Politics / Manipur

Imphal, February 24: The Indian National Party has emerged in the lead, winning 12 out of 33 seats declared as of 1:30 am tonight while the Federal Party of Manipur is in second place with seven seats even as counting of votes for the 8th Assembly elections, held on February 14 and 21 last progresses. Among the major casualties of the day were former chief ministers, Radhabinod Koijam and Wahengbam Nipamacha, former Speakers N Babudhon, and K Borbabu, and former minister Th Bira, while prominent winners include former CM RK Dorendro and MPP chief O Joy Singh. Former CM Radhabinod Koijam...

Imphal, February 22: The Gauhati High Court Imphal Bench has ordered to hold a Judicial Inquiry into the killing of 10 civilians including school boys by CRPF jawans at Tonsen Lamkhai on October 3, 1999 morning. A single bench court headed by Justice AH Saikia yesterday ruled that the inquiry should be conducted by the District Judge Manipur West who should submit the report before the court within six months. Since the verdict was passed in the presence of both the parties, the court maintained that they" should appear before the Sessions Judge Manipur West on March 18. The ruling followed...

Imphal, February 21: Sporadic violence and large scale booth capturing marked the final phase polling in 20 hill constituencies today. Repoll is likely to be ordered in more than 50 polling centres of seven constituencies on February 24. Poll percentage is estimated at 70 to 80 percent. Repoll is likely to be held in 12 stations in Tipaimukh; 7 in Henglep, 20 in Singhat, 11 in Saikul, 2 in Chandel and one each in Tadubi and Karong. Naga dominated districts witnessed by and large peaceful polling. CCpur AC: Voting was disrupted at three stations in Churachandpur AC when armed men opened fire...

Imphal, February 20: In the biggest strike during the State Assembly election process, militants attacked an IRB party escorting poll officials and materials killing two officials and one jawan and injuring 12 others besides snatching six weapons near Laikhong village around 7 km from Maphou Dam under Yairipok police station at 12.30 this afternoon. State DGP AA Siddiqui has announced Rs 2 lakh as ex-gratia to the family of the deceased jawan. The police chief also gave Rs 10,000 each to the injured jawan and promised to bear the medical expenses. Reports reaching here said that the militants...

Imphal, February 20: Three innocent civilians of a marriage party were killed and six others were seriously wounded in what was apparently a botched ambush attempt on a security convoy this evening near the Imphal College on the Tiddim road on the outskirts of Imphal city. Three occupants of a jeep carrying the cameraman covering the marriage were killed and six others were injured when an improvise explosive device (IED) exploded this evening at around 7 pm in front of the Imphal College under Singjamei police station. According to sources the incident occurred while the marriage party was...

Imphal, February 19: Four more Naga candidates have signed the Senapati declaration drawn up on February 7 during a meeting of Naga candidates and the United Naga Council, UNC at the latter?s headquarters in Senapati. A release by the UNC today said ?various Naga mass based organizations under the aegis of UNC? announced that altogether 51 candidates contesting in the second phase of the election to the 8th Manipur Legislative Assembly have signed the agreement. The UNC release also appealed to all sections of the people to use their wisdom in exercising their franchise peacefully. It also...

Imphal, February 18: The interference of underground elements in electioneering in the hill districts for the second phase of the Assembly elections, particularly in Tamenglong, Senapati and Ukhrul districts, have evoked considerable apprehension among the general public. Instruction reportedly issued by a particular underground organization, which has disavowed all interest in ?Indian elections? to the village authorities of various villages in these three districts, warning against voting for candidates who had opposed the extension of the NSCN (IM) ceasefire to Manipur has cast a shadow...

Imphal, February 14: Over eighty percent polling was recorded in the first phase polling in 40 valley constituencies in four districts today. The polling was by and large peaceful with no major poll related incidents of the violence being reported. The highest voter turnout of a staggering 97.42 percent was reported from 19-Patsoi Assembly constituency. As many as 18 constituencies reported above 90 percent. The lowest percentage of 58.40 percent was reported from Thangmeiband A/c followed by Lamlai A/c with 59%. The total number of registered voters in the 40 constituencies is 8, 89,231...

Imphal, February 14: Polling in the first phase today was marked by police firing, ballot box snatching and booth capturing. Several persons including a presiding officer were assaulted in separate incidents. Following incidents of booth capturing and rigging, the CEO has recommended repoll in 18 booths. Repoll has been recommended in one booth in Thoubal AC, 10 in Sugnu AC, one in Lamlai AC, two in Andro AC, one in Khangabok AC, 1 in Heirok AC and 2 in Wangkhem AC. A fierce encounter followed after unidentified gunmen attacked the residence of Congress candidate, Suresh in Wangling Tentha at...

Imphal, February 13: The Kuki Inpi, Manipur, KIM, has expressed strong concern over the Senapati declaration signed by Naga candidates pledging to support the 'Naga cause' at the behest of the United Naga Council, UNC. The KIM president, P Gangte, in a statement issued here, said the UNC is gathering dark clouds of tension by forging the 'forced-signed' declaration warning that it will have far reaching consequences to destabilize the already disturbed social harmony of the pluralistic society of Manipur. Such an attempt to create a captive group of legislators and dictate terms with no free...