Page 49 - Manipur

Manipur doesn't need visit by leaders to exacerbate fault lines: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the situation in Manipur demands bridging differences through compassion and not a visit by a political leader to exacerbate the fault lines, in an apparent reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's daylong trip to the ethnic strife-torn state. Sarma, who is also the convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the NDA's northeast chapter, said Gandhi's visit to Manipur is nothing but media hype and at this point, no one should try to take political mileage from the northeastern state's "tragic" situation. "Situation in Manipur demands bridging differences through compassion. It's not in the nation's interest for a political leader to use his so-called visit to exacerbate fault lines. Both the communities of the state have clearly rejected such attempts," Sarma said in a tweet. Talking to reporters, Sarma said the state and central governments are handling the Manipur situation and such daylong visits, such as ...

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Fresh violence in Imphal, BJP office attacked, tear gas shells fired

: Police fired tear gas shells on Thursday evening to disperse a mob which had gathered at Khwairanband Bazaar in the heart of Imphal where the body of a man killed on earlier in the morning in a gunfight in Kangpokpi district was brought and placed in a traditional coffin. Demonstrators gathered and a mob threatened to carry it in a procession to the chief minister's residence, officials said. In the melee, a BJP office was also attacked. More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state so far. Clashes first 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. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

Internet shutdowns cost $1.9 bn to Indian economy in Jan-Jun 2023: Report

Internet shutdowns by law enforcement agencies like the one in Manipur and Punjab cost USD 1.9 billion to the Indian economy in the first half of 2023, a report said on Thursday. The shutdowns also led to a loss of nearly USD 118 million in foreign investment and triggered over 21,000 job losses, the global non-profit Internet Society said in its report 'Netloss'. The non-profit arrived at the financial impact of the shutdown going beyond the loss of output and included factors like change in the unemployment rate, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) lost, risks of future shutdowns, population in the working age etc. Governments often mistakenly believe that internet shutdowns will quell unrest, stop the spread of misinformation, or reduce harm from cybersecurity threats. But shutdowns are extremely disruptive to economic activity, the report said. India's regular use of shutdowns as a tool to maintain public order gives India a shutdown risk of 16 per cent so far this year, one of the

Rahul Gandhi visits relief camp for displaced people at Churachndpur

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday visited people displaced by the ethnic strife at Churachandpur in Manipur after reaching there in a helicopter, hours behind schedule as his convoy of vehicles was stopped by the state police mid-way fearing violence. Gandhi went to a relief camp and interacted with the inmates. The Congress leader had to stop at Bishnupur, around 20 kilometres from Imphal, after police halted his convoy fearing attacks on it. "Rahul Gandhi took a state government-provided chopper to visit Churachandpur. Top police and administration officials accompanied him in the helicopter," said a source at the airport. Tear gas was used at Bishnupur by the local police on demonstrators - some of whom wanted him to proceed to Churanchandpur, while others opposed his visit. Gandhi's supporters, including a large number of women, hit the streets at Bishnupur demanding that he be allowed to go to Churachandpur.

Unidentified rioters open fire at Haraothel village in Manipur's Kangpokpi

Unidentified "rioters" opened an "unprovoked" firing at village Haraothel in Kangpokpi district of Manipur on Thursday morning, leading to tension in the area even as the army quoted "unconfirmed reports" to indicate some casualties. Giving details, the official Twitter handle of the army, operating in the region, said armed rioters opened unprovoked firing at 5.30 am. "Own troops deployed in the area immediately mobilised to prevent escalation of situation. While enroute to the site, own columns drew effective fire from armed rioters," the official "Spear Corps" handle of the army said. It said the troops "responded in a calibrated manner to prevent any collateral damage. Swift action by troops resulted in cessation of firing. "Additional columns moved to the area. Unconfirmed reports indicate some casualties. Build up of large crowds in the area also reported. Situation being closely monitored and further details will follow," it said. The area is located around 20 kms from capi

Shatters democratic norms: Cong on Rahul's convoy being stopped in Manipur

The Congress on Thursday hit out at the government after Rahul Gandhi's convoy was stopped by the police near Bishnupur in Manipur and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using "autocratic methods" to stall his "compassionate outreach" to the people hit by ethnic violence. The government action is "totally unacceptable and shatters all constitutional and democratic norms," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said. Gandhi was stopped on his way to Churachandpur to visit relief camps with police officials saying it was a precautionary measure to prevent recurrence of violence. In a tweet, Kharge said, "Gandhi's convoy in Manipur has been stopped by the police near Bishnupur. He is going there to meet the people suffering in relief camps and to provide a healing touch in the strife-torn state. PM Modi has not bothered to break his silence on Manipur. He has left the state to fend for itself." "Now, his double engine disastrous governments are using autocratic methods to stall a

Manipur police stops Rahul Gandhi's convoy at Bishnupur, 20 kms from Imphal

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's convoy was on Thursday stopped by the Manipur police at Bishnupur, about 20 kilometres from Imphal, officials said. After arriving at Imphal, he was travelling in a convoy to Churachandpur to visit relief camps in the area. Police officials said the convoy was stopped fearing violence along the route. They said that tyres were burnt on the highway near Utlou village in Bishnupur district and a few stones were thrown at the convoy. "We fear repetition of such events and hence as a precaution, requested the convoy to halt at Bishnupur," a police officer told PTI. Congress office bearers are speaking with the police and army authorities to ensure safe passage for their party leader. More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state so far. Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei ...

