

Manipur Governor Bhalla to hold additional charge as Nagaland Governor

The President has appointed Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla also to oversee Nagaland after the passing of Governor La Ganesan

Politics straddling borders: Bipartisan engagement key for Northeast

With so much happening in the Northeast, more political engagement that is seen to be bipartisan is essential. What remains of 2025 and 2026 promises to be an eventful period for the region

Law and order situation improved, under control in Manipur: Governor

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Friday asserted the overall law and order situation in the state has improved tremendously in recent months and it is stable and under control. The northeastern state, which is under President's Rule, has made remarkable progress across various sectors from social welfare, infrastructure development to economic empowerment, said Bhalla. He was addressing a gathering at Ist Manipur Rifles ground on the occasion of Independence Day. "The overall law and order situation in the state has improved tremendously and is stable and under control. Security forces continue extensive search operations and area domination activities in vulnerable and fringe areas across districts as well as check extortion and other criminal activities, the governor said. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the ethnic strife between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023 in Manipur. Despite the challenges of recent years, the state i

Militants arrested for illegal activities in Manipur's Bishnupur district

Security forces have arrested five militants belonging to three proscribed outfits from Manipur's Bishnupur, Imphal West, and Imphal East districts for extortion and possession of illegal arms, police said on Monday. According to officials, an active cadre of the banned UNLF (Pambei) was arrested from Toubul Mayai Leikai in Bishnupur district on Saturday. Identified as Thoudam Bobby Singh (50), he was found in possession of one .303 rifle with magazines, five magazines of different rifles, one hand grenade, 501 live rounds of ammunition of various calibres, and other items, police added. UNLF(P) had signed a peace pact with the Centre in 2023. However, its cadres continued to be arrested for extortion and possession of illegal arms and other criminal and illegal activities, officials said. On Sunday, four militants were arrested from different parts of the state. These include two militants of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (City Meitei) and one each of KCP (PWG) and KC

INDIA bloc to protest at Parliament against Bihar electoral roll revision

On August 1, Rijiju said the govt was ready to hold discussions on any issue under the rules, but the SIR could not be debated as it is carried out by a constitutional body--the Election Commission

Security forces conduct major counter insurgency operation across Manipur

In a sustained series of operations, based on specific information were conducted from July 29 to August 4, the Indian Army and Assam Rifles units in close coordination with Manipur Police and other agencies, launched a large number of joint operations across Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Thoubal, Imphal West, and Imphal East districts of Manipur.A press release by PRO & spokesperson of Ministry of Defence stated that the the operations led to the apprehension of 15 active insurgent cadres belonging to various valley and hill-based groups and the recovery of 69 weapons, 16 Improvised Explosive Devices, grenades, ammunition, radio sets, and other war-like stores. These also included looted service weapons, country-made arms, and explosives capable of causing mass casualties, the release added.Key recoveries were made during multiple operations in forested and high-risk areas including Dampi Ridge, Tollen, and K Geljang in Churachandpur, as well as Imphal East and West. High-value ...

Shah to move resolution in RS for extension of President's rule in Manipur

The President's rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, days after N Biren Singh resigned from the Chief Minister's position

Four militants held in Manipur, 26 firearms recovered in separate ops

Security forces arrested five people, including four militants belonging to three banned outfits, from several districts of Manipur for their alleged involvement in extortion activities, police said on Thursday. All the arrests were made on Wednesday. During a frisking and checking exercise at Ngaikhong Khunou check point in Bishnupur district, an active cadre of the proscribed Peoples' Liberation Army and his associate, who is not a member of the organisation, were apprehended for allegedly being involved in extortion activities, an officer said. They were accused of demanding money from contractors, businessmen and the general public in Imphal and Bishnupur districts, he said. One member of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (PWG) was arrested from Heirol Part 2 in Thoubal district for his alleged role in extortion, threatening people and recruiting cadres for the outfit, the officer said. One active cadre of the outlawed Prepak (Pro) was apprehended from his residential loca

LS approves statutory resolution for extending President's rule in Manipur

Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a resolution approving extension of President's Rule in Manipur by another six months beyond August 13, with the government asserting that peace is prevailing in the northeastern state. What can be a bigger proof of peace returning there than the fact that since President's Rule was imposed, there has been only one fatality with no casualties in the last four months, Minister of State Nityanand Rai said. It is important to have President's Rule in Manipur for ensuring that peace is established, he said. "I want to say that there is peace prevailing there...the law and order situation is also under control. Full efforts are being made to remove differences between the two ethnic communities through dialogue to establish permanent peace," he said. Rai had moved the statutory resolution to extend President's Rule in the state for discussion in Lok Sabha. Speaker Om Birla said President's Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13 and the House had approv

Ethnic clash leaves farmlands abandoned in Manipur, threatens livelihoods

Once vital to the state's economy & the source of income for over 60% of its residents, agriculture in Manipur is suffering from the effects of ongoing conflict between the Meitei and Kuki groups

President's rule in Manipur to be extended by 6 months amid ongoing unrest

Centre notifies extension from August 13 as ethnic tensions persist; state assembly remains in suspended animation till its term ends in 2027

Berries, blooms: Manipur startups venture beyond caffeinated drinks

Aiming to present tea lovers an alternative to caffeine-based beverages, a number of young Manipur entrepreneurs are experimenting with indigenously grown plants to produce flavoured herbal drinks. Sumac berries, gooseberries and banana peels are among the ingredients that go into the making of these unconventional beverages. For Elizabeth Yambem, the founder of 'Dwellers Teas', the longingness for home and the desire to reconnect with childhood memories prompted her to launch her own brand of beverages. "We produce more than 10 varieties of herbal tea and employ 20 women at our Uripok manufacturing unit in Imphal West district. Our products are sold outside the state, too," Yambem told PTI. She said her company procures locally grown indigenous plants cultivated by farmers from various villages and hill districts, including Phayeng in Imphal West, and Ukhrul. "I wanted to relive the childhood memories of Sumac berries, gooseberries, the vibrant Red Roselle, and the bittersweet ..