Page 47 - Manipur

Manipur govt to provide security to farmers doing agricultural work: Police

The Manipur government will provide security to farmers engaged in agricultural work in the ethnic strife-hit state, a senior police officer said on Saturday. Addressing a press conference at Police Headquarters here, Inspector General of Police I K Muivah said as the planting period of the agriculture season is very short, the police will provide security to farmers engaged in agriculture work. The IGP said the state had recently reduced the number of security personnel deployed on VIP duty and will utilise them in providing security to farmers doing agricultural activities. However, the farmers should contact the Superintendent of Police of their respective district before heading out for their work, the IGP said. No farmers should go out for farming if they don't have any security cover, he said. The IGP said 822 security personnel will be deployed in providing security to farmers in Imphal West district, 290 in Imphal East, 236 in Bishnupur, 147 in Thoubal, 204 in Kakching, 20

Left MPs to raise Manipur issue in Parliament, oppose US envoy's remarks

Visiting Left MPs on Saturday said they would raise the issue of continuing violence in Manipur in the monsoon session of Parliament while condemning US Ambassador Eric Garcetti's comment on the state. The delegation of CPI(M) and CPI MPs who were on a three-day visit also said to begin a peace initiative in the northeastern state, what is needed is instilling trust and confidence among all sections of the people. CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member Bikash Bhattacharya claimed that the central and state governments have failed miserably in resolving the problem in Manipur. The PM has not said anything though Manipur is burning for more than two months. This shows his gross carelessness for the people of the state. We will definitely raise the Manipur issue in Parliament, Bhattacharya said. CPI(M) MP John Brittas added, "To start the peace process, we have to instil trust and confidence among all the sections. The present government has lost its legitimacy. He also demanded that Chief Minist

Manipur violence: Mob sets ablaze two vehicles in Imphal, firing reported

A mob torched two vehicles in Imphal West district while an exchange of fire was reported in Imphal East district, as violence continued in Manipur, officials said on Saturday. A group of people burnt two private vehicles at Mahabali Road near the historic Kangla fort as they suspected those four-wheelers were being used for ferrying household goods to a particular ethnic community on Friday night, they said. The police intervened and the mob dispersed. Drivers of both vehicles managed to flee and there was no casualty. There was an intermittent exchange of fire at Laikot near Yaingangpokpi in Imphal West district between two communities late Friday night. The incidents occurred after four people including a Manipur police commando were shot dead and several others injured in separate places in Bishnupur district. The policeman was killed in a gun battle with suspected militants at Moirang Turel Mapan in the evening, while three others lost their lives in the wee hours in villages

Police commando among 4 killed in Manipur clashes in Kangvai area

Four persons including a Manipur Police commando and a teenager were killed in Kangvai area of Bishnupur district in clashes between the two warring communities in the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, officials said. The area where people from both the communities stay in close proximity witnessed gun fights during the night despite a buffer zone created by security forces to prevent escalation of the situation, they said. Last night, an attempt was made by mobs from the hillside to come down and burn some villages in the valley. These mobs had gathered from outside the area and did not yield to the request of locals to go back, they said. The security forces responded in a calibrated manner and prevented them from torching any house. However, some people from both sides indulged in firing at each other from standoff ranges from villages of Kangvai, Songdo and Awang Lekhai which resulted in death of three persons besides injuries on both sides. Although the firing ceased

Never heard US envoy making statement on India's internal affairs: Cong MP

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Friday objected strongly to US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti's reported remarks on Manipur and said he doubts if the new American envoy is cognisant of the torturous history of US-India ties and New Delhi's sensitivity about interference, perceived or real, in its internal affairs. Speaking at a press conference in Kolkata on Thursday, Garcetti reportedly said the violence and killings in Manipur are a matter of "human concern" and the US is "ready to assist" India in dealing with the situation "if asked". Reacting to the remarks, Tewari said on Twitter, "To the best of my recollection going back at least four decades in public life, I have never heard an US Ambassador making a statement of this nature about the internal affairs of India." "We faced challenges in Punjab, J-K , northeast over the decades and surmounted those with sagacity and wisdom," the former Union minister said. Even when Robin Raphel would be "loquacious" on Jammu and Kashmir in

Woman shot dead outside a school in Manipur's Imphal West district

A woman was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside a school in Manipur's Imphal West district on Thursday morning, officials said. They said she had gone near the school at Kwakeithel Mayai Koibi under Lamphel police station on some work but was not connected with any school. The incident occurred a day after classes 1 to 8 began in the state after two months because of the violence. Following the killing, a tribal organisation demanded imposition of President's Rule in the northeastern state. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) identified the woman as Donngaihching, a mentally ill person who lived on alms provided by locals. We again urge the central government to relieve the incapable state government and impose President's Rule immediately, the ITLF said in a statement. More than 100 people have lost their lives and over 3,000 injured since ethnic violence broke out in the state on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest

Oppn walk out from Parl panel meet after demand to discuss Manipur denied

Opposition members of the parliamentary standing committee on Home walked out of a meeting on Thursday after their demand to discuss the situation in Manipur was denied by the panel chief, sources said. At the meeting to discuss prison reforms in Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, TMC's Derek O'Brien, and Congress' Digvijaya Singh and Pradip Bhattacharya submitted a joint letter to panel chairman Brijlal, saying as committee members they cannot ignore the situation in Manipur, the sources said. The letter signed by all three MPs said that as members of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, it is their moral and constitutional responsibility to discuss this matter with utmost urgency and the requited sincerity. "Having been a senior police officer yourself, you understand the gravity of the situation in the state. Manipur needs healing and an end to the violence. We as elected representatives cannot look away," they said. They further said t

