Page 35 - Manipur

Heavy rains trigger landslides in Manipur, at least 500 trucks stranded

Heavy rains triggered massive landslides in Manipur's Noney district, blocking the Imphal-Silchar highway due to which at least 500 goods vehicles are stranded, officials said on Thursday. The landslides happened on the National Highway 37 between Irang and Awangkhul part 2, Khongsang and Awangkhul, and Rangkhui village on Wednesday, they said. Work is underway to clear the road, and re-start movement of traffic, officials said. Incessant rains over the last few days triggered the landslides, they said. At least 500 goods vehicles are stranded in different parts of the highway due to the landslides, they added. In June last year, a massive landslide hit a railway construction site in the district, killing at least 61 people. The landslide happened at Tupul railway yard construction site of the Jiribam-Imphal railway line on June 30. The supply of essential items is feared to be affected due to the landslides in the violence-hit state, where road blockades, which went on for days,

Rural Manipur grapples with over 12 per cent inflation amidst unrest

Some 71 per cent of the state's population resides in rural areas

Entire country pained by Manipur ethnic violence: Mizoram CM Zoramthanga

Zoramthanga that his government has kept a close watch on the events in Manipur and taken steps for the safety of Mizos stranded in Imphal

'Peace in Manipur can't be achieved until 6,000 looted weapons recovered'

There can be no peace in Manipur till 6,000 sophisticated arms and 6 lakh rounds of ammunition are recovered, deputy leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said on Wednesday. These arms and ammunition, which were looted from the security forces, will be used against the common people of the state that has been witnessing violence since May 3, Gogoi said in an interaction with journalists here. "So, how can there be peace and normalcy when there is no talk on reconciliation between the two sides," he said. Both Meiteis and Kukis are unhappy with the performance of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, he claimed. "It is unfortunate that Home Minister Amit Shah completely supported the chief minister in Parliament," Gogoi said, adding that it is the presence of the CM in the peace committees that has led to the failure of the peace talks. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has misled the nation from the Red Fort as there can be no peace without reconciliation and rehabilitation of 60,0

Assam Rifles — A time tested force

As one of the six central armed police forces, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Assam Rifles stands with a strength of over 63,000 personnel, encompassing 46 battalions.

There can be no peace in Manipur till 6,000 looted weapons recovered: Gogoi

There can be no peace in Manipur till 6,000 sophisticated arms and 6 lakh rounds of ammunition are recovered, deputy leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said on Wednesday. Speaking to journalists here, Gogoi said these arms and ammunition, which were looted from the security forces, will be used against the common people of the state that has been witnessing violence since May 3. "So, how can there be peace and normalcy when there is no talk on reconciliation between the two sides," he said. Both Meiteis and Kukis are unhappy with the performance of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, he claimed. "It is unfortunate that Home Minister Amit Shah completely supported the chief minister in Parliament," Gogoi said, adding that it is the presence of the CM in the peace committees that has led to the failure of the peace talks. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has misled the nation from the Red Fort as there can be no peace without reconciliation and rehabilitation of 60,000 people,

150 students from Manipur enrolled in Delhi govt schools: Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said 150 students from violence-hit Manipur have been enrolled in Delhi government schools and efforts are being made to help them lead a normal life. Speaking at the Delhi government's Independence Day event at Chhatrasal Stadium here, Kejriwal expressed sadness over the situation in Manipur, which has been roiled by months-long ethnic violence. "Fighting and hatred are going on everywhere in the country. It used to hurt to think about Manipur. Today, we have made a small effort. As many as 150 children from Manipur have been given admission in Delhi government schools without school leaving certificates. "These children are being counselled and efforts are being made to help them lead normal lives," he said. For India to become number one in the world, the chief minister said, its citizens have to live like a family. Kejriwal stressed the need to create positive energy in the country amid an atmosphere of negativity. "If we fight among