Rahul Gandhi arrives in Imphal for 2-day visit to violence-hit Manipur

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived at Imphal for a two-day visit to strife-torn Manipur on Thursday. He left for Churachandpur district where he will visit relief camps to meet people displaced by ethnic strife that rocked the northeastern state since early last month. Around 50,000 people are now staying in over 300 relief camps across the state since ethnic strife started in May this year. On Friday, Gandhi is scheduled to visit relief camps in Imphal and hold talks with certain civil society organisations, Congress sources said. More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state so far. Clashes first 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. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- ...

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit violence-hit Manipur today: AICC

The Congress has been making scathing attacks against the BJP governments, both at the Centre and in the state of Manipur, over their handling of the violence

Remind Manipur CM of his 'Raj Dharma', Assam Cong leader urges Modi

Alleging that political campaigns have taken precedence over Constitutional duties in ethnic strife-torn Manipur, senior Assam Congress leader Debabrata Saikia on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remind N Biren Singh, the chief minister of that state, of his 'Raj Dharma'. Elected officials need to carry out their responsibilities, Saikia who is the Leader of the Opposition in Assam Assembly said in a letter to Modi. "I urge you to remind the Chief Minister of Manipur, Biren Singh, to observe the principles of Raj Dharma, just as you were reminded by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji over two decades ago," the Congress leader said in the letter. In 2002, Vajpayee had famously asked Modi, who was the chief minister of Gujarat then, to maintain his 'Raj Dharma' in order to control the riots in the western state. Saikia stated that it was disheartening to witness "political campaigns taking precedence over constitutional duties". "It is crucial for elected

Arms, ammunition recovered from Imphal after search op conducted: Police

During the time, 112 empty cases of different calibres, two live rounds of 12 bore gun, 12 empty cartridges of Barrel and two local made explosives were recovered

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Need dialogue to restore peace in Manipur, say Meitei representatives

With violence-hit Manipur struggling to return to normalcy, prominent representatives from the Meitei community on Tuesday stressed the need to reach out to the other side and initiate a dialogue to resolve differences and restore peace. At a discussion organised here by Delhi Manipuri Society, an organisation working for Meiteis, representatives from the community said it is important to focus on restoring peace in the state. They said the government should make fresh efforts for dialogue. Retired Lieutenant General Himalay Singh, the first officer from northeast India to reach the rank of lieutenant general in the Indian Army, said it is not the time for "eye for an eye" but for peace-building. "We should sit down together and have a dialogue. When the Home Minister came to Manipur, and announced the formation of a peace committee, it was a good step... Hope the peace committee works out," Singh said while expressing concern over the situation. "Ethnic conflicts are caused by .

Rahul Gandhi to visit relief camps in violence-hit Manipur on Jun 29, 30

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit violence-hit Manipur from June 29-30 and meet people in relief camps and interact with civil society members, party general secretary K C Venugopal said on Tuesday. This is the first visit of the Congress leader to the northeastern state embroiled in ethnic violence since May 3. "Sh. Rahul Gandhi ji will be visiting Manipur on 29-30 June. He will visit relief camps and interact with civil society representatives in Imphal and Churachandpur during his visit," AICC general secretary (organisation) Venugopal tweeted. Manipur has been burning for nearly two months, and desperately needs a healing touch so that the society can move from conflict to peace, he said. "This is a humanitarian tragedy and it is our responsibility to be a force of love, not hate," Venugopal added. The Congress has blamed the BJP and its "divisive politics" for the present situation in the state which seen over 100 deaths in the violence.

Mothers of Manipur: Meet Meira Paibis, the torch-bearing activists

The Meira Paibis has led numerous social and political movements in Manipur, including some powerful protests against alleged atrocities committed by the security forces

Chinese bikes worth Rs 25,000 become another weapon in Manipur violence

More than 50% of the seized two-wheelers during the ongoing Manipur violence are Kenbo bikes which are banned in Manipur

Manipur govt to invoke 'no work no pay' rule for staff not attending office

The Manipur government has decided to invoke "no work, no pay" rule for its employees who are not attending office. The General Administration Department (GAD) has been asked to furnish details of employees who are not able to attend their official work due to the prevailing situation in the state. A circular issued on Monday night by GAD Secretary Michael Achom said: "In pursuance of the meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on June 12 and decision taken at para 5-(12) of the proceedings, all employees drawing their salaries from General Administration Department, Manipur Secretariat are informed that no work, no pay may be invoked to all those employees who do not attend their official duty without authorised leave." Manipur government has one lakh employees. The circular also asked for all administrative secretaries to "furnish details of those employees who could not attend their official duty due to prevailing situation in the state indicating the details of employees such as

Help us to help Manipur: Army says women activists block routes, interfere

Women activists were deliberately blocking routes and interfering in operations by security forces in violence-hit Manipur, the Army said, urging people to help it in restoring peace in the Northeastern state. Terming such "unwarranted interference" detrimental to the timely response by security forces, the Army's Spears Corps shared a video on Twitter late on Monday of some such incidents. The statement came two days after a stand-off in Imphal East's Itham village between the Army and a mob led by women that forced the forces to let go of 12 militants holed up there. "Women activists in #Manipur are deliberately blocking routes and interfering in Operations of Security Forces. Such unwarranted interference is detrimental to the timely response by Security Forces during critical situations to save lives and property. "Indian Army appeals to all sections of population to support our endeavours in restoring peace. Help us to Help Manipur," it tweeted. The stand-off in Itham went on

Over 50,000 displaced people evacuated to date by Assam Rifles in Manipur

\Since being requisitioned, the Assam Rifles (AR) was the first responder to come to aid the people of violence-hit Manipur, the statement said on Monday