Tag: Manipur

Supreme Court to hear on Monday pleas on Manipur violence

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court will on Monday hear a batch of pleas on the Manipur situation including one by a ruling BJP MLA challenging the high court order on the issue of Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community and a PIL by a tribal outfit for an SIT probe into the violence that rocked the northeastern state last week.
A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narashima and JB Pardiwala is scheduled to hear the matter.
The clashes between Meiteis and tribals started in Churachandpur district last Wednesday. The tribals are opposing reservation to the Meiteis following the March 27 Manipur High Court order that asked the state government to send a recommendation to the Centre within four weeks on the demand for ST status by the Meitei community.

Dinganglung Gangmei, BJP MLA and chairman of the Hills Area Committee (HAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, in his appeal contended that the “proceedings before the High Court were vitiated on account of not making the HAC a party” and the HC order created tension and led to violence between the two communities.
“Even if directions were to be given they could not have been given without notice to the HAC and hearing the HAC,” said the MLA who challenged various orders, including contempt notices, by the high court related to the issue.
He said that the HC order led to tension between both communities and violent clashes erupted across the state. “As a result of it so far 19 tribal people have been killed, various places in the states are blocked, the internet is completely shut and more people are at risk of losing their lives,” the appeal said.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal valley. Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute another 40 per cent of the population and live mostly in the hill districts.
The PIL filed by an NGO ‘Manipur Tribal Forum’, through advocate Satya Mitra, said it has moved the top court under Article 32 of the Constitution on account of the extreme situation arising out of the attacks on the tribal community in Manipur by a “dominant group”.

It alleged that “these attacks have the full support of the party in power … which supports the dominant group” and sought directions to the Centre and Manipur to evacuate Manipuri tribals who have fled their villages.
The PIL by the tribal outfit alleged that the attacks began on May 3 and several churches and hospitals were also damaged when the mobs went on a rampage, burning houses and vehicles and business establishments belonging to tribals.
It claimed that 30 tribals were killed and 132 people were injured but “neither FIR was registered nor is there any investigation taking place”.
The PIL sought directions to the Centre and the state government to deploy central forces to protect all churches and places of worship of the tribal/Christians in Manipur with immediate effect.
It urged that a team of professionals be put together to conduct an inquiry into the villages destroyed and make an assessment of the damage. It also sought payment of compensation to the victims and reconstruction of buildings including churches.
“A prayer clause has been made for the appointment of former DGP Assam (Harekrishna Deka) as the head of an SIT to investigate and prosecute and with a mandate to put together a team of his choice of police personnel and other support secretarial staff so that final reports are made expeditiously,” it said.
The appeal filed by Gangmei against the March 27 order of the Manipur High Court said that three basic errors were made in the judgement which includes directing the State to make a recommendation to the Central government to include the Meitei community as a scheduled tribe in the Presidential list.
“The second mistake is the conclusion that the issue of inclusion of the Meiteis was pending for nearly 10 years and the third mistake is in concluding that the Meiteis are tribes”, the appeal said.
The appeal said that the Meitei community is not a tribe and has never been recognised as a tribe, and is very much an advanced community though some of them may come within SC/OBC.
The appeal said that the high court passed the order on a writ petition filed by some members of Meitei communities seeking a direction to the state government to recommend to the Centre to include their community of Manipur in the scheduled tribe list of the Indian constitution as a tribe of Manipur.
The plea by the BJP MLA said there is no recommendation of the state government for inclusion of the Meitei community in the scheduled tribe list and there is no recommendation for such inclusion pending before the central government.
“Merely because the state of Manipur may have received some representation by the Meiteis does not oblige the state to do anything unless the state is convinced first, that the Meeteis/Meiteis are tribes and second, that they deserve to be in scheduled tribes list.
“No one can force the state to send such a recommendation in the absence of the state concluding that the Meeteis/Meiteis are a tribe and they deserve to be in the Scheduled Tribes list”, it said.
One more appeal has been filed by the chairman of the Hill Area Committee challenging the order dated May 3 of the High Court in which notices were issued to them in a contempt petition filed by members of the Meitei community.
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#Supreme #Court #hear #Monday #pleas #Manipur #violence
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 7, 2023
Manipur violence: AAI helps stranded passengers at Imphal airport

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New Delhi: Amid unrest in parts of Manipur, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has taken various measures to help air passengers while airlines have waived rescheduling and cancellation charges for flights to and from the capital city of Imphal.
Curfew was relaxed on Sunday in parts of Manipur which saw ethnic rioting over the last few days.
According to a civil aviation ministry official, the Airports Authority of India is coordinating with the state government to transport stranded passengers from the airport to the city under escort. A help desk has also been set up with effect from May 4.

