Page 29 - Manipur

'Forces' trying to disintegrate Manipur, people should stay united: CM

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said that all sections of society must stay united to find a solution to the present situation in the state. Addressing a function here, he said there were "forces" trying to disintegrate the state, but the people should remain united. "Let political differences remain political, but when the issue at hand is national or state unity, all differences should be dismissed," Singh said. "This is not the time for bickering among ourselves," he said, adding that his government welcomes all constructive criticisms, advices and suggestions. Singh said that his government cannot allow any threat to the unity of the state or disintegration of the about 34 communities living here. Accusing the state government and the Centre of failing to tackle the ethnic violence that has been ravaging the state since May, Kuki-Zo groups of Manipur have been demanding a separate administration for the tribal areas. More than 180 people have been killed since

Manipur govt in peace talks with Imphal Valley-based insurgent group: CM

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said his government was holding "peace talks" with an Imphal Valley-based insurgent group. Speaking to PTI-Video, Singh said the talks were at an advanced stage, even though he stayed away from naming the underground organisation. This was for the first time that there was an official confirmation about such talks being held by the government, since ethnic violence broke out on May 3. Earlier, sources had said that the government was holding talks with one faction of the proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF). More than 180 people have been killed since the violence broke out 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) status. The Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly i

IRB jawan among 2 tribals shot dead in Manipur; shutdown call in Kangpokpi

In a fresh incident of violence, two persons were killed in a gunfight between two rival groups in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Monday, police said. The shootout occurred at a place between Haraothel and Kobsha villages though the police are not yet sure about how it began. A tribal organisation, however, claimed that the Kuki-Zo community people were attacked without provocation and declared a "shutdown" in the district. The area witnessed several incidents of gunfight between armed villagers since ethnic strife between Meitei and Kuki communities began in the northeastern state in early May. Additional forces have been deployed in the area and searches are on to arrest those involved in the incident, a police official said. Condemning the "unprovoked attack" on the Kuki-Zo community people, the Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) declared an "emergency shutdown in Kangpokpi district. The COTU, at a meeting, also demanded that the government make arrangements for

Air Force sends Rafales after 'UFO' sighting near Imphal airport on Sunday

The Eastern Command of the Indian Air Force said that it had activated its air defence response mechanism

Hold talks between warring communities: 10-party delegation to Manipur Guv

A delegation of 10 political parties has urged Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey to initiate peace talks between the two warring communities in the state for restoration of peace and normalcy, a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan said. The team led by Congress Legislature Party leader and former chief minister O Ibobi Singh submitted a memorandum to the governor on Friday evening, noting that peace cannot be restored in the state without the intervention of the Centre, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They demanded immediate initiation for "peace talks with the two communities so that a durable solution can be achieved to the ongoing conflict", the statement said. The delegation met the governor after ITLF, a frontal organisation of Kuki-Zo tribes in Manipur, had on Wednesday threatened to establish a "self-governed separate administration" in areas where these tribes have a majority. The state government has strongly condemned the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum's call for .

Manipur govt terms ITLF's demand for 'self-ruled administration' illegal

The Manipur government has strongly condemned the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum's (ITLF) call for "self-governed separate administration" in districts dominated by members of the Kuki-Zo community and termed it as illegal. State government spokesperson and Education Minister Th Basantakumar Singh told reporters on Thursday night that "the irresponsible statements appear to be motivated and aimed at vitiating and disturbing the law and order situation in the state." "Meeting of the ruling party legislators held on Thursday strongly condemned the statement and appropriate legal actions is being initiated against ITLF and persons concerned," the minister said. ITLF, a frontal organisation of Kuki-Zo tribes in Manipur, had on Wednesday threatened to establish a "self-governed separate administration" in areas where these tribes have a majority. The forum said even after more than six months of ethnic strife in the northeastern state, the central government is yet to accept their dema

Manipur CM launches Permanent Housing Scheme for displaced persons

Biren Singh also handed over financial assistance for the construction of permanent houses to some selected beneficiaries from Imphal East, Kakching, and Bishnupur districts under the scheme

Ongoing ethnic violence takes a heavy toll on economy of Manipur

The retail inflation in Manipur remained one of the highest in the country at 9.7 per cent in September