Peace returning to Manipur, should build on it and find solutions: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said peace was returning to ethnic violence-hit Manipur and urged the people of the state to build on it to find a solution to the problems there. In his Independence Day address, the prime minister said that for the past few days reports of peace have been coming from Manipur regularly and the Centre and the state government were making every effort to find a solution to the problems there. "The nation is with the people of Manipur. The country should take forward the peace process which has been set in motion by the people of Manipur for the past few days. Only peace can lead to a solution," the prime minister said. More than 150 people have been killed in the ethnic violence in Manipur since May 3. The prime minister said that for the past few weeks the northeast, particularly Manipur, and other parts of the country have witnessed a cycle of violence in which several lives were lost and mothers and sisters had to face loss of dignity. "Bu

Yuva shakti to Manipur: Here's what PM Modi said in his I-Day speech

PM Narendra Modi, in his 10th I-Day speech, promised the country that it would be in the top three largest economies in the next five years

Irom Sharmila appeals to youth to bring normalcy in Manipur amid unrest

Civil rights activist Irom Sharmila Chanu on Monday appealed to youth in the country to help bring normalcy in Manipur and attacked the BJP government, alleging it was deliberately ignoring the ongoing violence in the northeastern state. "Please help in bringing normalcy in Manipur," Chanu said after inaugurating a night-long protest at Muvattupuzha near here to express solidarity with the two women who were raped and paraded naked recently in northeastern state amidst the ongoing unrest. She alleged that the state government has completely failed to control the law and order situation there. Chanu accused the present BJP government of ignoring the problems there by treating them as third class citizens and not intervening with the right approach. "I am expecting intervention from throughout the country. Educated people from Kerala, mainly youth. Youth can change society. They are the reflection of society. You can make a change. Please help in bringing normalcy in Manipur," she ..

Will half-truths in the Parliament bring peace to Manipur?

The reasons for the ongoing ethnic war have to be identified and addressed. The HM and the PM have offered Parliament no insights on how they intend to do this

Rahul's launch failed again; PM put forth all facts on Manipur issue: Tomar

In a dig at Congress, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday said the launch of Rahul Gandhi has failed once again as Prime Minister Narendra Modi put forth all facts regarding Manipur in Parliament. He also said the Centre was extending all possible help to the affected people in Manipur and peace will be restored in the restive north-eastern state soon. Tomar, the convener of the BJP Election Management Committee for MP, alleged the Congress was playing "dirty politics" and was trying to defame the BJP in Madhya Pradesh with a fake letter regarding "50 per cent commission". "This time also the launch of Rahul Gandhi has failed, Tomar told reporters here when asked about PM Modi's long speech in Parliament in reply to the no-confidence motion debate recently. The prime minister and Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) had put forth all facts regarding Manipur issue in Parliament. The Centre is serious about the issue and it is extending all possible help to the affected people.

Manipur violence needs to be stopped immediately: Cong leader Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the continuing violence in the northeastern state of Manipur is disturbing and needs to be stopped immediately. The MP from Wayanad said the violence in the state was a direct result of a particular type of politics of division, hatred and anger. "So, it is important to to keep everyone together as a family," said Gandhi, who was on a two-day visit to Kerala and will return to Delhi tonight. Speaking after laying the foundation stone of the Community Disability Management Center (CDMC) at St Joseph High School Auditorium in Kodenchery here, Gandhi said the wounds inflicted as a result of the violence would take many years to heal. "The sadness and anger will not go away so easily," he added. He said the violence in Manipur was a lesson to him on what happens when you use politics of division, hatred and anger in a state. Gandhi is on a visit to Kerala for the first time after his reinstatement as MP of Wayanad.

CBI set to take over 9 more cases on Manipur violence, taking total to 17

The CBI is set to investigate nine more cases related to Manipur violence, which will take the total number of cases probed by the agency to 17, officials have said. Officials in the know of the developments said the probe by the central agency would not be limited to these 17 cases. Any other case related to crime against women or sexual assault may also be referred to it on priority, they said. The CBI has so far registered eight cases which include two related to alleged sexual assault on women in Manipur. It is in the process of taking over nine more cases, officials said. According to them, the probe agency is likely to take over one more case of alleged sexual assault in the state's Churachandpur district. With the society divided on ethnic lines, the CBI is facing the critical task of avoiding allegations of bias during the Manipur operation as any involvement of people from one community will result in fingers pointed from the other side, the officials said. Sources said t

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Security heightened in Manipur ahead of Independence Day celebrations

