Page 31 - Manipur

Manipur bans mobile internet again amid protests over dead students' photos

Altogether 45 students, many of them girls, were injured in Manipur's Imphal Valley on Tuesday as the police fired tear gas shells and baton-charged protesters demonstrating against the killing of two youths who were allegedly kidnapped in July, officials said. In view of the prevailing situation, the government reimposed suspension of internet services for five days and announced that all schools in the state will be closed till Friday. Twenty-four MLAs of Manipur including 21 of the BJP have urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah for "urgent necessary action by the CBI against the guilty persons" involved in the killing of two youths. The students of Imphal-based schools and colleges brought out the protest rallies hours after photos of the bodies of the two youths went viral on social media, demanding arrest of those involved in the killing. The protesters clashed with the police near Sanjenthong in Imphal East district when security forces stopped them from advancing towards the .

Manipur: Govt asks people to exercise restraint as bodies' photos go viral

Hours after photos of the bodies of two students, who had been missing since July, have gone viral on social media, the Manipur government has asked people to exercise restraint and allow the authorities to investigate the "kidnapping and killing" of the duo. In a statement issued by the secretariat of Chief Minister N Biren Singh late on Monday night, the state government said the case has already been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Two students were identified as Phijam Hemjit (20) and Hijam Linthoingambi (17). "The state police, in collaboration with the central security agencies, are actively investigating the case to determine the circumstances surrounding their disappearance and to identify the perpetrators who murdered the two students. The security forces have also started the search operation to nab the perpetrators," the statement said. Security personnel have been put on alert, and additional measures taken to prevent any incident following the

Asian Games: Manipur's Naorem Devi confirms bronze for India in Wushu

At the last edition of the Asian Games, India's 13-member Wushu contingent returned with four bronze medals

Ensure Aadhaar cards provided to displaced Manipur people: SC asks UIDAI

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Unique Identification Authority of India and the Manipur government to take steps to ensure that Aadhaar cards are provided to people displaced due to the bloody ethnic conflict in the state whose records are already available with the UIDAI. Observing that it does not propose to run the administration in Manipur, the apex court said necessary verifications shall be carried out before issuing the Aadhaar cards expeditiously. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud clarified that UIDAI, which would have the biometric details of people to whom Aadhaar cards were already issued, will match the claims of those displaced about the loss of their cards. The bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, directed the secretary of Manipur's finance department to issue appropriate instructions to all banks in the affected parts of the state to make available the details of bank accounts to those who have lost the documents. It

Mobile internet services restored in Manipur after over four months

Mobile internet services, which were suspended as ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in early May, were restored after over four months from Saturday. The services resumed hours after Chief Minister N Biren Singh made an announcement in this regard in the morning. He also called for the cancellation of the free movement regime that allows people residing close to both sides of the India-Myanmar border to venture 16 km deep into each other's territory without any document. Addressing a press conference here, Singh said, "The government had suspended mobile internet services on May 3 to check the spread of fake news, propaganda and hate speech. However, with the improvement of the situation, mobile internet services will be restored across the state from today." The services were restored from around 3 pm, an official said. The chief minister said the government will continue to deal with the influx of "illegal immigrants" and stressed the need for complete fencing of the India-Myan

Mobile internet services to be restored in Manipur from today: CM Biren

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that mobile internet services, which were suspended after ethnic violence erupted in the northeastern state on May 3, will be restored from Saturday. He also called for the cancellation of the free movement regime that allows people residing close to both sides of the India-Myanmar border to venture 16 km deep into each other's territory without any document. Addressing a press conference here, Singh said, "The government had suspended mobile internet services on May 3 to check the spread of fake news, propaganda and hate speech. However, with the improvement of the situation, mobile internet services will be restored across the state from today." He said the government will continue to deal with the influx of "illegal immigrants" and stressed the need for fencing the India-Myanmar border.

Manipur govt files report in SC on recovery of arms in violence-hit state

The Manipur government on Friday told the Supreme Court that it has filed a status report on the issue of recovery of arms from "all sources" in the ethnic violence-hit state. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud that the report has been filed on the issue and it is for the judges only. He informed the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, about another short affidavit in the matter. Mehta told the bench that the affidavit says "whatever issues are being debated here are already been brought to the notice of the (apex court-appointed) committee" and the panel is considering them. The top court had earlier appointed a judges committee, headed by Justice (retd) Gita Mittal, to oversee relief and rehabilitation of victims of ethnic violence in the state. Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for the petitioners' side, told the bench that bodies of two women, who were gang-raped and killed in May in Manipur, have not

Manipur violence: Mobs try to storm police stations, curfew reimposed

More than 10 people were injured when Manipur security forces fired tear gas shells on protesters for trying to storm police stations and court arrest demanding the unconditional release of the five arrested youths on Thursday. As a precautionary measure, the state government cancelled curfew relaxations in the twin districts of Imphal from 5pm, officials said. Responding to a call by six local clubs and Meira Paibis demanding the release of the five village volunteers, hundreds of protesters holding placards and shouting slogans tried to enter the Porompat police station in Imphal East and Singjamei police station and Kwakeithel police outpost in Imphal West district. However, police and RAF personnel deployed at strategic positions fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. A protester, identified as Th Bimola at Porompat said, "We were left with no option but to court arrest as the government failed to release the five village volunteers. If such village ...