The help desk counter is provided with an AAI LAN internet facility to print tickets as internet services are unavailable in the state, as per the official.
The official added that there were 10,531 passengers at Imphal airport and the total flight movements handled were 108 till May 6, including 50 defence movements and 6 additional flights.
Air India and IndiGo have waived fees for rescheduling/cancelling all their flights to and from Imphal from May 4 to 7.
In a release on Sunday, Air India said it operated special flights to and from Imphal on May 6 and 7. IndiGo, on Saturday, said it operated two special flights from Imphal to Kolkata.

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#Manipur #violence #AAI #helps #stranded #passengers #Imphal #airport
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 7, 2023
Tension in several Manipur districts, curfew relaxed for 3 hrs in Churachandpur

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Imphal: Even as tension prevails in several Manipur districts and the Army and central para-military forces continued their vigil in the strife-torn areas, the administration in the most volatile Churachandpur district relaxed the curfew on Sunday for three hours from 10 a.m.
Churachandpur District Magistrate Sharath Chandra Arroju in a notification said the subsequent relaxations will be reviewed and notified based on the assessment of the prevailing law and order situation.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in a tweet said: “With the law and order situation improving in Churachandpur district and after talks were held between the state government and various stakeholders, I’m pleased to share that the curfew will be partially relaxed…”

Defence release on Sunday said that “Ray of hope due to efforts of 120-125 Army and Assam Rifles columns, who are working tirelessly for the past 96 hours to rescue civilians across all communities, curb violence and restore normalcy, has emerged with no major violence being reported, and curfew, therefore being relaxed from 7-10 a.m. on Sunday in Churachandpur followed by flag march by security forces immediately thereafter”.
The past 24 hours also witnessed the Army significantly enhancing surveillance efforts through aerial surveillance through the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Army helicopters within Imphal Valley.
Over 23,000 civilians have been rescued till now and were moved to their own Army operating bases and military Garrisons, the sources said.
In the wake of the ongoing unrest in Manipur, over 2,000 men, women and children have crossed the border into Assam’s Cachar district and sheltered in seven government-sponsored camps and more than 200 people, mostly women and children took shelter in Mizoram’s Saitual and Vairengte districts.
Manipur government’s newly-appointed security advisor Kuldiep Singh, a former CRPF chief, said that at least 28 to 30 people were killed in the series of ethnic violence in different districts of Manipur.

However, local media quoting hospital sources said that at least 50 to 55 people, including women, have been killed in the attacks and counter attacks by the rival ethnic groups in at least six districts since May 3.
“Over 100 people have been injured in these attacks. More than 500 houses, along with a large number of vehicles, shops and other properties were either burnt down or damaged in these attacks since May 3,” Singh told the media in Imphal.
He said that 23 police stations in different districts have been identified as most vulnerable and the Army and Central Armed Police Forces were adequately deployed in these areas.
Flag marches by the Army and Assam Rifles are continuing in over six districts, especially in the most volatile Churachandpur district, Singh said.
In view of the prevailing unrest in Manipur, the Central government has already imposed Article 355 in the state to bring the situation under control.
Article 355 is part of emergency provisions contained in the Constitution that empowers the Centre to take all necessary steps to protect a state against internal disturbances or external aggression.
On May 3, unprecedented violent clashes, attacks and arson broke out at various places during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ called by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM) to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the ST category.
Acting on a writ petition filed by the Meetei (Meitei) Trade Union, the Manipur High Court acting Chief Justice M.V. Muralidaran on April 19 had directed the state government to submit the recommendation for inclusion of Meitei (Meetei) community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry.
The High Court order said: “The issue of inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list of the Constitution is pending for nearly ten years and above. No satisfactory explanation is forthcoming from the side of the respondent state for not submitting the recommendation for the last 10 years.
“Therefore, it would be appropriate to direct the respondent state to submit its recommendation to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs within a reasonable time,” the order said.
Meanwhile, various influential organisations, including All Manipur Christian Organisation, Global Naga Forum while saying that they would cooperate with the government to restore normalcy and urged the people to maintain peace and ethnic harmony.
Manipur Chief Minister once again urged the people to shun the path of violence.
“I appeal to everyone in Manipur to restrain from any form of violence. The state police and the para military have been given strict instructions to take action against those who create disturbances in the law and order of the state,” the Chief Minister tweeted.
In another tweet, he said : “In light of the prevailing situation in Manipur, held a meeting with the representatives of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) to highlight the crucial role of civil society organisations in bringing peace in the state at this hour.”
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#Tension #Manipur #districts #curfew #relaxed #hrs #Churachandpur
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 7, 2023
Kerala Catholic Bishops Council calls Centre to take steps to restore peace in Manipur

