Politics / Manipur

IMPHAL, February 1: The United Front (UF) legislature group, in a meeting presided by the Chief Minister, W Nipamacha Singh, at the Chief Minister's conference hall, this afternoon minutely discussed the political tussle in Manipur that have been kicking up quite a lot of dust since November 15 last and the present political situation, according to a reliable source from the CM's secretariat. The meeting, in particular, discussed ways and means to ensure that the present 35 legislators of the United Front alliance remain cohesive. It also discussed the differences reported within the Manipur...

IMPHAL, January 31: Relations between the Manipur State Congress Party President, chief minister W Nipamacha, and its working president, Union minister of state T Chaoba, are reported to be deteriorating further, even as the Election Commission of India has issued instructions for holding elections to the MSCP central committee before the month of April. According to informed sources within the MSCP, during several meetings held at the chief minister's bungalow, several party leaders have voiced doubt over the role played by T Chaoba in the ongoing political tussle between the Ruling and...

IMPHAL, January 30: As part of the commitment given in the 26 point action plan by the Chief Minister to the union Home Minister, Important government offices are now guarded by the CRPF personnel, according to a senior police officer who was talking to this newspaper. CRPF personnel from other districts are being despatched to Imphal to guard the remaining offices. It is stated that after the deployment of CRPF personnel at the major government offices, unauthorised persons are not allowed to enter the offices. Even the bonafide employees who do not produce their identity cards or the...

IMPHAL, January 30: The fast-unto-death of 28-year-old Manipur girl Irom Sharmila against the infamous Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 entered the 87th day on Tuesday. Sharmila launched her agitation on November 5 last year demanding immediate removal of black laws from Manipur. The strike was a consequence of the killing of 10 innocent civilians including a national bravery awardee by the personnel of 8 Assam Rifles on November 2 last year. She is currently continuing her agitation inside the security ward of JN Hospital, Porompat in Imphal East district. Earlier, she was detained at...

IMPHAL, January 28: At least five foreign nationals including a couple from Switzerland and three Australians including a lady were detained by the State police this afternoon as soon as they arrived at the Imphal airport for violating the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and Protected Area Permit (PAP) regulations. According to official sources, the Swiss couple who were reported to be bhaktas (devotees) of ISKCON were first detained by the police for not possessing the RAP or PAP to enter the state. The police officer on duty in Imphal airport contacted the ISKCON authorities in Imphal this...

NEW DELHI, January 28: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a show-cause notice to 32 Rashtriya Rifles regiment posted at Pangiawal in Manipur in a case of murder of a Kuki tribal in Northeast asking why a compensation of Rs one lakh be not given as interim relief to the victim, reports PTI. NHRC, which received a complaint from Kuki Movement for Human Rights, Manipur, against the Army's 32 Rashtriya Rifles posted at Churchandpur camp, for murderingone Haosinglhun Changsan, in its recent order gave four weeks time to the Army officials to respond. The Commission had earlier...

IMPHAL, January 27: The tension on the Manipur-Nagaland border on account of some land dispute has subsided, according to Mao MLA M Thori. Speaking to IFP, Thorii also refuted the reports that residents of some villages had fled their homes because of a threat from across the border. He also asserted that any such threats would have no effect, adding that Manipur's territory will be defended by Manipuris. Thorii recalled that after villagers from the Manipur side of the border dismantled the rest house built in the Dzuko area by the Japhii Angami Public Organization, Nagaland residents...

IMPHAL, January 27: The family members of Ningthoujam Sanjoy Singh who was found shot dead with another alleged member of PREPAK at Guwahati on January 24, has alleged that Sanjoy was innocent and was killed in custody. The alleged PREPAK man is identified as B Jasobanta of Wangjing. Family members said Sanjoy (23) son of Surendrakumar of Wahengbam Leikai was staying at a rented house near Roop Nagar and was waiting to pursue a computer course. Iterating that the youth is innocent, family members said that Sanjoy was picked up from his rented room in the adjoining night of January 22 and 23 by...

IMPHAL, January 27: The reconvening of the postponed session of the 7th State Assembly remains uncertain despite Governor Ved Marwa's intimation to the Assembly Secretariat to convene the House within February 6. Assembly Secretariat sources said that the Secretariat has already submitted a proposal to Speaker S Dhananjoy for convening the House. However, there has not been any notification or intimation from the Speaker's side on the matter, the source said. In the meantime, reliable sources said that S Dhananjoy will be leaving the State capital for Chandigarh tomorrow to attend the...

IMPHAL, January 27: The State Samata Party president and sitting member of the 7th Manipur Legislative Assembly representing Kshetrigao Assembly constituency, Basantakumar Wangkhem, expired yesterday at a hospital in New Delhi following a heart attack. He was 52. The body of the deceased leader was brought from Delhi to Imphal today and arrived at the Imphal airport this afternoon at 1:45. It was received at the airport by the party leaders including legislators, party workers and well wishers especially from his constituency and members of his family and brought to the party office at BT Road...