Page 57 - Manipur

Covid only affects human body, communal virus affects body politic: Sibal

In the wake of fresh violence in Manipur, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Tuesday said coronavirus only affects the human body while the "communal virus affects the body politic and its political dividends are temporary but scars permanent. Two houses were torched by a mob in Imphal East district after four armed men, including a former MLA, forced people to shut their shops on Monday, police officials said. In a tweet, Sibal said, "Manipur burning again. Earlier clashes led to: 70 dead, 200 injured. 'Coronavirus' only affects the human body, 'communal virus' affects the body politic." "If it (communal virus) spreads, the consequences are unimaginable. Its political dividends are temporary, its scars are permanent!" said Sibal, who was a Union minister during UPA 1 and 2 and had quit the Congress in May last year. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member with the Samajwadi Party's support. Sibal recently floated a non-electoral platform 'Insaaf' aimed at fighting ..

Over 7,500 Kuki people flee to Mizoram from violence-hit Manipur for asylum

Over 7,500 people have fled to Mizoram from the violence-hit Manipur, an official said on Monday. A total of 7,527 ethnic Zos, known as Kukis in Manipur, have crossed over to Mizoram till 5 pm on Monday, he said. They have taken shelter in eight districts of the state. Kolasib has the highest number of displaced people at 2,685, followed by Aizawl (2,386) and Saitual (2,153), the official said. A total of 164 people have taken shelter in Champhai district, 36 in Khawzawl district, 27 in Serchhip district, 19 in Mamit district and 57 in Lunglei district, he said. The displaced people are lodged in temporary relief camps, while many others were given shelter by their relatives, he added. Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said the unification of all ethnic Zo tribes in India, and bringing them under one administrative unit was one of the main objectives of the founders of his Mizo National Front (MNF). Zoramthanga's statement came close on the heels of the demand made by 10 Kuki ML

Movement of trucks with essentials continue under security cover in Manipur

Trucks carrying essential commodities to violence-hit Manipur are plying with special security cover to ensure that there is no shortage of goods in the Northeastern state, a defence spokesperson said on Sunday. The Army and Assam Rifles along with the state government, Manipur Police and central armed police forces are working in close coordination to assure protection to vehicles carrying such goods to and from Imphal via NH 37, the defence spokesperson said. Prophylactic Area Domination Patrols of Army and Assam Rifles, Quick Reaction Teams operating from Company Operating Bases located along NH 37, aerial surveillance by unmanned aerial vehicles and Cheetah helicopters, Companies of CRPF and Manipur Police personnel along with persons from India Reserve Battalion are tasked to ensure the security of civilian vehicles plying on NH 37, he said. To guarantee dedicated security, vehicles are also accompanied by Quick Reaction Teams of the Manipur Police and CRPF, he added. T ruck

No, we don't really care about Manipur

For most of us, the Manipur crisis is out of sight, out of mind. The story in a state so small and so far out is a 'Big Yawn' for many. I try to persuade you to wake up

Violence-hit Manipur facing acute shortage of life-saving drugs: Report

The MCDA had earlier raised the issue with Manipur Health Minister Sapam Ranjan, but no concrete steps have been taken thus far

CUET deferred in Manipur to May 29, NTA considering exam centre in Srinagar

The common undergraduate entrance exam CUET has been deferred to May 29 in Manipur in view of the law and order situation, UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said on Friday. The second edition of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is set to begin across the country on May 21. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the exam, is considering setting up a temporary exam centre in Srinagar to accommodate candidates who have been allotted centres outside Jammu and Kashmir, Kumar said. Several students from Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand have been caught off guard as they have been allotted examination centres hundreds of kilometres away from their hometown irrespective of their preferences for a closer centre. "NTA is exploring the possibility of setting up a temporary centre in Srinagar to accommodate candidates who have been allotted centres outside...," the University Grants Commission (UGC) chief told PTI. In Manipur, which was rocked by violence earlier this month, t

Army recovers explosives, electric detonators during patrol in Manipur

Security personnel while conducting a patrol in the violence-affected area of Manipur recovered a "Remote Initiation Mechanism" for improvised IED on Wednesday, Army said on Thursday

Manipur clashes: Meitei groups draw parallel with Kashmiri Pandits

As tension continues to simmer in Manipur, members of the majority Meitei group on Thursday said they are at the risk of "ethnic cleansing" in their own state while comparing their precarious situation with that of Kashmiri Pandits. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, members of the World Meetei Council also came down heavily on the state and the central government, and rued that they have been unable to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah despite several attempts. Clashes broke out in Manipur 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. The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations. "The incidents that happened in Manipur were pre-planned. We kept warning the government that something like this may happen... We are today in a situation similar to wha

Kuki MLAs, civil society groups decide against dialogue with Manipur govt

At least eight tribal MLAs from Manipur and various civil society organisations decided not to engage in any dialogue with the N Biren Singh government running the northeastern state which was recently rocked by ethnic violence, according to a statement issued by them. Several civil society entities belonging to Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi-Hmar ethnic groups in Manipur and the tribal legislators from there, including BJP MLAs, held a meeting in Mizoram's capital Aizawl on Wednesday to discuss the tension in the neighbouring state. "The meeting resolved (the community would) stand unitedly to face the present crisis and not to engage in any dialogue or talk with the present Manipur government," the statement said. During the meeting, it was decided to hold consultations on a wider scale so as to arrive at a common political agenda with other groups, it said. A separate administration in the form of a Union Territory for the Kuki-dominated districts or other political safeguard was widely ..

