Politics / Manipur

IMPHAL, March 23: Patrolling and frisking by police and security forces have been intensified in and around Christian missionary schools in the state's valley areas. This was announced by Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam today. Security for missionary schools was beefed up following threats from militants. A militant outfit had demanded Rs 40 lakh from eight Catholic missionary schools in Imphal. When the schools expressed their inability to pay the amount, the militants slapped a fine of Rs 2 crore on them and ordered them to close down. The matter was discussed in the Assembly today...

IMPHAL, March 23: The Manipur Chief Minister today admitted on the Floor of the House that he knew about Catholic missionary schools being pressured in the state. Asked by the lone Opposition member, Rishang Keishing (Cong), if he was aware that some people were threatening Catholic missionary schools in Manipur, Koijam said yes. Koijam said patrolling around missionary schools have been intensified. All except Don Bosco, Langjing and St Josheph's School, Sangiporou have reopened. He said regular cases have been taken up against attacks on missionaries and at least two ultras were killed on 18...

IMPHAL, March 23: Patrolling and frisking by police and security forces have been intensified in and around the Christian-missionary run schools Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam told the House today. Replying to question raised in this regard by Congress MLA Rishang Keishing during the Question Hour in the State Assembly today, the Chief Minister informed the House that as of now all the Catholic School except Don Bosco School, Langjing and St Joseph's School, Sangairprou were holding regular classes. He disclosed that regular classes have been registered in connection with the incidents of...

IMPHAL, March 22: Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam today blamed the Assam Oil division of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for trying to "escape" from their responsibility of supplying fuel to the state. Referring to the impasse between the government and transporters of petroleum products over compensation to 15 oil tankers damaged in recent rebel attacks, Koijam said the onus for paying compensation lay with the IOC as the tankers were hired by the corporation. He, however, said the government was ready to provide security to the IOC for transportation of petrol, diesel and kerosene. The...

IMPHAL, March 21: The Manipur Human Rights Commission today recommended the commissioner of works to pay a sum of Rs 3 lakh as compensation to the wife of a Manipur police constable, late N Joykumar Singh of Thoubal Thivam Leisangkhong who was killed in an accident on the Jamuna bridge in Thoubal district. The deceased constable met the accident at about 8.30 pm on May 12 1999 while returning home after attending a wedding ceremony. He left behind three minor sons and one daughter. The commission ruled that out of the compensation amount, Rs 1 lakh is to be paid either in cash or cheque to the...

IMPHAL, March 21: At 81 years, veteran Congress leader Rishang Keishing is brimming with energy. The former Congress Chief Minister is now "the lone man in the Opposition bench." Nevertheless, the veteran politician continues to spring surprises for the treasury benches with his volley of lively debates. After the Radhabinod Koijam-led People's Front commanded the support of 57 members in the 60-member Manipur Assembly (the effective strength of which is 59), the senior Congress MLA cut a lonely figure in the Opposition. However, his vast experience in governance in a parliamentary democracy...

IMPHAL, March 21: A high level meeting of select ministers and officials, held today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam, has decided to depute a ministerial team to establish contact with the office bearers of the 6th schedule demand committee, which launched an economic blockade on the national highways from this morning, and to initiate talks regarding their demands. It may be mentioned here that previous governments have already agreed in principle to the demand for extension of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution to the hill areas of the state. The meeting also...

IMPHAL, March 20: The banned Revolutionary People's Front - the political wing of the People's Liberation Army - has rejected both the government and the Army's ceasefire offer. The RPF said it would continue its struggle until the Centre ends its "colonial rule" in the state. Another rebel outfit, the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, had earlier rejected the ceasefire offer. Both outfits are constituents of the Manipur People's Liberation Front. The outfit's rejection comes a day after Governor Ved Marwah announced the setting up of a contact group to liaison with insurgent outfits...

IMPHAL, March 19: The Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam today said extortion, kidnapping, killing, movement of insurgents with arms and/or in combat uniforms and attacks on police/ security forces would be treated as breach of the ground rules of the ongoing unilateral cease-fire announced by his Government. Giving a statement in the Assembly he said the Cease-fire Monitoring Group (CMG) held its first meeting on March 17 and it was noted that except for the "burning of 15 oil tankers by insurgents near Karong on March 8, there has been no serious violation of cease-fire so far. He said the...

IMPHAL, March 18: Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam today said he was expecting a 'positive response' from insurgent outfits during the one-month long unilateral ceasefire declared by his government from March 1, even as a second underground organisation rejected it. Renewing his appeal to insurgents for a political dialogue, Koijam told PTI in an interview that barring a few sporadic extremist-related incidents, violence had come down comparatively during the ceasefire period in the State. "We all love Manipur. Why cannot we sit together to solve any problem? Violence will not solve...