Politics / Manipur

IMPHAL, July 25: The CRPF authorities have instituted a court of inquiry to investigate the alleged rape and molestation incidents of July 19 at Lamdan Rongmei village in Bishnupur district involving the personnel of the 112 Bn CRPF posted at Lamdan. A press statement issued by the Commandant (Admn) M&N Sector, CRPF said that the Director General of Police, Manipur DS Grewal had already been requested to make arrangements to get the blood, DNA and semen tests of the alleged rapists, the victim and the husband of the victim conducted. They have also requested the state Police department to come...

IMPHAL, July 25: The entire Opposition staged a walkout in the state Assembly today during the morning session after the Speaker, S Dhananjoy Singh disallowed both a privilege motion and a point of order raised by Nimaichand Luwang of the Congress. The House passed forty-seven advance demands for excess grants for the financial year of 1994-95, 1995-96 and 1996-97 in the absence of the Opposition members following the walkout. The breach of privilege motion, raised by Nimaichand under rules of procedure and conduct of business, rule no. 78(l), was in connection with the detention of MPP MLA O...

IMPHAL, July 24: A court of inquiry has been ordered by the CRPF authorities to investigate into the allegation of rape of a woman by two CRPF personnel at Lamdan village on July 19 last according to an official source. The source said the Director General of Police, Manipur has already been requested by the CRPF authorities to arrange to get DNA test conducted of the blood and semen of the victim, her husband and the alleged rapists. The sources further said the police authorities have also been requested by the CRPF to visit the latter's headquarters at Loktak to carry out necessary...

IMPHAL, July 24: State authorities are still in the dark about whereabouts of four persons from Manipur, who had been allegedly convicted to 70 years imprisonment by Myanmar authorities on smuggling charges. The Myanmar security forces arrested the four persons on April 24, 1995 near Tamu. 12 gallons of illegal acid-like substances were seized from them. A Myanmarese court after finding them guilty under the provisions of the Myanmar Narcotic Act had sentenced them to 70 years of imprisonment. However, the term was reduced to 10 years after they filed a petition challenging the conviction...

IMPHAL, July 23: Many women's voluntary organisations operating in this trouble-torn state have strongly condemned the "barbaric acts" committed by the personnel of the 112 Bn CRPF at Lamdan village in Bishnupur district on Wednesday evening. Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur has expressed serious concern over the rape and molestation of a Lamdan housewife in front of their family members and urged the concerned authority to take up stringent action against the involved personnel without delay in the interest of the women community in the state. Condemning the act, the president of...

IMPHAL, July 23: The Speaker of the Manipur Assembly, Sapam Dhananjoy Singh, on Saturday reserved his decision on the disqualification of nine ruling MLAs after hearing their versions. The much-awaited hearing of the disqualification case of the nine MLAs was held in the office chamber of the Speaker on Saturday morning. The hearing began at exactly 10.10 am and concluded at 11.58 am. The office chamber of the Speaker was reportedly modified so as to make it look like a courtroom. In view of the hearing, tight security arrangements were also made in and around the Assembly complex during the...

IMPHAL, July 23: The ruling, opposition and all sections of people are keeping their finger crossed, wishing for the best relating to the disqualification hearing. It had all the trappings of a suspense film that the Speaker is taking his time before passing the verdict. It is understandable since one wrong step will land him in the constitutional death trap. But the ruling and opposition parties have bared their fangs. The MPP MLA, O Joy said that there will be a 'political magic' ll go to a court of law. On the other hand Chief Minister, W Nipamacha was very cautious while making any comment...

IMPHAL, July 22: Manipur Assembly Speaker Sapamdhananjoy Singh today reserved his decision on the disqualification of nine ruling members after hearing their versions. Singh said he had heard all the nine MLAs today and added that his decision would be announced on a later date. The nine MLAs were K Tomba, S Chandra, L Jatra, Onjamang Haokip, Md Alaudin, Thangminlen Kipgen, C Doungel, V Hangkhanpao and M Zatawn. Assembly secretariat sources said the nine MLAs who were elected on different party tickets joined ruling United Front and later merged with the major ruling partner, Manipur state...

IMPHAL, July 20: The central committee of the banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has clarified that the unfortunate incident on June 25 at Leingangpokpi near Jiribam divisional headquarters occurred while its armies were lying in wait to ambush a team of Indian armed force. The banned UNLF has issued a press clarification in this regard. In the statement, the central committee said the UNLF received information that a group of Indian Armymen in civil dress was coming towards Jiribam in a Tata Sumo on that day. Following the information, a group of its armed cadres were waiting at...

IMPHAL, July 20: In the aftermath of Tuesday morning's ambush on a CRPF patrol party near Lamdan village under Loktak police station, in which four jawans were killed, several residents of Lamdan were tortured and a housewife was raped by CRPF personnel intent on revenge yesterday, the village authorities have allleged. Apart from the rape, two women of the village, a mother and a daughter, were also badly molested, they charged. According to a press statement issued by the chairman of the Lamdan village authority, yesterday evening at around 5:30 pm a group of CRPF personnel, led by assistant...