Politics / Manipur

Imphal, Jan. 24: The Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) today issued a no-trust notice to Manipur Speaker T.N. Haokip on the basis of allegations by the prime suspect in the Lungnila Elizabeth murder case that he was among the conspirators in the killing of the eight-year-old girl.

James Kuki alias Letsei Haokip, the suspect captured by the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) from Dimapur this month, had alleged that the Speaker, PWD minister Gaikhangam and tribal development minister Ngamthang Haokip were involved in the murder of Elizabeth, daughter of taxation minister Francis Ngajokpa. He had allegedly...

Imphal, Jan. 18: The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) today came in for praise from a banned militant group of Manipur for capturing the person suspected to have masterminded the abduction and murder of minister Francis Ngajokpa?s daughter Lungnila Elizabeth.

The United National Liberation Front (UNLF), which recently handed over one of the suspects in the case to representatives of women?s groups, said the NSCN (I-M) deserved plaudits for doing what Manipur police could not.

The NSCN (I-M) announced last week that the alleged mastermind, James Kuki alias Letsei Haokip, was...

Jan. 16: A student organisation today took up cudgels on behalf of the Kuki tribesman who stands accused of masterminding the murder of Lunglina Elizabeth, saying he has been framed to malign the image of the community. The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) captured James Kuki, alias Letsail Haokip, in Dimapur on Tuesday, but has refused to hand him over to Manipur police.

Portraying James as a victim of circumstances, the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) said he deserved a ?fair trial? instead of the agony of staying in militant custody.

?We have a strong feeling that the...

Imphal, Jan. 15: The banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) of Manipur has decided to put one of its members in front of a firing squad tomorrow for molesting a teenaged girl and assaulting her two younger brothers.

The UNLF, whose vigilantism ensures it remains in the headlines, today issued a statement declaring Maibam Khuman Ngamba guilty of tarnishing the organisation?s name and eroding the people?s faith in the ?revolutionary movement?.

The chairman of the outfit?s ?military affairs committee?, Sana Yaima, said a three-member firing squad would carry out the execution at 4 pm...

Imphal, Dec. 31: Nine more ministers today joined chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh?s camp to prevent ?disloyal? ruling members from crossing over to the Opposition alliance. After spending more than a week in a Calcutta hotel, the nine ministers arrived here today and were immediately whisked away to the chief minister?s official residence where he had set up camp.

Speaker T.N. Haokip, who was also away for the same period, came back to Imphal by the same flight from Calcutta along with the ministers. The chief minister had not only sent a team to pick up his flock, but also made sure that...

Imphal, Dec. 30: Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh last night herded key members of the ruling alliance into his official residence here in a bid to shield them from the prying eyes of the BJP-led Democratic People?s Alliance (DPA). A confidant of the chief minister today confirmed the development, indicating that he was feeling the heat of the Opposition campaign.

Two weeks ago, Ibobi Singh shunted 10 ministers perceived to be disloyal to him out of the state. The majority of these leaders are still holed up in a Calcutta hotel, though the chief minister denies having banished any of...

IMPHAL, Dec 23: Normal life was affected in Manipur today due to 12-hour general strike called by the separatist Manipur People?s Liberation Front in solidarity with the ULFA, NDFB and KLO whose camps in Bhutan were busted. Markets, shops and business establishments were closed and people preferred to remain indoors. Attendance in both Central and State government offices was almost nil, official reports said, adding that transporters also cancelled long-distance services. Police and para-military forces had been deployed in all sensitive points and patrolling intensified in various places...

IMPHAL, Dec 22?To avoid any toppling game plan hatched by the Opposition Democratic People?s Alliance(DPA), Chief Minister O Ibobi has acted swiftly and literally put ten Ministers, who are suspected to have sent feelers to the Opposition camp, under ?lock? at an undisclosed hotel in Kolkata cutting off all contacts with the outside world. Amidst this new development, the DPA under the BJP is leaving no stones unturned to topple the Congress led SPF Government before the anti-defection Bill passed by Parliament becomes a law.

Sensing the new political developments in Manipur, the states...

Imphal, December 21: The Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak today said the sovereign Bhutan rather than supporting the movement to restore the lost sovereignty of the region is standing against the people of the north east people whose rights had been taken away. It is a game for the government of India but it will read to conflicts amongst kinsmen it further said. Prepak wants to have good relations with Bhutanese but it condemned the puppet Jigme Wangchuk government. It condemned in the highest terms the killing of those who are in their custody. It clarified that the offer to go back...

Imphal, Dec. 21: As many as 10 Manipur ministers suspected to be disloyal to chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh have been temporarily banished from the state to prevent the BJP-led Opposition from staging a coup with their help. Jolted by the Democratic People?s Alliance (DPA)?s invitation to disgruntled members of the ruling coalition to join the oust-Ibobi campaign, the chief minister put seven ministers on a Calcutta-bound flight on Friday. Two more ministers joined them in the Bengal capital the next day.

The exodus continued today with another minister of cabinet rank, a known Ibobi baiter...