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Kochi: In the wake of the Manipur violence incident, the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) on Saturday issued a statement, urging the Central government to take necessary action to restore peace in the state.
“The central government should be ready to take necessary steps to restore peace in Manipur. The riots going on in Manipur for the past few days are causing a lot of concern,” KCBC’s president Cardinal Baselios Cleemis said in a statement on Saturday.
He said that it is highly condemnable that two groups of people in the state are attacking each other and setting fire to institutions, houses and places of worship.

“The Regardless of the reasons that led to this conflict, immediate action should be taken by the central government to end the conflict and loss of life,” the KCBC president said.
“The central government, which describes India as the mother of democracy, should take appropriate measures to bring peace to Manipur by taking appropriate measures to end the communal riots that have brought an end to democracy,” he added.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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#Kerala #Catholic #Bishops #Council #calls #Centre #steps #restore #peace #Manipur
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 7, 2023
Manipur relaxes curfew in Churachandpur for few hours to allow people buy essentials

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Imphal: The total curfew that prohibited the movement of any person outside their homes will be relaxed for three hours in violence-hit Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Sunday morning to allow the people to buy essential items such as medicines and food, according to a notification.
The curfew imposed under section 144 of the CrPC will be relaxed from 7 am to 10 am, it said.
It was also relaxed on Saturday for two hours from 3 pm to 5 pm.

“With the law and order situation improving in Churachandpur district and after talks were held between the state government and various stakeholders, I’m pleased to share that the curfew will be partially relaxed as per the details shared below (sic),” Chief Minister N Biren Singh tweeted on Saturday night, sharing a copy of the notification.
The curfew was imposed on May 3 after violent clashes broke out between tribals and members of the majority Meitei community, which has so far displaced thousands of people and killed at least 54.
The notification issued by Churachandpur district magistrate Sharath Chandra Arroju said, “Subsequent relaxations shall be reviewed and notified based on assessment of the prevailing law and order situation.”
The clashes broke out after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the ten hill districts of the state to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal valley. Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute another 40 percent of the population and live mostly in the hill districts.

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#Manipur #relaxes #curfew #Churachandpur #hours #people #buy #essentials
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 7, 2023
Centre denied request for flights to evacuate Mizoram residents from Manipur: Official

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Aizawl: A senior Mizoram official on Saturday claimed that the Centre has turned down the state’s request to provide flights to evacuate its residents stranded in violence-hit Manipur.
The Mizoram government has urged both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to charter flights for the stranded people hailing from the northeastern state, he said.
“The Centre turned down our request, and so has a private airline (to evacuate people of Mizoram stuck in Manipur),” the official told PTI.

The Centre is yet to make a comment on it.
Hundreds of people, mostly students, were reportedly stranded in Manipur following violent clashes between tribals and people belonging to the majority Meitei community, which has displaced thousands and resulted in the loss of lives of at least 54.
Meanwhile, Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamliana convened a meeting with officials on Saturday to review the measures being taken to evacuate people from Manipur.
He said the state government is making massive efforts to bring back its residents at the earliest.
Tickets of commercial flights have been booked for those stranded in the neighbouring state, and they are expected to return in batches, state government sources said.

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#Centre #denied #request #flights #evacuate #Mizoram #residents #Manipur #Official
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 6, 2023
Telangana to airlift its citizens from violence-hit Manipur

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Hyderabad: As the situation in Manipur reaches its peak, the state government has decided to airlift Telangana students and people currently living in the northeastern state to safety.
According to a press release, about 250 students hailing from different districts of Telangana are studying in various educational institutions in Imphal and surrounding areas.
Special flights have been arranged to facilitate the safe transit of Telangana students and natives from Imphal airport on May 7. Telangana government officials are in regular touch with Manipur state, said the press release.