Normal life hit on 2nd day of 48-hour in Manipur's statewide shutdown

Normal life was hit across Manipur's Imphal valley districts on Wednesday, the second day of the 48-hour statewide shutdown called by Meira Paibis, a collective of Meitei women, and five local clubs, demanding unconditional release of five "village defence volunteers" arrested by police, officials said. For the second day, educational institutions, markets, banks and commercial establishments remained closed, while attendance in government offices was negligible and a few vehicles plied on the roads, they said. Across all the five districts of Imphal valley, women in large numbers blocked roads and raised slogans demanding the release of the youths. Protesters blamed the state government and police for failing to tackle the law and order in the hill areas. S Sakhi, a protester at Wangkhei in Imphal East district said, "Police continue to arrest, detain and fire tear gas shells on unarmed civilians across the five districts of Imphal valley while doing hardly anything against the ar

Normal life affected in Imphal as Meira Paibi, local clubs call for bandh

Normal life was affected in Imphal Valley districts on Tuesday as Meira Paibi, a collective of Meitei women, and five local clubs called for a 48-hour bandh from midnight demanding the release of five youths who were arrested for carrying firearms and sporting camouflage uniforms, officials said. Markets and commercial establishments remained closed and few vehicles plied the roads on Tuesday morning. On Monday, Meira Paibis blocked several important roads at Khurai and Kongba in Imphal East district, Kakwa in Imphal West district, Nambol in Bishnupur district and parts of Thoubal district demanding the release of the youths. Manipur Police had arrested five persons on Saturday for carrying sophisticated weapons and donning camouflage uniforms. In a statement, police said the five had been produced before the judicial magistrate and remanded to police custody. Yumnam Hitler, president of All Langthabal Kendra United Clubs Coordinating Committee, said, "The five arrested youths are

Five held in Manipur for carrying weapons donning camouflage uniforms

Five persons were arrested by the Manipur Police for carrying sophisticated weapons while donning camouflage uniforms, an official said. There have been reports of extortion, threats, misuse of police uniforms and impersonation by armed miscreants, and in view of this, police has been making all-out efforts, he said. "In one such operation, on Saturday, five persons were arrested. They have been produced before the judicial magistrate and remanded into further police custody," an official statement said. A large number of people came to protest the arrest and tried to storm Porompat Police Station (in Imphal East district)", leading to firing of tear gas shells by security forces, it said. Few persons, including a personnel of RAF, received minor injuries during the commotion, the statement said. "Manipur Police is determined to carry on such raids/operations and make all efforts to bring peace and normalcy in the state," it added.

Indian Army soldier on leave abducted and killed in Manipur: Report

The body of an Indian Army soldier was found at Khuningthek village in Manipur's Imphal East district on Sunday, officials said. He was identified as Sepoy Serto Thangthang Kom of the Army's Defence Security Corps (DSC) platoon at Leimakhong in Kangpokpi district, they said. He hailed from Tarung in Imphal West, officials said. According to officials, unidentified armed men abducted Sepoy Kom, who was on leave, from his home around 10am on Saturday. According to his 10-year-old son, who was the only eyewitness to the crime, three men entered their home while his father and he were working on the porch. "The armed men placed a pistol on the Sepoy's head and forced him into a white vehicle before fleeing the spot," officials said quoting his son. "There was no news of Sepoy Kom till Sunday early morning. Around 9.30am, his body was found at Khuningthek village, east of Mongjam under Sogolmang PS in Imphal East. His identity was confirmed by his brother and brother-in-law who said t

CWC passes condolence resolutions on loss of lives in Manipur, Himachal

The Congress Working Committee on Saturday passed condolence resolutions over the loss of lives in the ethnic violence in Manipur and the natural disaster in Himachal Pradesh. The Congress' top decision-making body, holding its first meeting since its reconstitution, also passed a resolution condoling the demise of veteran leader and former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy. In the resolution on Manipur, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) expressed its profound sense of loss and anguish at the ongoing situation of ethnic violence in the state. "The people of Manipur have witnessed extreme devastation and are facing innumerable hardships. More than 200 lives have been lost, over 500 injured and more than 5,000 houses gutted in arson-related incidents. A staggering number of over 60,000 people are displaced and continue to live in dire conditions in relief camps across the state," the resolution stated. Schools and colleges were closed for nearly three months, adversely affecting