Mobile internet ban extended till Nov 13 in Manipur barring few areas

The Manipur government on Thursday extended mobile internet ban across the state by five more days till November 13, officials said. The ban, however, will not be enforced in the four hill district headquarters which have not been affected by ethnic strife, officials added. The state government said the decision to extend the ban was taken "as there is apprehension that anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speeches and video messages inciting the passions of the public which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation in the state." A home department order said, "There is imminent danger of loss of life and/or damage to public private property and widespread disturbances to public tranquility and communal harmony, as a result of inflammatory material and rumours, which might be transmitted/circulated to the public through social media." "To thwart the designs of anti-national and anti-social elements and to ..

Mobile internet ban lifted in 4 Manipur district HQs unaffected by violence

The Manipur government has lifted the mobile internet ban in four hill district headquarters which have not been affected by ethnic strife, officials said on Thursday. The internet ban was withdrawn on a trial basis in the district headquarters of Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel and Tamenglong, which are Naga-majority areas, they said. The move comes after the Manipur High Court had directed the state government to operationalise mobile towers, on a trial basis, in all those district headquarters which have not been affected by the ethnic clashes. The mobile internet services in the four hill district headquarters resumed on Tuesday, the officials said. Asked about the resumption of mobile internet services, an official of the Ukhrul district administration said, "Only in district headquarters, a few selected mobile towers have been operationalised. But the connectivity is poor. The restoration will be done on a trial basis." At a recent function in Ukhrul, state Transport Minister Kash

Manipur govt extends internet ban in state till Nov 8 to contain violence

The Manipur government has extended the mobile internet ban in the state till November 8, officials said. Barring a few days in September, mobile internet has remained banned in Manipur since May 3 when ethnic clashes broke out, they said. The latest move comes after a mob had on Wednesday attacked a camp of 1 Manipur Rifles here to loot its armoury, prompting security personnel to fire several rounds in the air. The internet ban was extended following "apprehensions that anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speeches and hate video messages, inciting the passions of the public which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation in the state". An order issued by Commissioner (Home) T Ranjit Singh, acknowledged the existence of "elements of imminent danger of loss of life and/or damage to public-private property... as a result of inflammatory material and false rumours which might be transmitted/circulated to the

Situation calm but tense in Imphal day after attack by mob on Rifles camp

The situation in Manipur's capital Imphal remained calm but tense on Thursday, a day after security forces fired several rounds in the air to disperse a large mob of more than 2,000 people who tried to loot an armoury within the camp of the 1 Manipur Rifles. Several markets in the city remained closed but educational institutions, government offices and the Manipur High Court were functioning normally, while vehicles were seen plying on roads after the curfew was relaxed from 10 am. The administration deployed additional state and central forces at major junctions and police personnel were seen patrolling the area near the Manipur Rifles camp. "Yesterday's attempt to loot arms and ammunitions at 1st MR Battalion by armed miscreants was repulsed by combined security forces effectively," the state police said on Thursday. The mob targeted the Manipur Rifles camp, close to the Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister's Office in Imphal West district on Wednesday. Responding to the situation

Manipur violence: Mob tries to 'gherao' police station near CMO's office

A mob on Wednesday tried to gherao a Manipur Police office complex demanding arms in Imphal, the capital of the restive state, prompting the authorities to order firing of several rounds in the air and withdraw curfew relaxations in two districts, officials said. A tribal student body called for a 48-hour shutdown from midnight of Wednesday to protest against the deployment of additional police commandos in Moreh town in Tengnoupal district, where a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) was shot dead on October 31. The Manipur government on Wednesday evening withdrew the daily curfew relaxation from 5 am to 10 pm in Imphal East and West districts "with immediate effect owing to developing law and order situation", according to an official order. The decision came following the attempt by a group of people to gherao the 1st Manipur Rifles complex, close to Raj Bhavan and Chief Minister's Office in Imphal West district, demanding weapons. Security forces fired several rounds in the ai

Manipur cop shot dead, state govt recommends banning tribal group

A senior police officer of Manipur was shot dead by suspected tribal militants in Tengnoupal district on Tuesday prompting the state government to recommend declaring World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC) as a banned group under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Sub-divisional police officer Chingtham Anand, a resident of Imphal's Haobam Marak locality, was killed in a sniper attack while he was on duty overseeing the cleaning of the grounds of Eastern Shine School for construction of a helipad jointly by the police and BSF, officials said. He was taken to a primary health centre in Moreh where he succumbed to injuries, they said. Within minutes, the state cabinet met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Biren Singh and announced a relief of Rs 50 lakh to the kin of Anand. It also decided to provide a suitable government employment to the next of the kin of the slain police officer. "In view of today's incident leading to killing of a senior police officer, the ..