Earlier in the day, Director General of Police Anjani Kumar informed that a round-the-clock helpline was set up for distressed natives of Telangana stuck in Manipur.
“Those in need of support can reach out to the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Sumathi B on 7901643283 or by email for assistance,” he tweeted from his official Twitter handle.
24 hours Helpline for Telangana citizens at Manipur
If any citizen of Telangana is stranded in Manipur,they can contact TS Helpline number, Sumathi IPS DIG 7901643283 and email dgp@tspolice.gov.in for assistance.
TS Police is coordinating with Manipur Police to provide support.
— DGP TELANGANA POLICE (@TelanganaDGP) May 6, 2023
Atleast 20 dead since May 3
At least 20 people have lost their lives in Manipur carnage since May 3, a government official said here on Saturday.
Manipur government’s newly appointed security advisor Kuldiep Singh, a former CRPF Chief, said that at least 18 to 20 people were killed in the series of ethnic violence in different districts of the state.
“Over 100 people were injured in these countless attacks. Over 500 houses, a large number of vehicles, shops and other properties were either burnt down or damaged in these attacks, arsoning, vandalisation since May 3,” Singh, a retired IPS officer, told the media in Imphal.

Violence had erupted in Torbung area in Manipur’s Churachandpur district during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ on May 3 to protest the demand of Meiteis for Scheduled Tribe(ST) status and escalated throughout the state.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of the population in Manipur and live mostly in Imphal Valley. Tribals, who include Nagas and Kukis, account for another 40 per cent of the population and live mostly in the hill districts which surround the valley.

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#Telangana #airlift #citizens #violencehit #Manipur
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 6, 2023
Special planes to airlift stranded Telangana natives in Manipur

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Hyderabad: As the situation in Manipur reaches its peak, the state government has decided to airlift Telangana students and people currently living in the northeastern state to safety.
According to a press release, about 250 students hailing from different districts of Telangana are studying in various educational institutions in Imphal and surrounding areas.
Special flights have been arranged to facilitate the safe transit of Telangana students and natives from Imphal airport on May 7. Telangana government officials are in regular touch with Manipur state, said the press release.

Earlier in the day, Director General of Police Anjani Kumar informed that a round-the-clock helpline was set up for distressed natives of Telangana stuck in Manipur.
“Those in need of support can reach out to the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Sumathi B on 7901643283 or by email for assistance,” he tweeted from his official Twitter handle.
24 hours Helpline for Telangana citizens at Manipur
If any citizen of Telangana is stranded in Manipur,they can contact TS Helpline number, Sumathi IPS DIG 7901643283 and email dgp@tspolice.gov.in for assistance.
TS Police is coordinating with Manipur Police to provide support.
— DGP TELANGANA POLICE (@TelanganaDGP) May 6, 2023
Atleast 20 dead since May 3
At least 20 people have lost their lives in Manipur carnage since May 3, a government official said here on Saturday.
Manipur government’s newly appointed security advisor Kuldiep Singh, a former CRPF Chief, said that at least 18 to 20 people were killed in the series of ethnic violence in different districts of the state.
“Over 100 people were injured in these countless attacks. Over 500 houses, a large number of vehicles, shops and other properties were either burnt down or damaged in these attacks, arsoning, vandalisation since May 3,” Singh, a retired IPS officer, told the media in Imphal.

Violence had erupted in Torbung area in Manipur’s Churachandpur district during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ on May 3 to protest the demand of Meiteis for Scheduled Tribe(ST) status and escalated throughout the state.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of the population in Manipur and live mostly in Imphal Valley. Tribals, who include Nagas and Kukis, account for another 40 per cent of the population and live mostly in the hill districts which surround the valley.