SC extends protection to Editors Guild by 2 weeks in FIRs lodged in Manipur

The Supreme Court on Friday extended by two weeks the protection from coercive action it has granted to four members of the Editors Guild of India (EGI) in connection with two FIRs lodged against them in Manipur for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups. A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra sought the response of the complainant, who had lodged the FIRs against the EGI and its four members, asking as to how the offence of promoting enmity between different ethnic groups was made out against them. The Manipur government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, said the top court may protect the EGI and the members for some more time and let the plea be transferred to the Delhi High Court if the bench wished so. On September 11, the top court extended till Friday the protection from coercive action to the EGI and its members. It had also sought the view of the Manipur government on whether to transfer their plea for .

Meitei group meets Rajnath, seeks withdrawal of Assam Rifles from Manipur

Representatives of COCOMI, an umbrella body of Imphal valley-based civil society organisations, met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and demanded the withdrawal of Assam Rifles from the state, alleging that the force was acting in a biased way. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), which represents Meitei groups, said in a statement that their representatives met Singh on Thursday at his residence in Delhi and submitted a memorandum. In the memorandum, they claimed that the Kuki groups caused embarrassment to the government by approaching the United Nations for a resolution to the Manipur crisis. They also raised with Singh the issues of narco-terrorism, illegal immigrants and their identification as well as suspension of operations agreement, the statement said. On the other side, the Kuki groups have been accusing the state police of bias. Last month, 10 Kuki MLAs of the state appealed to PM Narendra Modi to not withdraw Assam Rifles from the state, maintaining

Manipur approves compensation scheme for women sexual-acid attack victims

The Manipur government has approved a compensation scheme for women victims of sexual assault and other crimes, an official order said. The order issued by Commissioner (Home) T Ranjit Singh on September 14 said that the state government has approved the 'Manipur Compensation Scheme for women victims/survivors of sexual assault/other crimes, 2023'. Under the scheme gang rape victims will be entitled to a minimum amount of Rs 5 lakh to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh while rape victims will get Rs 4-7 lakh. Victims of acid attack with face disfigurement will get Rs 7-8 lakh. The order said in case of loss of life or enforced disappearance of women the compensation amount will be Rs 5-10 lakh. The scheme shall apply to victims and their dependents who have suffered loss, or injury as the case may be, as a result of the offence committed and who require rehabilitation. It said compensation as decided by the Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MALSA) or District Legal Services Authority

175 killed, 1108 injured in four months of Manipur violence: Police

As many as 175 people were killed, and 1,108 others injured while 32 are missing in the ethnic strife that has rocked Manipur since early May, police officers said on Thursday. Altogether 4,786 houses were set on fire and 386 religious structures vandalised. Addressing a press conference here, IGP (Operations) IK Muivah said, In this challenging time that Manipur is in, we can reassure the public that the police, central forces and the civil administration are trying round the clock to bring normalcy back." Of the weapons that have been lost, 1,359 firearms and 15,050 ammunition were recovered, Muivah said. A large number of arms and ammunition of the police have allegedly been looted by the rioters during the violence. As many as 5,172 arson cases were reported, Muivah said adding that 386 religious structures - 254 churches and 132 temples were vandalised. "Security barricades from Phougakchao Ikhai in Bishnupur district to Kangvai in Churachandpur district have been removed w

Village in Manipur's Imphal attacked by gunmen, bombs hurled, none injured

Conflict-torn Manipur witnessed a fresh incident of violence as unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cadres of banned terror groups, attacked people and hurled bombs at a village in Imphal West district, bordering Kangpokpi where three persons were killed a day before, officials said on Wednesday. No one was injured in the incident in Koutruk village where armed men hurled at least ten bombs late Tuesday night, they said. The bomb attack triggered panic among the villagers, an official said, adding that Indian Reserve Battalion personnel deployed at the area fired shots in retaliation. The fresh violence comes after unidentified armed men, suspected to be members of the outlawed terror groups, killed three persons from the tribal community on Tuesday morning near Kharam Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district. Tension is still running high in several parts of the district as there is apprehension of fresh attacks in the wake of the killing of three persons, the officials said. Koutr

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3 tribals belonging to Kuki-Zo community shot dead in Manipur: Officials

Three tribals belonging to the Kuki-Zo community were shot dead on Tuesday morning allegedly by militants of banned terror groups in Kangpopki district in Manipur, officials said here. They said the assailants came in a vehicle and attacked the villagers between the Ireng and Karam areas located in the bordering areas of Imphal West and Kangpopki districts. This village is located in the hills and is dominated by the tribal people. Manipur has been witnessing frequent clashes between the majority Meitei community and tribal Kukis since May 3 and more than 160 people have lost their lives so far.