Politics / Manipur

Imphal, January 16: With the Nagaland Assembly election round the corner, political parties of the State have exploited the ongoing NSCN(IM)-GOI peace talk to the maximum as a poll plank, through interpreting the issue from different angles. While Chief Minister SC Jamir seems to pursue the flip flop stand about the ongoing parleys between the NSCN-IM leaders and Central Leaders in New Delhi, the Opposition Front, NPF headed by former CM Hokishe Sema has gone with the full backing to the ongoing peace talk considering that the issue could be the best bet and bait for the forthcoming election...

Imphal, January 16: The torch rally called by the United Committee Manipur took an ugly turn when thousands of people who came out braving the January chill turned violent at different points of the capital city today. However the rally passed off peacefully without any major hitches at other places. Rallies were taken out peacefully at Pallel, Moirang, Kumbi, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur. An enraged mob turned their wrath towards some UCM volunteers and tried to burn the vehicle in which the volunteers were travelling at Uripok today. Timely action by the police saved the vehicle. Cops on...

Imphal, January 14: Former Chief Minister RK Ranbir and the then Food and Civil Supplies Secretary, RK Modhusana, who have been charge sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the 1991-92 Rs two crore scam surrendered before the Special Court, PC Act and obtained bails from the same Court today. The CBI recently submitted charge sheets against RK Ranbir, the then FCS Secretary Modhusana, then Director L Gangte and contractors and transporters in connection with the rice scam that rocked the State in 1991-92. L Gangte and the then Assistant Director Abdul Halim have already...

Imphal, January 15: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh while assuring that the violence of June 18, 2001 will not recur this time, has warned that the territorial integrity of Manipur should not be compromised by the Centre to appease the Naga rebel group, NSCN (I-M). In an exclusive interview with The Sangai Express, the Chief Minister said despite the assurances given by various Central leaders to preserve the territorial integrity of Manipur, if the ongoing Centre-NSCN (I-M) peace talks take up any move that might alter the existing territorial boundary of the State, Government of India should be...

Imphal, January 14: MPLF today said in a press statement that in the aftermath of observation of Black Day on October 15 last year. The success over the three battalions of BSF at Sajik Tampak in the battle heralds a new beginning the Permanent Body of MPLF today said. It showed the united strength of MPLF it said. The people now believe the struggle after seeing the success of the MPLF cadres it pointed out. The BSF planned to flush out the MPLF camp at Sajik Tampak under Operation Jawala. It was planned by DIG, BSF PK Misra it added. The 125 Bn, 64 Bn and 2nd Bn of BSF were involved and they...

Imphal, January 12: After four days of intense gun fight with cadres of the Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF), the umbrella organisation of the RPF, PREPAK and UNLF, near Pardai village at Sajik Tampak, troops of the BSF have started pulling out from the site of the encounter. Disclosing this to The Sangai Express at his office chamber straight after his arrival from Sajik Tampak today, BSF DIG PK Misra said that the two BSF personnel who went missing during the encounter are yet to be traced. During the gun fight which started from January 8 and stretched on till January 11, the BSF...

Imphal, Jan. 12: At a time when it appeared that all hurdles in the way of the Tipaimukh project had been cleared, a group persistently opposing the power project is now preparing a resistance movement against the dam. The Committee against Tipaimukh Dam has resolved to organise public rallies and bandhs on National Highway 53.

The anti-dam front comprises several environmental groups, including those belonging to the Zeliangrong community, that would be most affected by the project. The Manipur government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Neepco to start work on the project. The...

Imphal, Jan. 12: NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah’s statement that Ukhrul in Manipur does not belong to Meiteis has evoked sharp reactions from student organisations and political parties in the state. In a grim reminder of the many thorny issues that lay strewn on the path to peace, they have termed the statement as “communal”, saying such utterances indicated that “Muivah’s fight is against the Meiteis”.

President of the Democratic People’s Party Khaidem Mani today said the statement reeked of “communal hatred” and Muivah could be arrested under Section 153 of the IPC for a...

Imphal, January 11: Despite staunch resistance by the Committee Against Tipaimukh Dam and threat to launch agitations, the State Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the implementing agency of Tipaimukh Multi-Purpose Project, Northeastern Power Corporation (NEEPCO) at New Delhi. Even as a meeting of the Committee held today at the conference hall of MBC, Imphal resolved to organize public rallies, bandh on NH 53, seminars and other agitational steps if the State Government signed the MoU, State Power Secretary, Rajesh Kumar had already struck the deal with NEEPCO officials...

Imphal, January 11: The proscribed KYKL has claimed responsibility for shooting A Debidash Sharma on the leg on January 6 while he was on exam duty at DM College of Arts and Commerce. Stating that the teacher was punished for encouraging the students to indulge in unfair means during the TDC examination, the outfit in a statement today said that the punishment was carried out by a team of the Special Task Force (STF) under the Operation New Kangleipak (ONK). KYKL said that a team of the STF went to DM College of Arts and Commerce on receiving specific information that the students were...