Page 22 - Northeast India

Manipur entrepreneurs stare at uncertain future as violence hits businesses

With Manipur witnessing violence for over two months, the business community in the state is bleeding red with economic activities almost coming to a standstill. A number of entrepreneurs in the state said on Monday that irrespective of the communities, all sections of the people and their economic activities have been affected by the violence that began on May 3. Corporate leaders who had returned to Manipur after serving long stints at global MNCs outside the Northeast are now questioning their own decisions of investing time and money in their home state. "The impact has been huge. Almost everyone, irrespective of the communities, has been affected. Before May 3, life was pretty normal. For the last couple of years, we were on a path of progress. Businesses were flourishing, people were progressing on day-to-day lives as we were recovering from the COVID-19 impact. "Then this (ethnic clashes) happened. Now our lives have changed, and the way people do business has changed. In fa

SC asks Manipur govt to file updated status report on rehabilitation

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Manipur government to file an updated status report detailing the steps taken to ensure rehabilitation and improve the law and order situation in the ethnic violence-hit state. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra listed the batch of petitions on the issue for hearing on July 10. Asking Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, to file an updated status report, the bench said, "It should have details like rehabilitation camps, law and order and recovery of arms. In a brief hearing, the top law officer gave details of the deployment of security forces and the recent status of the law and order situation and said curfew in the state has now been reduced to five hours from 24 hours. According to Mehta, civil police, Indian reserve battalions and 114 companies of CAPFs are also deployed in the state. He said senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for Kuki group

2 Kuki groups lift 2-month blockade on NH-2 in Manipur's Kangpokpi

Two militant outfits of Manipur, under Suspensions of Operation, on Sunday said they have lifted the two-month long blockade in Kangpokpi district along the crucial National Highway-2. Issuing a joint statement, the United Peoples' Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) said the blockade has been lifted with immediate effect following "deep concern to restore peace and harmony" by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. However, Kuki civil society group Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), which had announced a roadblock on NH-2 two months ago, has not officially withdrawn the agitation yet. Manipur has two national highways -- NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam). The NH-2 has been under blockade by Kuki organisations since the violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, and was temporarily opened following Shah's visit in late May. The decision to lift the blockade comes following a recent meeting of the UPF, KNO and other Kuki groups with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Bisw

Situation in neighbouring Manipur will improve within 7-10 days: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the situation in neighbouring Manipur will improve within 7-10 days, with the state and central governments working silently' to restore peace. He hit out at the Congress and alleged that the opposition party is showing its concern when "relative peace has come in the northeastern state." More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur since clashes first started on May 3. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme here, the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor said, The situation in Manipur is improving day by day. I am of the view that in the next one week to 10 days, there will be more improvement. Sarma claimed there has been a lot of improvement in the neighbouring state in the last month. Silently, the Manipur government and the Union home ministry are working. You can see what was the level of violence a month ago and what it

Clueless in Imphal

Anarchy prevails in Manipur when India has its strongest central govt since Indira Gandhi's. Not even the writ of the omnipotent BJP high command runs there, as the Biren Singh drama suggests

Heartbroken when met people affected due to Manipur violence: Rahul Gandhi

The most important thing Manipur needs now is Peace - to secure the lives and livelihoods of our people. All our efforts must unite towards that goal, said Rahul Gandhi

Assam flood situation improves, 38,000 still affected in 4 districts

The flood situation in Assam improved on Thursday, although four more persons lost their lives and nearly 38,000 people were still under the impact of the deluge in four districts, an official bulletin said. According to the daily flood report of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), four persons died due to flooding in North Guwahati, taking the death toll to 11 so far across the state. The report said over 37,700 people remain affected due to the floods in Barpeta, Kamrup, Lakhimpur and Sonitpur districts. Barpeta is the worst hit with over 28,000 affected people, followed by Lakhimpur (9,000) and Sonitpur (400), it added. Till Wednesday, nearly 83,000 people were affected across six districts. The government has been operating one relief camp in Kamrup district, where four persons have taken shelter, and three relief distribution centres in two districts. Currently, 253 villages remain submerged in floodwaters and 1,526.08 hectares of crop areas have been dama

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.

