Politics / Manipur

Imphal, June 02: The non committal stand of the AICC high command over the merger move initiated by the MSCP to merge with the Congress has left some MSCP MLAs high and dry and some are even entertaining the idea of effecting a split in the party and switching sides to the BJP which is constituent partner of the Opposition DPA. Mention may be made here that the MSCP had initiated the merger move with the Congress along with its party president, Th Chaoba, MLAs and party workers and organizational set-ups. The AICC was also positive to the proposal and had even begun process to formally...

Imphal, June 01: A reign of terror has been let loose in the Kuki villages located in the vicinity of Liplen Kuki village, near where 11 personnel of the 25th Assam Rifles were killed in an ambush last Monday, according to reports from the area. Reports said at least 28 villagers of Dongsung and Liplen Kuki villagers were seriously injured after they were brutally assaulted and tortured by Assam Rifles personnel last night and this morning. In all 24 of the injured villagers have been admitted to JN hospital. The condition of some of them is described as critical when 1FP did a round this...

IMPHAL, May 30 ? Manipur Government has decided to extend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 for another year from June 1 in view of the deteriorating law-and-order situation, official sources said today, reports PTI. The State Cabinet which met yesterday decided to continue with the ?disturbed area? status of the State by extending the Act which had been first imposed in the State on September 8, 1980, the sources said. Since then, the Act had been extended from time to time to deal with armed insurgents operating in the State and the last two-year extension, made during the rule of...

IMPHAL, May 31? The Kuki Inpi, Manipur, an apex body of the Kuki community in the State urged the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram to enlighten the Central Government not to disturb the territorial boundary of Manipur in the wake of NSCN (I-M) peace talks. A memorandum has been submitted in this regard to the minister when he was here for a three-day State visit to look into the tribal development programme in Manipur. The memorandum said that Kukis, Nagas and Meiteis have been living together since eons. ?To parcel out areas for a single community is impossible because the three...

Imphal, May 29: Bellying all expectations, the State Cabinet today extended the enforcement of the controversial Disturbed Area status under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in Manipur by one more year. The Cabinet move was termed as "very unfortunate" by the DPP which had made revoking the status it's plank for joining the ruling SPF. The decision for extending the tenure of the Act for one more year was taken today during the extended session of the State Cabinet which failed to reach a consensus on the issue yesterday. The meeting held at the conference hall of the Chief Minister...

IMPHAL, May 28 ? United Committee Manipur (UCM), an apex body of different organisations, has convened an all-party meeting tomorrow to discuss the issues arising out of the Centre-NSCN (I-M) peace talks, an UCM statement said today. The statement said the meeting would discuss how to protect the territorial integrity of the State following the NSCN (I-M)?s demand for merger of some hill portion of Manipur with Nagaland. The UCM which had earlier warned INSCN (I-M) not to incite communal disharmony by demanding division of Manipur would also urge the political parties to adopt a long-term...

Imphal, May 26: IRB personnel fired in the air to quell a mob that had built up at Lilong Sambrukhong following alleged reports that police were going to deposit the dead body of Md Alauddin at his Lilong Chandrakhong residence at around 4.30 this evening. Alauddin's body has been lying at the RIMS morgue as his family declined to collect it till today. The body was recovered from Oinam Barrage yesterday morning. Lilong residents put up road blockades at Chandrakhong Makok, Mamei, Mayai Leikai Laishrangkhong and Sambrukhong following rumors that police are going to deposit the body at his...

Imphal, May 26: With unrest emerging within the ruling SPF over the issue of MSCP's merger with the Congress, several MLAs of the Opposition DPA have reportedly started entertaining the idea of joining the O Ibobi led Government as they feel that the DPA leadership will not be able to foist an alternative Government. When The Sangai Express tried to ascertain the reports, DPA spokesman and MLA S Ibohal evaded a direct answer but said the Opposition MLAs are keeping close contact with each other and viewing the development together. On the alleged move by around ten MLAs of the FPM which is...

Imphal, May 26: Reacting to the news published in this paper on May 25, veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Rishang Keishing today said that there is no question of any rift between him and Chief Minister O Ibobi over the merger issue of MSCP with the Congress. Minutes after he arrived from New Delhi today, the veteran Congress leader told The Sangai Express that the merger issue is to be decided by the AICC high command though the MPCC (I) members are at liberty to discuss the pros and cons of the issue. Rishang further said that no formal discussion over the merger issue has been...

Imphal, May 26: The proposed merger of the MSCP to the Congress seems to have been shelved for the moment with the Congress leaders returning to Imphal today without finalizing the issue with the AICC. Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing and Chief Minister O Ibobi along with other party leaders returned this evening. But a final agreement on the merger has been eluding the SPF partners. MSCP leaders including Th Chaoba are still in Delhi. One Congress leader who returned from Delhi today told The Sangai Express that the merger could not be finalized even though it was discussed with AICC president...