Page 59 - Manipur

HP CM pays for local students' evacuation from Manipur from own pocket

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu shelled out Rs 60,000 from his own pocket for the evacuation of five local students stuck in violence-hit Manipur, an official spokesperson of the government said on Monday. The Chief Minister immediately responded to an urgent text message by a stuck student and came up with Rs 60,000 for the students' evacuation back home, said the spokesperson. He also instructed the state government officers to take necessary action to bring back the five students Simran, Sujal Kaundal and Ashwani Kumar from Mandi, Nawang Chhering from Kullu, and Keshav Singh from Hamirpur. Three of them were pursuing studies at NIT Manipur, while the other two were studying at Khumban Lampak Sports Complex, National Sports University -- both in Imphal. The spokesperson said the students had been flown from Imphal to Kolkata and they will reach New Delhi by the evening. The state government has issued telephone numbers for the evacuation of other Himachal

Curfew relaxed in parts of Manipur, security upped at Myanmar border

Life was crawling back to somewhat normal in violence-hit Manipur on Monday as people came out of their homes to buy essential items with the curfew being relaxed for a few hours in the morning, officials said. Drones and helicopters continued a close watch over the state and its border with Myanmar, while personnel of the Army and Assam Rifles held flag marches in different areas that have been rocked by ethnic violence over the last few days, they said. Over 100 columns of the Army have been deployed in the state after the violence broke out on Wednesday, and along with Assam Rifles, paramilitary and state police, around 10,000 security personnel are on the ground to maintain the law and order situation, officials said. The employment of aviation assets was being intensified, a defence spokesperson said, adding that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and helicopters have been pressed into action for surveillance not only in the hinterland but also along the India-Myanmar Border. "Us

4 Delhi students to be evacuated from state: Kejriwal to Manipur CM

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said he spoke to his Manipur counterpart N Biren Singh regarding the evacuation of four students from the national capital who are stuck in the violence-hit state. Kejriwal said Singh assured him that the students would be provided all necessary help. Manipur witnessed violent clashes last week over a move to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the majority Metei community in the state. The clashes broke out after Naga and Kuki tribals, who are opposing this plan, organised a 'Tribal Solidarity March' on May 3. Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said four students from Delhi are in Manipur and they will be evacuated on Tuesday. "There are four students from Delhi in Manipur. They are safe. They will be evacuated tomorrow as no flight is available today. I will also talk to the Manipur CM," he said. Later, taking to Twitter, the chief minister said, "Spoke to Hon'ble CM, Manipur. He was v(ery) cordial and has assured all help to our .

Bihar arranges special flight to bring back students stranded in Manipur

The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar will bring back all students of the state stranded in violence-hit Manipur, an official said here on Monday. All the students, holed up in their hostels and other places in the restive north-eastern state, will be brought back on Tuesday and the expenses of their travel will be borne by the government, he said. "As per the directions from the chief minister, the Resident Commissioner in Delhi got in touch with students from Bihar in Manipur. They will be ferried to the airport in Imphal in buses, and flown back to Patna by a special flight," the official added.

Curfew relaxed in Imphal as life crawls back to normal, CM thanks Amit Shah

Life was crawling back to somewhat normal in violence-hit Manipur as people came out of their homes in state capital Imphal to buy essential items with the curfew being relaxed for a few hours on Monday morning, officials said. Drones and helicopters continued a close watch, while personnel of the Army and Assam Rifles held flag marches in different areas that have been rocked by ethnic violence over the last few days, they said. The clashes broke out on Wednesday after tribals organised a demonstration in the ten hill districts of the state to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, leading to the deaths of at least 54 people. 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 live in the hill districts. So far, 23,000 people have been rescued from the violence-hit areas and moved to military garrisons, officials

Shielding governance failure will not resolve Manipur's problems

The contentious issues of eviction of forest villages, Meiteis demanding ST status and the breakdown of talks on autonomy with the Kukis coalesced, creating an explosive situation