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 -- ...

Ulta Rath Yatra mishap: CM Manik Saha announces compensation for victims

Seven people died and 16 others sustained severe burn injuries after being electrocuted during the Ulta Rath Yatra in Tripura's Unakoti district on Wednesday

Technology can bridge geographical barriers in healthcare sector: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday stressed the role of technology in bridging geographical barriers for delivering healthcare services to people in remote areas. He urged the medical community to take advantage of technological solutions for meeting the requirements of their patients. Sarma was speaking at a programme to mark the launch of six new projects in the healthcare sector in the state. "In a country like India with its large geographical expanse, it is not possible to have hospitals in all remote places or hamlets. We are trying to deliver healthcare at the doorsteps of the citizens. But in the meantime, technology is the only solution," he said. "I urge the medical community to take advantage of technology in reaching out to their patients," the chief minister added. He maintained that "geographical remoteness and lack of motivation" were major reasons for hospitals and doctors in certain parts of the state not performing according to their capability.

Changing nature of violence in Manipur is concern for HM: Biren

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed concern over changing nature of violence in the northeastern state. The union home minister is reportedly concerned over the shifting of violence and civil unrest from peripheral areas to districts in the Imphal valley. "The changing nature of violence from the exchange of fire in the peripheral areas to the civil unrest in the valley districts has become a matter of concern for Amit Shah ji," the chief minister told reporters here after his return from New Delhi late on Sunday night. Singh briefed Shah in New Delhi about the "evolving situation" in Manipur and said the state and central governments have been able to control the violence to a "great extent". "Shah raised issues such as the attacks on the house of Union Minister of State for External Affairs RK Ranjan Singh and the residence of state minister Sushindro Meitei, the ongoing arson and destruction of government properties and ...

Schools to resume classes in violence-hit Manipur from July 1: Officials

Schools will resume normal classes in violence-hit Manipur from July 1 instead of June 21 as announced earlier, officials said on Tuesday

Christian body writes to PM Modi seeking President's rule in Manipur

A Christian organisation based out of Kerala on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding imposition of President's rule in ethnic violence-hit Manipur

Manipur HC asks govt to provide limited internet in selected places

Manipur HC, in an interim order, directed state authorities to provide limited internet services to the public in some designated places under the control of the state authorities, sources said

Congress derides PM's silence on Manipur unrest after house of MoS torched

Congress on Friday slammed the Centre over the deteriorating law and order in violence-hit Manipur after a mob set Minister of State for External Affairs R.K. Ranjan Singh's house on fire in Imphal

Jettwings, new regional airline for northeast states, plans takeoff in Oct

In India, the first E175 jet with 12 business class and 64 economy seats was inducted by regional airline StarAir in May

Naga-Meitei stance on 'Manipur integration' triggers debate on unity, peace

In a major development, the Nagas of Manipur and the majority Meitei community have resolved to strive for maintaining territorial integrity of the violence-hit state

CBI forms SIT under DIG officer to probe Manipur violence, takes over probe

The CBI has formed a special investigation team (SIT) under a DIG-rank officer to probe six Manipur violence cases referred to it by the state government, officials said on Friday. During his visit to the northeastern state, Home Minister Amit Shah had announced a CBI probe to investigate six FIRs -- five on alleged criminal conspiracy and one on general conspiracy behind the violence in Manipur. Acting on a reference from the state routed through the Centre, the CBI has formed the SIT and taken over the investigation in the cases, they said. Violence broke out in the northeastern 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, nearly 100 people have lost their lives and over 300 were injured ever since the ethnic violence broke out over a month ago.

Earthquake of 3.7 magnitude felt in Assam, no property damage, loss of life

An earthquake of 3.7 magnitude was felt in Assam on Friday. No reports of loss of life or damage to property have been received yet.