Vehicular movement to Imphal restored, trucks carry essential supplies

Amid the disruption of essential supplies in Manipur in the aftermath of the recent violence, the India Army and Assam Rifles stepped in to assure protection to vehicles carrying essential goods

SC asks Manipur to file status report on security measures for victims

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it will ensure that the political executive does not turn a blind eye to the law and order situation in Manipur, and asked the state government to file a fresh status report on measures taken for security and relief and rehabilitation of the violence-hit people. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said it will not deal with the legal issues arising out of the Manipur High Court's decision on grant of reservation to majority Meiteis as the pleas challenging the order were pending in the larger division bench there. "Law and order is a state subject. As the Supreme Court of India we will ensure that the political executive does not turn a blind eye to the situation, said the bench which also comprised Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala. The top court took into account security apprehensions of Kuki and other tribal communities in the state and ordered that the chief secretary and his security advisor will assess and take steps to .

Justice to be done in Manipur: Amit Shah spreads message of peace

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday directed strict action against the perpetrators of violence in Manipur and assured the state complete support of the Centre in ensuring lasting peace, according to an official statement. The directives came after Shah held a series of meetings with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, representatives of Meitei and Kuki communities and other stakeholders to review the measures taken in the last two days for restoring peace to the state. He also urged discussions with all factions and spread the message of peace. He assured justice would be done, according to the statement. Shah directed strict action against the perpetrators of violence and assured complete support and help of the central government for ensuring lasting peace, the statement said. The home minister assured that the government would take all measures to protect various communities in the state. He stressed on expediting the process of relief and rehabilitation so as to minimis

Manipur CM rejects demand of 10 MLAs for separate administration for Kuki

Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday rejected demands made by 10 MLAs including 7 from his own party, for a separate administration for the Kuki-dominated districts of the northeastern state, stating, "the territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected". The chief minister, who had made an air-dash to Delhi on Sunday to confer with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said measures are being taken to ensure that militants, who had signed a peace pact dubbed suspension of operations', return to their designated camps. Singh also appealed to people not to hold dharnas or rallies in view of the sensitive phase the state has been witnessing since race riots between the majority Meiteis and the Kukis earlier this month. He also said no force would be used to break the blockades imposed by some groups on highways in the state in the wake of the rioting, and instead efforts would be made to reason with these demonstrators. The chief minister, who was speaking to reporters at a press ...

Territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected at all costs: CM Biren

Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected at all costs, reacting to a demand made by 10 MLAs for a separate administration for the Kuki-dominated districts of the northeastern state. The chief minister, who had made an air-dash to Delhi on Sunday to confer with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said measures are being taken to ensure that militants, who had signed a peace pact dubbed suspension of operations', return to their designated camps. Singh also appealed to people not to hold dharnas or rallies in view of the sensitive phase the state has been witnessing since race riots between the majority Meiteis and the Kukis earlier this month. He also said no force would be used to break the blockades imposed by some groups on highways in the state in the wake of the rioting, and instead efforts would be made to reason with these demonstrators. The chief minister, who was speaking to reporters at a press conference here, said, I assur

Manipur voilence: CM, leaders rush to Delhi to discuss prevailing situation

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, accompanied by his ministerial colleagues and MLAs, on Sunday left for Delhi, where he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Over 5,800 people from Manipur fled to Mizoram after violence: Officials

Over 5,800 people from Manipur have fled to Mizoram and taken shelter in different districts, following the recent violent clashes between the Meiteis and tribals in the neighbouring state, officials said on Sunday. A total of 5,822 people, belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo community, are lodged at temporary relief camps across six districts of Mizoram, they said. Aizawl district currently has the highest number of such displaced people at 2021, followed by Kolasib (1,847) and Saitual (1,790), the officials said. Meanwhile, Mizoram Lok Sabha member C Lalrosanga has endorsed the demand by Manipur tribal MLAs for a separate administration for tribals. Claiming that tribal people can no longer exist under the Manipur government, 10 Kuki MLAs, including seven from the BJP, had on Friday urged the Centre to create a separate administration in the wake of the violent clashes. The clashes had broken out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May

Manipur violence: CM Biren visits Delhi to meet PM to discuss situation

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and four members of his cabinet have gone to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday to discuss the situation in the northeastern state shaken by violence for the past several days, a source said. The issue of the ongoing suspension of operation (SOO) with militant organisations of the state is also likely to be discussed, the source said. Four cabinet ministers - Th Biswajit, Y Khemchand, K Govindas and Th Prasanta - accompanied the chief minister. BJP state president A Sharda Devi also went to Delhi with them, the source said. Violent clashes broke out in the north-eastern state after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The clashes were preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations. Meiteis ac

After defeat, PM, HM should focus on restoring peace in Manipur: Congress

NECCC said that after the defeat in the Karnataka Assembly polls, Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah should follow 'Raj Dharma' and focus on restoring peace in violence-hit Manipur

10 Kuki MLAs from NDA coalition ask Centre for separation from Manipur

Ten tribal MLAs belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group in Manipur have urged the Centre to give their region a separate administration in the wake of recent violent clashes between the Meiteis and tribals. Of the 10 legislators, 7 belong to the BJP, two are from Kuki People's Alliance (KPA) and one is an Independent. The two KPA and independent MLAs are also part of the NDA led by the BJP. As the state of Manipur has miserably failed to protect us, we seek from the Union of India a separate administration under the Constitution of India and live peacefully as neighbours with the state of Manipur, the MLAs said in a statement on Friday. The legislators alleged that violence was perpetrated by the majority Meitei community and was tacitly supported by the BJP-run state government. "The unabated violence that began on May 3, 2023, in Manipur perpetrated by majority Meiteis tacitly supported by the Manipur Government against the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zorni hill tribals has already ...

5 BJP MLAs among 10 Manipur tribal legislators demanding separate state

Amid the ethnic unrest in Manipur, 10 tribal MLAs of various parties, including that of the BJP in a significant development, on Friday, indirectly demanded a separate state for the Kuki tribals