BJP woo Christians in Kerala but target them in Manipur: CPI(M) leader

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP are trying to woo Christians in Kerala but that community is now "being hunted" in Manipur, said MV Govindan, the Kerala unit secretary of the CPI(M). Addressing reporters here, Govindan said it is the BJP's agenda to create a rift on communal lines and thousands are being affected as a result. "Manipur is ruled by the BJP. They claim that they have huge support among the northeastern states and the Christians there. However, the people, including the elected representatives, are stranded. "Narendra Modi and BJP are trying to woo Christians in Kerala but people of that community are being hunted in Manipur," Govindan said. He said the Left government in Kerala is taking all steps to bring home Keralites stranded in Manipur. Govindan claimed that even elected representatives are not safe in Manipur and referred to news reports in which an MLA's son claimed that the politician was stranded there. "Many prominent persons are affected due to t

Army drones, helicopters on watch in Manipur, 23,000 people moved to camps

Army drones and helicopters kept a close watch on Manipur on Sunday as curfew was relaxed in some parts of the Northeastern state, which was rocked by ethnic violence over the last few days, officials said. So far, 23,000 people have been rescued from the violence-hit areas and were moved to military garrisons, they said. Personnel of the Army and Assam Rifles held flag marches as life started crawling back to somewhat normal, but the tension was palpable. Sources said around 10,000 security personnel have been deployed in the state, which has been on the boil since Wednesday. Governor Anusuiya Uikey chaired a meeting with Security Advisor Kuldip Singh and Operational Commander Ashutosh Sinha. At the meeting, the two officers shared their suggestions with the governor to resolve the crisis, said a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan. Uikey advised the officers that arrangements be made for the safe return of the people who are in relief camps at present, it said. The clashes broke

Congress slams Manipur CM over violence, says he cannot absolve himself

The Congress on Sunday hit out at Chief Minister N Biren Singh over the situation in Manipur, saying he cannot absolve himself and "his patrons in New Delhi and Nagpur" of the responsibility for the horrific violence and killings in the state. The Congress' attack came a day after Singh, who heads a BJP-led government in Manipur, chaired an all-party meeting over the prevailing situation in the violence-hit state. In a tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "The CM of Manipur finally condescended to meet with all political parties and some civil society groups. But he cannot absolve himself and his patrons in New Delhi and Nagpur of the responsibility for the horrific violence and killings in the state." The Congress has been warning of the consequences of what the RSS/BJP has been doing in the northeast, he said. "But now is the time for a collective resolve to bring Manipur to peace and harmony," Ramesh added. Violent clashes broke out between tribals and people .

Manipur violence: SC to hear pleas on Monday over ST status to Meitei

The Supreme Court will on Monday hear a batch of pleas on the Manipur situation including one by a ruling BJP MLA challenging the high court order on the issue of Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community and a PIL by a tribal outfit for an SIT probe into the violence that rocked the northeastern state last week. A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narashima and JB Pardiwala is scheduled to hear the matter. The clashes between Meiteis and tribals started in Churachandpur district last Wednesday. The tribals are opposing reservation to the Meiteis following the March 27 Manipur High Court order that asked the state government to send a recommendation to the Centre within four weeks on the demand for ST status by the Meitei community. Dinganglung Gangmei, BJP MLA and chairman of the Hills Area Committee (HAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, in his appeal contended that the "proceedings before the High Court were vitiated on account of not making the HAC a

Andhra govt steps up efforts to bring back stranded students from Manipur

The Andhra Pradesh Government on Sunday stepped up its efforts to bring the Telugu students stranded due to the riots in Manipur to their native places safely

AAI takes steps to help passengers at Imphal airport amid unrest in Manipur

Amid unrest in parts of Manipur, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has taken various measures to help air passengers while airlines have waived rescheduling and cancellation charges for flights to and from the capital city of Imphal. Curfew was relaxed on Sunday in parts of Manipur which saw ethnic rioting over the last few days. According to a civil aviation ministry official, the AAI is coordinating with the state government for transportation of stranded passengers from the airport to the city under escort and a help desk has also been set up with effect from May 4. The help desk counter is provided with AAI LAN internet facility to print tickets as internet services are unavailable in the state, as per the official. A total of 10,531 passengers at Imphal airport and the total flight movements handled was 108 till May 6, including 50 defence movements and 6 additional flights, the official added. Air India and IndiGo have waived fee for rescheduling/cancellation for all their .