Two armed groups come face to face in Manipur, security forces deescalate

Security forces thwarted clashes in Manipur's Kangpokpi district where two armed groups gathered and fired a few rounds, sources said on Thursday. The incident happened around 3.40 pm on Wednesday near Phaileng village, they said. Armed groups from Mapao and Awang Sekmai areas gathered in the area, escalating the tensions, they added. A few rounds were fired, but soon personnel of the Assam Rifles reached the area and brought the situation under control. Sources said women, however, blocked the roads to prevent the forces from reaching the area. In Churachandpur, a large number of Kukis staged a protest. The rally started at Public Ground and continued till Tuibong Peace Ground. Nearly 4,000 people participated in the rally, and most of them were in 'combat' dress with camouflage on their faces, sources said. No untoward incident was reported during the rally, which went on till 7 pm on Wednesday.

Oppn walks out from Par panel meet after demand to discuss Manipur denied

Opposition members of the parliamentary standing committee on Home walked out of a meeting on Thursday after their demand to discuss the situation in Manipur was denied by the panel chief, sources said. At the meeting to discuss prison reforms in states, TMC's Derek O'Brien, and Congress' Digvijaya Singh and Pradip Bhattacharya submitted letters to panel chairman Brijlal, saying as committee members they cannot ignore the situation in Manipur, the sources said. Earlier too, O'Brien and Singh had written to Brijlal urging him to hold a meeting to discuss the situation in Manipur. The chairperson had informed both MPs separately the inability to hold meetings urgently on the Manipur situation, as three meetings on prison reforms have been scheduled for July. A total of seven members, including the chairman, attended the meeting. Nearly 120 people have died and more than 3,000 injured in the ethnic violence in Manipur since May 3.

SC dismisses plea by 2 residents against internet shutdown in Manipur

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea by two Manipur residents against repeated internet shutdowns in the state rocked by ethnic violence and gave them the liberty to approach the high court on the matter. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra noted that a division bench of the Manipur High Court is already seized of the matter in which an expert committee was formed and directed to examine whether internet could be restored in the state. Advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the matter concerned the internet ban in Manipur. "At this stage, faced with the fact that a petition under Article 226 is pending before the high court, Mr Farasat seeks permission to withdraw and intervene in a pending matter or file an independent petition before HC. We grant him permission to do so leaving all rights and contentions open," the bench said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by ...

Internet ban extended for 5 more days till July 10 in strife-torn Manipur

The Manipur government on Wednesday said it has extended the suspension of internet services in the state for another five days till 3 pm of July 10 to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order. The authorities banned internet services across the northeastern state for the first time on May 3 when clashes between ethnic communities began. It is being extended from time to time. "There is apprehension that some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages inciting the passions of the public which might have serious repercussions for law and order situation," a statement issued by Home Commissioner T Ranjit Singh said. Violence first broke out in the state after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. So far, more than 100 people have died and several hundred injured, besides thousands taki

Schools reopen in Manipur after 2 months, attendance thin on first day

: After remaining shut for more than a couple of months because of ethnic clashes, schools reopened across Manipur on Wednesday. Though attendance in most institutes was extremely low on the first day, students, parents and guardians welcomed the state government's decision to resume classes. Chief Minister N Biren Singh had on Monday announced the government's decision to reopen schools up to class 8 from July 5. Most students with whom PTI interacted were happy to get back to school. Class 1 student Linthoi said, "I am very happy. Finally, after a two-month wait, I will be able to meet my friends and teachers. Moreover, I will learn new things. She said the shutting down of schools had made her life extremely idle and boring. Several students said the state government should take steps to ensure that schools remain open for at least a few hours daily even if the situation is tense. Bhabesh Sharma, father of a class 4 student, hoped that the situation remains normal for classes

Manipur stares at food shortage as ethnic violence affects farming

Agriculture has been affected in Manipur as many farmers are unable to tend to their fields due to the ongoing ethnic violence, and if the situation does not improve, food production in the northeastern state will be affected, a senior official said on Wednesday. Department of Agriculture Director N Gojendro told PTI that farmers were unable to cultivate at least 5,127 hectares of agricultural land, leading to a loss of 15,437.23 metric tonnes till June 28. "If the farmers are unable to cultivate paddy this monsoon season, the loss will increase by the end of July. The department has, however, readied fertilisers and seeds that can be harvested in a shorter period of time and required lesser amount of water," he said. There are around 2-3 lakh farmers in the state cultivating paddy on 1.95 lakh hectares of agricultural land. Thoubal district has the highest yield per hectare in the state, he said. Farmers fear that there might be a shortage of locally grown 'Meitei Rice', leading

Two incidents of intermittent firing in Manipur, no casualties reported

Intermittent firings were witnessed in two places in Manipur, the latest being in the early hours of Wednesday, but no casualties have been reported so far, security sources said here. The first incident of intermittent firing was reported between two communities in the Khoijumtambi area from 7 pm to 8 pm on Tuesday, they said. The exchange of fire stopped after some time, the sources said, adding that no casualty was reported. The other incident was reported around 4.30 am on Wednesday along the ridge line, East of Phaileng. There was no report of any casualty in this as well, the sources said. So far, nearly 120 people have lost their lives and over 3,000 have been injured in the ethnic violence that broke out in Manipur on May 3. The violent clashes took place after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state for four days last month

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KNO spokesperson Seilen Haokip's house set on fire in Churachandpur

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