NIA opposes bail plea of man accused of transnational conspiracy in Manipur

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has opposed the bail plea of a man accused of involvement in a transnational conspiracy behind the Manipur violence. The agency submitted before Additional Sessions Judge Sachin Gupta that the accused - Moirangthem Anand Singh - had association with proscribed organisations and was arrested with sophisticated arms and ammunition along with his associates in an area affected by the ongoing strife. "The accused was involved in transnational conspiracy hatched by the Myanmar-based leadership of terror outfits operationally active in the North Eastern Indian states to exploit the current ethnic unrest in the state of Manipur to wage war against the Government of India and execute terror attacks there by exacerbating the current situation...," the agency told the court. It submitted that if the accused was released on bail, it will cause hardship to the ongoing investigation, and considering the history of the accused, there was high probability th

From MSP to Pulwama: Here's what Satya Pal Malik said to Rahul Gandhi

On being asked about the solution to the problem in Jammu and Kashmir, Malik said that their statehood should be returned with immediate effect

Bhagwat's remarks on Manipur contradicts stance of Modi govt: Baghel

Baghel said the BJP government asserts that borders are secure under its rule while the RSS chief was pointing to role of external elements

Will never accept illegal immigrants in Manipur, says CM Biren Singh

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday asserted that his government will never accept illegal immigrants in the state and said indigenous communities must continue to maintain their historical ties. Singh also said that the arrest of two cadres of Myanmar-based outfit Chin Kuki Liberation Army (CKLA) in Churachandpur district on Monday revealed the involvement of outside groups in the ethnic strife in the state which began in early May leaving more than 180 people dead. Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony for three projects at Andro in Imphal East district, he said, "I seek your support to maintain the old bond that exists among the traditional and government-recognised 34 communities. However, I will never allow and accept illegal immigrants." The ethnic park at Moirang where traditional houses of 34 indigenous communities of the state are on display bears testimony to the emotional bonds that exist within people, Singh said. "Our issue has been taken up by t

Were extremists across the border involved in Manipur violence: Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday asked if extremists across the border were involved in Manipur violence. For many years, Meitei and Kuki communities have been living together. How did the violence erupt all of a sudden? The conflict benefits external forces. Are external factors involved, Bhagwat said, while addressing the RSS Dussehra rally in Nagpur. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was there for three days. Who actually fueled the conflict? It (violence) is not happening, it is being made to happen, Bhagwat said. The RSS chief said he was proud of the Sangh workers who worked in Manipur to restore peace. Some anti-social people call themselves cultural Marxists or woke but they have forgotten Marx, he said. Bhagwat cautioned against attempts to garner votes by inflaming emotions ahead of 2024 general elections. He asked people to vote keeping in mind unity, integrity, identity and development of the country.

Manipur tribals protest deployment of additional' police commandos in Moreh

A section of tribal women in Manipur's Moreh town bordering Myanmar has been protesting against the deployment of additional police commandos for the past few days. Women are on a sit-in at Chikim village, around 3 km from Tengnoupal district's Moreh, a Kuki majority town. Officials said that a commandant of the Assam Rifles and other security officers held a series of talks with the protestors in the last few days but the issue is yet to be addressed. Several tribal organisations such as the Kuki Inpi and the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) claimed that efforts are on to induct more police personnel drawn from Imphal Valley in the town and this might disturb peace. Despite the strong presence of para-military forces and Indian Army manning the buffer zones and securing tranquillity within Moreh, the deployment of additional Meitei police through night choppers is of grave concern, COTU said in a statement. It claimed that the recovery of arms and ammunition in recent operations