Centre ready for discussions on Manipur violence, says G Kishan Reddy

: Requesting the warring groups in Manipur to maintain peace, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy on Sunday said the Central government was ready for talks and settle the issue. Stating that the Centre was not adamant when it came to people's welfare, Reddy said that it even withdrew three Farm Laws when agriculturists demanded the repeal of the controversial regulations. Riots broke out in Manipur between the Meitei community, which mainly live in Imphal Valley, and the Naga and Kuki tribes who are inhabitants of the hill districts, over the demand of the former for Scheduled Tribe status. Life started limping back to normalcy under the watchful eyes of army drones and helicopters deployed for aerial reconnaissance as curfew was relaxed on Sunday in parts of Manipur. "Please come forward to solve the issues in a peaceful manner. The Indian Government is ready. You have seen the farmers' issue. When it was peaceful, we tried to convince them. As t

Aaditya Thackeray hits out at BJP for campaigning amid violence in Manipur

Former Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray expressed serious concern over the prevailing violence in Manipur

Special aircraft to evacuate 22 Maha students stranded in Manipur: CM

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that a special aircraft has been arranged to rescue 22 students of the state stranded in violence-hit Manipur

Sikkim brings back 128 rescued students from violence-hit Manipur

A total of 128 students of Sikkim were rescued from violence-hit Manipur, and were being brought back to the state on Sunday, officials said. The stranded students were first brought to Kolkata on flights arranged by the state government from Imphal. From Kolkata, they boarded buses for Siliguri in northern West Bengal. From Siliguri, they will be brought to state capital Gangtok by SNT buses. A doctor from Sikkim, who was posted in a far-off area in Manipur, was also safely brought back, officials said. Chief Secretary VB Pathak led the 'Operation Gurans' to bring back the students. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang was constantly monitoring the situation, and took stock of the safety and security of the students, officials said. Sikkim worked with the Manipur government for the safe passage of the students from their respective hostels to the airport, they said. Sikkim extended gratitude to Manipur for ensuring the safe return of the students.

Tharoor slams BJP over Manipur, calls for imposition of President's rule

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said the voters of Manipur are feeling "grossly betrayed" just a year after putting the BJP in power and called for the imposition of President's rule in the state that has witnessed violent clashes. Violent clashes had broken out in Manipur last week between tribals and members of the majority Meitei community, which has so far displaced thousands of people and killed at least 54. In a tweet, Tharoor said, "As the Manipur violence persists, all right-thinking Indians must ask themselves what happened to the much-vaunted good governance we had been promised." "The voters of Manipur are feeling grossly betrayed just a year after putting the BJP in power in their state. It's time for President's Rule; the state government is just not up to the job they were elected to do," the former Union minister said. The clashes broke out after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the ten hill districts of the state to protest against the ..

Manipur relaxes curfew in Churachandpur to let citizens buy essentials

People were seen coming out in large numbers to buy food, medicines and other essential commodities during a curfew relaxation period Sunday morning as life limped back to normal in this riot-affected town. Army and Assam Rifles columns conducted a flag march through the town as soon as the curfew relaxation ended at 10 am. In all some 120-125 Army columns have been deployed in the entire riot-hit state. In all some 10,000 soldiers, para-military and central police forces have been deployed in Manipur. A defence spokesperson said Army has also significantly enhanced aerial surveillance through movement of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and redeployment of helicopters within Imphal valley. The total curfew that prohibited the movement of any person outside their homes was relaxed for three hours, from 7 am, in violence-hit Manipur's Churachandpur district on Sunday morning allowing people to buy essentials such as medicines and food. The curfew imposed under Section 144 of the CrP

CM Biren assures safety of Tripura students stuck in violence-hit Manipur

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha held a meeting with the parents of the students who are stuck in violence-hit Manipur on Saturday

Meghalaya govt arranges flights to bring back students from Manipur

The government of Meghalaya is arranging special flights to bring back stranded students in violence-hit Manipur, said an official statement on Saturday