Politics / Manipur

IMPHAL, April 18: All the major pressure groups of Naga and Kuki communities today made an impassioned appeal to the KNF (MC) for the unconditional release of the president of the UNC KS Paul Leo who was abducted by the Kuki militants Tuesday near Keithelmanbi in Senapati district. The leader of both Naga and Kuki communities including the presidents of All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and Kuki Students' Organization (KSO) at an emergency meeting held at the residence of the Tribal Development Minister Haokholet Kipgen this afternoon resolve to put on record the safe keeping of...

IMPHAL, April 18: Two candidates have so far filed nomination papers for the byelections to the 4-Kshetrigao Assembly constituency, scheduled to be held on May 11 next. Vivek Raj Wangkhem, son, of late Wangkhem Basantakumar, who held the seat before his demise earlier this year, filed his, nomination papers this morning at around 11:10 am before the SDO, Porompat, who is acting as returnng officer. He is contesting as a candidate of the Samata Party. A second candidate, Wahengbam. Hemanta, representing the MSCP, has also filed his nomination, papers. While Pheirenjao Kabui was the proposer for...

IMPHAL, April 17: The president of the United Naga Council, the apex body of Naga tribes of Manipur, was abducted today by suspected Kuki militants from National Highway 39 in Kangpokpi subdivision. The UNC chief, K. Paul Leo, was travelling to Imphal from Karong village in Senapati district in a passenger bus. Six Kuki militants stopped the bus in which Paul was travelling near Keithelmanbi village at 1 pm. They dragged out Paul and a Sema Naga couple travelling to Imphal from Nagaland. The Naga couple, however, was rescued by Manipur Rifles personnel later. The couple was escorted by Manipur...

IMPHAL, April 17: The president of the United Naga Council, UNC, KS Paul Leo, was kidnapped by unidentified armed men at Keithelmanbi, near Kangpokpi, on National Highway 39 from an Imphal bound passenger bus this afternoon. The UNC president was reportedly on his way from Karong to Imphal along with a friend. Reliable sources said the passenger bus in which they were traveling was stopped at around 12:30 pm at Keithelmanbi village, located about six kilometers south of Kangpokpi police station by about 10 well-armed men dressed in combat uniform, believed to be KNF (MC) cadres. After boarding...

IMPHAL, April 17: Manipur Human Rights Commission today recommended the booking of ten residents of the boys hostel, DM College of Arts who were involved in ragging Meisnam Romel Meitei in room number 6. The commission asked the DGP of Manipur to do so through OC, Imphal West after seeking a directive from a magistrate under section 155 of CrPC. The commission passed the order after perusal of the report, submitted by the DGP through SDPO, Imphal West in connection with the disappearance case of Romel from the hostel. The report said that an FIR could not be registered as it was not a fit case...

IMPHAL, April 16: The Catholic Schools in the state are still in a limbo even after the school teachers have taken over the management of the schools. It may be recalled that the schools had closed down following threats from an underground group. All the headmasters of Don Bosco schools in Imphal have either left or are in the process of doing so for fear of harm coming to them after handling over the charge of day to day management of their schools to the teachers for the time being. However, the teachers and students are reluctant to attend classes after an anonymous caller ordered closure...

IMPHAL, April 16: The Judicial Magistrate First Class (Imphal East) Ms Noutuneshori has passed an order to produce the 28 year-old hunger striker Irom Sharmila in the court located at Lamphelpat for further detention under judicial custody on April 18. Mention may be made here that from Sharmila of Kongba had launched fast unto death agitation since November 5 last year in public soon after the Malom massacre in which 10 persons were brutally shot dead by 8 Assam Rifles personnel. Miss Sharmila is demanding immediate removal of the black laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 from the...

IMPHAL, April 16: Fourteen departments in the state today came into grinding halt with the launching of the indefinite cease work strike by a faction of the Joint Administrative Council and All Manipur Government Employees Organization this morning, demanding payment of long overdue salaries and protesting against the suspension of allowances of employees by the state government. The S Narendra led faction of the JAC declared a wildcat indefinite cease work strike effective from today during a press conference yesterday at the State Guest House. All government machineries are likely to come to...

IMPHAL, April 16: The Election Department has prepared all the formalities of conducting the by-election of the Kshetrigao assembly constituency on May 11 next. The seat for the constituency has been lying vacant following the sudden demise of MLA Wangkhem Basantakumar on January 26 this year in a New Delhi hospital. The Chief Electoral Officer of the state in a press release issued today notified that the last date of filing nomination is April 24 while the scrutiny of nominations will be held the next day. Besides the withdrawal of nomination papers will be April 27, it added. While the date...

IMPHAL, April 16: Thousands of state government employees under the banner of Joint Action Committee of All Manipur Trade Union Council and All Manipur Government Employees Organisation launched an indefinite ceasework strike from today in protest against the anti-employee policy' of the present ministry. The office work of various state government departments were paralysed following the indefinite ceasework strike which come into force from today. state government offices like planning, family welfare, untrained teachers,' fishery, tribal development, agriculture, horticulture veterinary...