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#Special #planes #airlift #stranded #Telangana #natives #Manipur
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 6, 2023
Efforts on to evacuate Bengal people stranded in strife-torn Manipur: Mamata

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Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said efforts are underway to evacuate people of the state stranded in violence-hit Manipur.
Expressing concern over the violent clashes in the northeastern state, which have claimed the lives of 54 people, Banerjee urged Chief Secretary H K Dwivedi to monitor the situation and make efforts to evacuate the stranded people.
“Deeply anguished by the kind of messages and SOS we are receiving from Manipur. I am concerned about the safety of the people of Manipur and others hailing from different parts of the country, now stranded there,” she tweeted.

“Govt of Bengal is committed to stand by the people and has decided to make every effort to evacuate people stranded there in coordination with the government of Manipur. The chief secretary has been directed to monitor the entire process, to help people in distress and despair. We are with the people at all times. Urge everyone to maintain peace,” she added.
Banerjee also provided helpline numbers for those seeking assistance.
The total number of people from West Bengal stranded in Manipur is not currently available.
The death toll in the ethnic violence which has engulfed Manipur increased to 54, officials said even as unofficial sources placed the figure at several scores dead and more than 150 injured.
Meanwhile, life limped back to a wary normalcy in Imphal Valley as shops and markets reopened and cars started plying the roads.

Violence first erupted in Torbung area in Churachandpur district of Manipur during the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organised by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3 to protest the demand of Meiteis for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The march was organised by tribals — including Nagas and Kukis — after the Manipur High Court asked the state government last month to send a recommendation to the Centre within four weeks on the demand for ST status by the Meitei community.
During the march in Torbung, an armed mob allegedly attacked people of the Meitei community, leading to retaliatory attacks in the valley districts, which escalated the violence throughout the state, police said.
Multiple sources said the fighting between communities had left several scores of people dead and nearly a hundred injured. However, the police were unwilling to confirm this.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of the population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals, who include Nagas and Kukis, account for another 40 per cent of the population and live mostly in the hill districts which surround the valley.
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#Efforts #evacuate #Bengal #people #stranded #strifetorn #Manipur #Mamata
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 6, 2023
Drones, Army choppers pressed into service in ethnic violence-hit Manipur

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Imphal: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Army helicopters have been pressed into service for aerial surveillance in ethnic violence-hit Manipur, while the Army, Assam Rifles, and other Central paramilitary forces are on round-the-clock vigil in the trouble-torn districts.
Defence sources said that multiple rounds of aerial surveillance using Cheetah helicopters have already been conducted by the Army since Saturday morning in different parts of Manipur.
“The ongoing crisis in Manipur may create a new security dimension as insurgent groups staying in camps along the India-Myanmar border may prove detrimental to the massive efforts to restore normalcy in the state,” said a source.

The issue is being addressed pro-actively by the security forces who are leaving no stone unturned to thwart the nefarious designs, the source said.
“While Assam Rifles is enhancing its deployment on ground zero with round-the-clock vigil and border surveillance, the Army and other security forces are working in tandem to quell the present unrest in Manipur at the earliest,” the source said.
A defence spokesman said, “The Indian Air Force ferried additional Army and paramilitary troops from two airfields in Assam employing C17 Globemaster and AN 32 aircraft. Evacuation of civilians of all communities from the affected areas is going on.”
According to a top official, at least 20 people have died in Manipur since May 3, while the local media and unconfirmed reports put the toll at 50-55, including women.
Manipur government’s newly-appointed security advisor Kuldiep Singh, a former CRPF chief, said that at least 18 to 20 people were killed in the series of ethnic violence in different districts of Manipur.

However, local media quoting hospital sources said that at least 50 to 55 people, including women, have been killed in the attacks and counter-attacks by the rival ethnic groups in at least six districts since May 3.
“Over 100 people have been injured in these attacks. More than 500 houses, along with a large number of vehicles, shops and other properties were either burnt down or damaged in these attacks since May 3,” Singh told the media in Imphal on Saturday.
He said that 23 police stations in different districts have been identified as most vulnerable and the Army and Central Armed Police Forces were adequately deployed in these areas.
Flag marches by the Army and Assam Rifles are continuing in more than six districts, especially in the most volatile Churachandpur district, Singh said.
In view of the prevailing unrest in Manipur, the Central government has already imposed Article 355 in the state to bring the situation under control.
Article 355 is part of emergency provisions contained in the Constitution that empowers the Centre to take all necessary steps to protect a state against internal disturbances or external aggression.
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#Drones #Army #choppers #pressed #service #ethnic #violencehit #Manipur
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 6, 2023