Politics / Manipur

IMPHAL, March 30: The proscribed United National Liberation Front has rejected the state government's ceasefire offer. The UNLF's reply to the ceasefire offer came in the form of the killing of two Army jawans yesterday. The jawans were killed by triggering off a remote-controlled bomb near the 59 Mountain Brigade base at Leimakhong near here. With the UNLF jumping on the bandwagon, four insurgent outfits have rejected the ceasefire announced by the Radhabinod Koijam-led People's Front government. The Chief Minister is now in New Delhi to discuss the further extension of the unilateral...

NEW DELHI, March 30 (PTI): Reversing its stand, Manipur government today said it may not extend the unilateral ceasefire against militant outfits in the state which expires tomorrow, saying many of these groups had acted against it. We may not; Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam told reporters here when specifically asked whether the ceasefire would be extended, he made the statement soon after a 30-minute meeting with home minister L K Advani here. He said many outfits have come out openly against the ceasefire, while some others have not responded and added that lie had expressed his...

IMPHAL, March 29: In a significant ruling, the Gauhati High Court Imphal Bench has suspended the termination of 2581 state government employees, who were appointed after the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Centre and the state government. In his order which was passed on Tuesday, Justice JN Sharma ruled that "those persons were earlier appointed on ad hoc basis and thereafter their services were regularised.. now the authority cannot terminate their services without following the due process of law. The petitioners shall be allowed to continue in service." Senior...

IMPHAL, March 29: Three persons, including two jawans, were killed and two others injured in a bomb explosion by militants in Manipur today although the state government extended the existing unilateral ceasefire to insurgent outfits for one more month from April 1, reports PTI. Official sources said two jawans of the 15th Jat regiment were killed on the spot and two others seriously injured when a powerful bomb, planted by militants, went off at Ichum Lairembi area, about 23 km north of here this morning. A few minutes after the explosion, armed militants opened fire from nearby Pheidinga...

IMPHAL, March 28: The Imphal bench of the Gauhati High Court has quashed Speaker Sapam Dhananjoy's February 13 order declaring W. Nipamacha Singh, a former Chief Minister, and seven other MLAs as "unattached members". In his ruling yesterday, Justice J.N. Sharma directed that the eight MLAs should have been treated as belonging to the Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP). The Speaker had declared the eight MSCP legislators "unattached members" in the House following their expulsion by an MSCP faction led by Union minister of state for food processing Thounaojam Chaoba Singh. The Speaker's order...

IMPHAL, March 28: The state Cabinet, in a meeting held today, has approved implementation of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India in the hill areas of Manipur, subject to local adjustments. In another important decision taken today, the Cabinet has endorsed the recommendation of the all party meeting held yesterday for extension of the government's unilateral ceasefire by one more month, that is, till the end of April. According to insider sources, the Cabinet, which met at 5 pm today at the Chief Minister's bungalow, agreed in principle to the implementation of the Sixth Schedule...

IMPHAL, March 27: The Imphal Bench of the Gauhati High Court today suspended the termination of 2581 state government employees, who were appointed after the signing of MoU between the Centre and the state government. In his order Justice JN Sharma of the High Court ruled that the petitioners should not be terminated from their respective service until the legal proceedings are disposed of. The order followed a petition jointly filed by 13 SO Grade-I of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department. The High Court issued rules and summoned all the relevant documents of appointments of the...

IMPHAL, March 27: A meeting of all political parties here today decided to extend the ongoing unilateral ceasefire with all militant outfits by another month. The meeting was convened by Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam. The meeting authorised the Chief Minister to constitute a committee to frame a strategy for approaching the insurgent outfits to start talks. The committee is expected to work out all the details with regard to the peace process initiated by the People's Front government. The state Cabinet is likely to take a decision on the extension tomorrow. After being sworn in as...

IMPHAL, March 25: Newly elected president of an MSCP faction, T Chaoba today asserted that his party will not embark upon any move to dislodge the Samata Party led People's Front Government keeping in mind the abysmal financial condition of the State. Addressing newsmen today, Chaoba said that the Samata Party and BJP which are partners in the coalition Government should not try to engineer splits in regional parties particularly the MSCP. Drawing examples from the Centre, Chaoba said the coalition partners in the NDA Government do not try to engineer splits and defection amongst the ruling...

IMPHAL, March 23: State Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam has requested Union Petroleum Minister Ram Nayak to look into the ongoing petroleum crisis in Manipur following the indefinite strike called by the oil tankers' association. The oil tankers launched their indefinite ceasework strike in protest against the torching down of 15 oil tankers by unidentified gunmen near Kasrong in Senapati district on March 8 last. Replying to a call attention motion raised by the former Chief Minister and solitary Opposition member in the 60-member House of Assembly session on Thursday the Chief Minister...