Politics / Manipur

IMPHAL, April 24: The state Cabinet has given the green signal for constitution of a population commission for the state, and for framing the Manipur Dowry Prohibition Rules 2001. These decision were taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet, presided over by Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam this evening at the latter's bungalow. According to reliable sources, the law and order situation, and the financial crisis facing the state were among the main items of discussions during the meeting. Among other things, the Cabinet discussed ways and means to further strengthen the Manipur police and the...

IMPHAL, April 24: The Election of Commission of India has ordered that the symbol of the MSCP, "Cultivator Cutting Crop" should not be used by any of the two contending parties till the issue is resolved. The EC in an order issued today stated if any candidate is put by either or both of the two contending parties for the Kshetrigao by-election then the candidate/s will be allotted different symbols from the existing list of free symbols. For the purpose of identifying the two groups the EC has dubbed the Nipamacha group as MSCP (N) and the Chaoba group as MSCP (C). The order of the EC said...

IMPHAL, April 22: Consequent upon the attack carried out by underground cadres on a BSF convoy at Kwakta yesterday that claimed the life of a jawan, a combined force of security forces allegedly released their ire on the villagers of Liklai village and set seven houses aflame. Liklai village is in Churachandpur district and is located about 7 kms from Kwakta. Villagers who had to bear the brunt of the security personnel's ire and angst said the combined force came to their village at about 5 pm and fired four 2-inch mortar towards the village. Terrified villagers fled the scene thereafter. The...

IMPHAL, April 22: The All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) has called upon the authorities who run catholic schools in and around Imphal to reopen their schools on or before April 30 in the interest of the students. A joint meeting of the executive members of the AMSU and parents of over 15,000 students studying in the seven catholic schools was also held at the hall of Dhanamanjuri College of Arts here this morning. One Nilakomol, a guardian of a student of Little Flower School, was the chief guest and secretary general of AMSU headquarters, Premananda Yumnam presided over the gathering. The...

CHURACHANDPUR, April 22: Personnel of the 32nd Bn Border Security Force, BSF posted at Bungmual, Churachandpur have been charged of attempted kidnapping and beating up of a Churachandpur businessman following a row over soft drink price. On the evening of April 13 at about 8.45 pm seven personnel of the BSF came to Sagar Maljain's shop along the Tiddim road to buy some bottles of soft drinks and there was haggling over prices. Eyewitnesses said the BSF personnel threatened Sagar Maljain with dire consequences and took him in their custody by force after blindfolding him. However on the...

IMPHAL, April 22: The Manipur Human Rights Commission has today given the State DGP DS Grewal, 24 hours to locate the whereabouts of four persons including a woman and her son who are said to have been arrested and flown away by BSF personnel from Hengtam village under Singhat police station from Churachandpur district on April 14. This instruction was given following a complaint filed by Wareppam Manitomba of Tera Loukrakpam Leikai, Imphal. He contended that his younger brother Wareppam Shanou (36) accompanied by Maibam Ongbi Kunjabati Devi (50), her son Maibam Prakash (28) all of same...

IMPHAL, April 22: There is no certainty as yet to the question whether the ruling People's Front ministry would be fielding a common candidate of its own for the upcoming Kshetrigao by-poll to be held oh May 11 next. And if at all a common candidate has to be fielded, there is no surety that all the partners of the PF would be supporting him/her, a highly placed source disclosed. It said that though the Samata Party candidate for the by-poll, Vivek Raj Wangkhem, son of late Basantakumar Wangkhem is made out to be the common candidate of People's Front, there is no guarantee that his...

IMPHAL, April 22: The infamous ex gratia scandal case in which some state officials including doctors and policemen have been accused of forging signatures to swindle a huge amount of ex gratia payments meant for the next of kin of those killed in separate incidents has been handed over to the CBI. However, sources said that the CBI has not yet taken up the investigation of the case formally. So far no official of the premier investigating agency of the country has come to Manipur to enquire about the case nor has the state government sent any reminder to them, it added. The case was being...

IMPHAL, April 22: In what could be termed as the first rumble of an impending tempest in the present People's Front Ministry led by Radhabinod Koijam, the Bharatiya Janata Party, a major partner in the Ministry, has come out with a scathing criticism of the Chief Minister, RB Koijam of the Samata Party, for his alleged high-handedness in the affairs of governance. The BJP, Manipur Pradesh, has charged the Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam with not taking into confidence the other partners of the People's Front while making plans and policies of the Ministry. The general secretary of the BJP...

IMPHAL, April 21: United Naga Council (UNC) president KS Paul Leo was released by Kuki rebels late last night. He was abducted on Tuesday. His abductors - the Kuki National Front (Military Council) - freed him "unharmed." The exact deal for the release was not spelt out. A negotiating team led by Manipur tribal welfare minister Haokholet Kipgen camped at Keithelmanbi village in Kangpokpi subdivision last night to ensure Leo's release. Negotiators, including Church leaders, went inside the dense forest to strike a deal with the rebels at their hideout. Talks with the Kuki militants started at 9...