Politics / Manipur

Imphal, April 19: The chief minister O Ibobi Singh has reaffirmed that his Secular Progressive Front ministry will never implement Prevention of Terrorist Act, POTA in the state. The chief minister during a short interview this evening at his official bungalow said that even though Parliament has passed POTA, his ministry will not accept this act, as the existing acts and laws are quite sufficient for facing insurgency at present. He said, the forthcoming cabinet meeting which is going to be convened on April 24 next will take a decision to nullify the process taken up for implementation of...

Imphal, April 19: For all their much vaunted talk that everything is fine within the MSCP and the recent re-affirmation in the leadership of its president, Th Chaoba, an imminent split is staring the legislature wing of the MSCP in the face and the breakaway group may merge with the Congress. The MSCP which has seven MLAs in its kitty is the second largest constituent partner of the Congress led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) Government. Disclosing this an MSCP MLA said the party is bogged down by a number of pressure exerted from different quarters and this may be one of the reason why a...

Imphal, April 18: The foundation stone for the planned Great June Uprising Memorial Complex was lad down at a simple ceremony today at the Kekrupat cremation grounds. The memorial complex is being set up through the initiative of the United Committee Manipur in memory of 18 martyrs who laid down their lives in the territorial integrity protection movement of June and July 2001. Leaders of various communities settled in Manipur participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony. Floral tributes were also paid in the name of the 18 martyrs, and two minutes? silence was observed in their memory...

Imphal, April 12: The State Police Department has today ordered a Departmental Inquiry against the five policemen who have been suspended on charges of planting drugs in a city shop and trying to extract money from the shop owner on false charges yesterday. A high ranking police official said SP Imphal East M Karnajit, IPS has been appointed as the Inquiry Officer of the Departmental probe. Proper action will be initiated against the police personnel involved as per the findings of the probe, he said and added exemplary penalty will be given to the guilty. In the meantime, DGP AA Siddiqui has...

Imphal, April 11: Five state police personnel belonging to the Imphal East Drug Cell have been placed under suspension for allegedly trying to dupe a Paona Bazar trader to paying Rs 60,000 on false charges of seizing heroine from the latter?s shop today. SP Imphal East Police Karnajit disclosed that the personnel include one ASI and four constables. The suspension order was issued this evening, a police source said. The source said the matter came to light when the police met bazaar traders as part of their routine meeting in the evening. When the matter was investigated, it was found out that...

Imphal, April 10: The State Government has agreed to hold a magisterial inquiry into yesterday's Pangei-Yangdong killing incident and pay ex-gratia payment to the families of the two students killed in the incident. Four CRPF personnel and two students were killed in the firing incident at Pangei yesterday. Many civilians were also injured when the CRPF men retaliated. An MoU was signed between the Government and JAC Against Pangei-Yangdong Killing today in a meeting between the Chief Minister in-charge Th Debendra and the JAC representatives. The Government has agreed to conduct a magisterial...

Imphal, April 08: Veteran Congressman and former chief minister Rishang Keishing has been elected to the Upper House of the Parliament, defeating his lone rival Radhabinod Koijam by a margin of 35 to 24 votes in the biennial Rajya Sabha election held at the committee room of the Manipur legislative Assembly. At least two cross votes were cast, as the Opposition candidate?s tally of 24 was two more than the strength of the Opposition following the departure of the Democratic People?s Party, DPP. There also one invalid vote. Polling for the biennial election began normally at 9 am today. Chief...

Imphal, April 06: The Democratic Peoples' Party has clarified that they have joined hands with the Secular Progressive Front led government after assurances from the SPF that it would work in the interest of the people and the move is in no way related to the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections. The elected members of the DPP, N Biren and Dr Meinya when contacted told IFP that the party has joined the government after the SPF invited them and a memorandum of understanding was signed. The SPF in the MoU has assured to take the initiative for removing black laws like the Armed Forces Special...

Imphal, April 06: The Opposition Democratic People's Alliance, DPA, reacted bitterly to its desertion by the Democratic People's Front, terming the DPP an 'imposter' and charging that it was motivated by lust for power. Addressing a press conference at his quarters, Dr L Chandramni, the DPA convenor, clarified that the DPP had given no reason for its withdrawal from the front. He added that the DPP's action is a shock to him, as the DPP MLAs Dr Meinya and N Biren had been the proposers of the Opposition Rajya Sabha candidate Radhabinod Koijam at the time of filing of nomination papers. Dr...

Imphal, April 05: As anticipated, the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) which has two MLAs has snapped ties with the Opposition Democratic People?s Alliance (DPA) and joined the Congress led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) regime today. With this the strength of the SPF has risen to 38. A six point memorandum of understanding was signed between the DPP and the SPF for the induction of the DPP. Among others the main points of the MoU envisage that the territorial integrity of Manipur shall be protected at all cost, all necessary actions will be taken for reviewing the notification declaring...