Security arrangements were beefed up in Manipur on Sunday after some Imphal valley-based banned organisations called for a strike on Independence Day, officials said. Security forces also conducted search operations in vulnerable areas of five districts and recovered arms and ammunition, the police said. Preparations for the I-Day celebrations are in full swing across the state with BSF, police and Assam Refiles personnel and students joining rehearsals for march past to be held on August 15. "Rehearsals for I-Day celebrations were held on Saturday at Peace Ground in Churachandpur district's Tuiboung area. Twenty-one parade contingents of BSF, police, students and Assam Rifles participated in the preparations," an official said. Preparations are also underway in the capital Imphal with temporary gates being erected and hoardings being put up to celebrate Independence Day on August 15. "Security measures have been significantly heightened after several militant outfits called for a

BJP not allowing its own Manipur MP to speak in Parliament: Congress

The Congress on Saturday accused the BJP of not allowing its own Manipur MP and Union minister of State Rajkumar Ranjan Singh to speak in Parliament, and said it was an insult to the entire state. The party also accused BJP of "insulting" the army by making statements that allegedly questioned the valour of the forces. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged the divisive politics of the BJP set Manipur on fire and the state still continues to burn. "BJP MP from Manipur was not allowed to speak in Parliament even after requesting. This is not only unfortunate but an insult to the entire Manipur. "The divisive politics of the BJP first set Manipur on fire. When violence broke out, Manipur was left to fend for itself. Violence still continues there," he said on X, known as Twitter till recently. "It is shameful for the BJP to stop its own MP from Manipur and Minister of State for External Affairs from speaking at such a time," Ramesh said. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera

Our commitment to northeast much higher than Congress: Anurag Thakur

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday said the central BJP's commitment towards the northeastern parts of the country was "much, much higher", and said efforts to restore normalcy in violence-hit Manipur were "unprecedented." While efforts to restore peace in Manipur were on, the opposition "should not put oil in the fire", the Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and Information and Broadcasting said. Interacting with a select group of journalists here, he also said people's opinion should not be divided in the name of language. "During the Congress regime, Manipur was known for bomb, bandh and blast. And who sowed the seeds of hatred or this kind of communal violence. It was Congress," he charged. "When Manipur was closed for months, 1000s of people were killed, petrol was Rs 1,000 a litre, LPG was not available for six months -- that was the situation during their (Congress) time. Not even the Prime Minister, not even the Home Minister replied ever. Neither they visited Mani

Does Rahul Gandhi expect armed forces to fire on Indians in Manipur: BJP

The BJP on Saturday asked Rahul Gandhi if he expected the armed forces to resort to shooting at Indians in violence-hit Manipur and claimed the Congress leader does not have any trace of democracy in his mind. Noting that Gandhi had claimed that armed forces can restore peace in the state within days if allowed, BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad wondered if he wanted what his grandmother and then prime minister Indira Gandhi had done by ordering the Air Force to drop bombs in Aizawl in the 1960s. The Congress has said the Air Force was then used to target armed militant groups. Prasad asked, "Does Rahul Gandhi expect armed forces to fire upon Indians in Manipur? Or should they spread harmony and work to unite Indians." He noted that there is a lot of tension in the state between two groups and accused Gandhi of delivering an inciting speech in Parliament. Though some of his controversial references were expunged in Lok Sabha, Gandhi reiterated his allegation

Oppn did not allow discussion on Manipur: PM Modi on no-confidence motion

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a blistering attack on the opposition parties, accusing them of "running away" from the Lok Sabha during a debate on the no-confidence motion, and said his government has countered the "negativity being spread" by them across the country. He also accused the opposition of "not being serious" about the discussion on Manipur as "it would have hurt them the most". PM Modi said an opportunity to find solutions through debates in Parliament could not be utilised as the opposition parties "prioritised their politics over people's welfare". In an apparent reference to the PM's allegation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that the Centre has "not taken any action against those involved in unleashing atrocities in Manipur". The prime minister, who virtually addressed the Panchayati Raj Parishad in West Bengal, criticised the Bengal's ruling TMC for using "terror and threats" to intimidate the opposition parties in the state