Tag: Manipur

Night curfew imposed in Manipur dists amid violence

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Imphal: The situation in the trouble-torn Churachandpur district in Manipur remained tense on Saturday, with miscreants setting afire a government building.
The district administration imposed a night curfew from Saturday in the mountainous district, where the agitators also set ablaze an open gym, chairs and damaged other materials on Thursday night.
Police said that since Friday night, some incidents of violence have also been reported in the tribal-dominated Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts.

The incidents of violence were triggered after the tribals launched fresh protests against the state government’s action against the illegal poppy cultivators and destroying poppy fields in the forest land, especially in the reserve and protected forests in the hilly areas.
Director General of Manipur Police P. Doungel and senior officials on Saturday visited Churachandpur district and reviewed the situation.
Police said that some agitators set afire the office building of the Forest Range Officer in the Tuibong area around Friday midnight, and several fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames.
Churachandpur district administration on Saturday imposed the night curfew for an indefinite period from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m.
A police officer in Imphal said that the situation is still grim though heavy security measures have been taken to prevent fresh incidents of violence.

Veteran Congress leader and three-time former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and state Congress president K. Meghachandra Singh criticised the BJP government and Chief Minister for the “wrong policy in dealing with the tribals and forest lands”.
After Thursday’s incidents of violence, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh cancelled his Friday’s visit to Churachandpur district.
Biren Singh was scheduled to address a public gathering at Sadbhavna Mandap in New Lamka Town in Churachandpur on Friday and inaugurate an open gym at PT Sports complex.
Saying that his government is committed to protecting people from the drug menace, the Chief Minister on Saturday reiterated that poppy cultivation in the state would be completely wiped out.
The BJP government in the state would not allow poppy cultivation and has been taking continued actions against those involved in such plantations, he told the media.
Vandalisation occurred and clashes erupted between demonstrators and police at Sadbhavna Mandap on Thursday night, leading security forces to lob tear gas shells to disperse a large crowd of local tribals, who also pelted stones at security forces deployed to keep the peace in the bandh-hit town.
There was no major injury on either side.
Police claimed that the Myanmarese, who illegally entered into the state, were also involved in the arson incident.
Biren Singh said in Imphal that police would take stern action against the trouble makers.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) has called for an eight-hour shutdown in Churachandpur district on Friday from 8 a.m. to protest the state government’s eviction drive from the protected and reserve forests.
The ITLF in a statement said that they had submitted several memoranda to the state government expressing their grievances and apprehensions about the survey carried out by the government pertaining to reserve forests and protected forest, wetlands and wildlife, and the eviction of villagers.
In support of their demands, tribals organised protest rallies on March 10, against the state government in three districts — Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal, in which five people were injured in those incidents.
The protests were organised against the state government’s crackdown on poppy cultivation and encroachment of forest land.
The state government earlier this month demolished three churches in Manipur, claiming that the churches were “illegal constructions”.
The hilly and forested Churachandpur district in southern Manipur, which borders Myanmar and Mizoram, is home to various Kuki-Chin militant groups.
The Centre and the Manipur government signed the tripartite agreement and Suspension of Operation with the three militant outfits on August 22, 2008.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 29, 2023
Manipur: CM defers plan to visit Churachandpur after venue set on fire

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Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s plans to visit Churachandpur district on Friday has been deferred after the local legislator who had invited him decided to postpone the function in view of the tension which has gripped the district following protests and arson in New Lamka town over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest areas.
An unruly mob on Thursday night vandalised and set on fire the venue where the CM was scheduled to attend a programme at New Lamka town on Friday.
The mob also partially torched the newly set-up open gym at PT Sports complex at New Lamka which the CM was slated to inaugurate on Friday afternoon, police said.

“The local MLA had invited me to a celebration and to inaugurate the open gym,” the CM told reporters on the sidelines of an agriculture department function here.
“LM Khaute, MLA from Churachandpur constituency has requested me not to come now and said the open gym will be repaired soon,” Singh said.
Singh also questioned the “indigenousness” of the organisation Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) who called an 8-hour shutdown and said “What indigenous people. We are indigenous people. Nagas are indigenous people. Kukis are indigenous people. What indigenous tribal?”
Meanwhile, prohibitory order has been clamped and mobile internet services have been suspended in Churachandpur district.
The District Magistrate of Churachandpur based on a report from the Superintendent of Police that there is a likelihood of breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquillity and grave danger to human lives and public properties clamped prohibitory order under Section 144 of CrPC in the tribal-dominated district.

An order issued by the Home department “said to prevent any disturbance to the peace and order the suspension of mobile internet services shall be in force for the next five days with immediate effect in Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts.”
The 8-hour shutdown of Churachandpur district called by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ILTF) to protest the eviction of Kuki villagers from protected forests paralysed normal life in the tribal-dominated southern Manipur district on Friday.
The district headquarter, New Lamka town, where Chief Minister N Biren Singh was earlier scheduled to attend a programme, wore a deserted look as all private and public vehicles kept off the road except for those of security personnel.
Markets were closed with all shops and establishments pulling down their shutters, police said.
Protesters were seen blocking roads and burning tyres in the morning. They had also piled up debris at the entrance gate of the New Lamka town but this was later cleared by police teams.
So far, no report of any violence has been reported from anywhere in the tribal-dominated district, police said.
A huge police force has been deployed at all major junctions and large localities of the town to prevent any unwanted activities, an official said.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 28, 2023
3rd Manipur BJP legislator quits govt post in a week

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Imphal: Amidst continuing resentment among section of BJP MLAs against Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, P. Brojen Singh on Thursday became the third ruling party legislator has quit his government post, resigning as Chairman of the Manipur Development Society.
In his resignation letter to the Chief Minister, he said that he has stepped down on “epersonal grounds”.
Brojen Singh represents the Wangjing Tentha Assembly constituency in Thoubal district.

Earlier, BJP MLAs Thokchom Radheysham and Karam Shyam quit as Chief Minister’s advisor and the Chairman of the Manipur State Tourism Development Corporation on April 17 and April 13 respectively. Both had served as ministers in the first Biren Singh led government (2017-2022).
All the three MLAs claimed that they were not given due responsibility, funds and authority to function in their posts.
In a video clip, Shyam said: “A leader should be committed and sincere instead of threatening the followers. If such threats occurred frequently then an eruption of a revolt among the followers is a must… Manipur is becoming a corruption-free state but, in corruption, only the giver and the takers will know.”
Political and informed sources said that some more discontented BJP MLAs are likely to quit their respective government posts and are now lobbying with the central party leadership seeking their intervention in the affairs of Manipur.
The aggrieved legislators include a few Kuki MLAs, who are reportedly unhappy with an eviction drive targeting the community.

“Chief Minister N. Biren Singh is likely to go to New Delhi in a day or two for a possible reconciliation with the disgruntled BJP legislators with the intervention of the central leaders,” said a party leader, refusing to be named.
The Chief Minister is yet to respond to the political developments.
Winning 32 seats in the 60-member Assembly, the BJP government retained power for a second consecutive term in the last year polls. Various other parties are supporting the BJP government too.
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#3rd #Manipur #BJP #legislator #quits #govt #post #week
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 20, 2023
Refused extra time, students appearing for class 12 boards vandalise Manipur school

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Imphal: Class 12 students appearing for the state board examinations vandalised a school building in Manipur’s Thoubal district on Saturday after they were refused extra time for the Manipuri paper, officials said.
The incident happened ACME Higher Secondary School in Yairipok.
When five minutes were left for the Manipuri paper of the examination, being conducted by the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM), students started demanding that they be given extra time, an official said.
“As the bell rang, several students resorted to violence, demanding extra time over various reasons. Stones were hurled and school property, including computers and furniture, were vandalised,” he said.
A female teacher and 15 students fainted amid the chaos, he said, adding that they were taken to the community health centre for treatment.
A total of 405 students were appearing for the examination at the centre.
A police complaint has been lodged against eight students, who were “actively involved” in the violence.

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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 25, 2023
BJP leader shot dead in Manipur; prime accused surrenders

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Imphal: A BJP leader was shot dead in Manipur’s Thoubal district on Tuesday, following which the prime accused surrendered before the police while another person was arrested, a senior officer said.
Laishram Rameshwor Singh, the convenor of ex-servicemen cell of the saffron party’s state unit, was murdered near the gates of his residence in Kshetri Leikai area in the morning, Thoubal Superintendent of Police Haobijam Jogeshchandra said.
Two people came in a car without a registration number and shot at Singh from a close range around 11 am, he said.
The 50-year-old man received a bullet injury on his chest and was taken to a private hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Hours after the incident, the man driving the vehicle, identified as Naorem Ricky Pointing Singh, was arrested, Jogeshchandra told reporters.
The driver, who hails from Keinou in Bishnupur district, was apprehended in Haobam Marak area in Imphal West district.
Police launched a massive manhunt for the prime accused, identified as 46-year-old Ayekpam Keshorjit, and appealed to him to surrender, while warning people against providing him with shelter.
Sometime after that, the prime accused surrendered before the police at Commando Complex in Imphal West district. He hails from Haobam Marak.

A .32 caliber licensed pistol, two magazines and nine cartridges were seized from his possession.
An empty case of .32 caliber bullet was also seized from the spot, he said.
Naorem Ricky Pointing Singh was driving the vehicle while Ayekpam Keshorjit opened fire on the BJP leader, the SP said.
On being asked about the motive behind the murder, he said that further investigation is underway.
BJP state unit vice president Ch Chidananda Singh told PTI, “We strongly condemn this cowardly act… Stringent action should be taken against the culprits.”
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 24, 2023