Category: MANIPUR

• IMPHAL

The Manipur government on Monday constituted an one man Inquiry Commission to probe the killing of Indian Army soldier Serto Thangthang Kom, who was home on leave.

At least 10 people, including a security force personnel, were injured during a clash between a mob and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) while security forces have recovered four looted arms and 138 different types of ammunition from Imphal East district on Sunday, officials said.

Police officials said that three armed men abducted Serto Thangthang Kom, 49, of the Defence Service Corps (DSC), from his house at Tarung, Happy Valley in Imphal West district, at gunpoint on Saturday. 

A combined team of Central and state security forces on Saturday recovered 15 weapons including 14 improvised mortars, one single barrel gun and other war-like stores at Khodang village in Manipur’s Churachandpur district.

In a fresh move, 23 MLAs of the BJP-led government in Manipur have signed a resolution expressing their pledge to protect the territorial integrity of the state. They will also go to Delhi soon to urge the Centre to maintain the existing territorial boundary of the ethnic violence ravaged state.

Around 4,800 houses have been burnt and destroyed in Manipur during the ethnic violence, which so far killed over 170 people and injured more than 700 besides displacing over 70,000 people of different communities. 

“I thus request my fellow legislators to come back to the state and work unitedly for a peaceful and prosperous Manipur or resign from their respective posts honourably and continue with their demand and contest from some other state,” he said.

The Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has taken up a suo-moto case against the recent "forced shifting" of Kuki families from Imphal, reportedly by the state authorities, and issued a notice to the state government on this count.

Over 30 protestors, including women, were injured in a clash with the security forces, who also fired several rounds of teargas shells to disperse the thousands of men and women who tried to break security barricades at Phougakchao Ikhai in Manipur's Bishnupur district on Wednesday, officials said.

Apprehending serious law and order problems, the Manipur government has cancelled curfew relaxations in Meitei-dominated five valley districts on Wednesday and massive security measures put in place in view of the protest march called by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI).

A day after the police registered an FIR against four members of Editors Guild of India (EGI), Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Monday said that the EGI report on Manipur ethnic conflict is "biased and factually inaccurate".

Normalcy would be restored in Manipur when the two groups, instead of clashing, initiate talks and the internally displaced persons return to their place of origin, a senior former Indian Army officer from the state said on Sunday.

The officials of the Social Welfare Department, who compiled data on children staying in different relief camps, said that out of around 12,700 children, 100 are severely traumatised needing professional counselling.

Former Deputy National Security Adviser D. D. Padsalgikar, who was appointed by the Supreme Court to monitor and supervise cases handed over to CBI and those of SITs, met Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey and apprised her of the current crisis in the state.

The five slain people included L.S Mangboi Lhungdim, 50, who composed the song "I Gam Hilou Ham (Is this not our land?)" after the ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3. His songs became a rallying cry for tribal unity.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) on Thursday said that disregarding repeated calls by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to maintain peace, armed assailants continue to attack the tribal areas in Manipur, killing four people during the past three days.

Two days after the visit of Lt. Gen. R.P. Kalita, Chief of the Indian Army's Eastern Command, Lt. Gen. H.S. Sahi, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Spear Corps, visited the Red Shield Division of the Army in Manipur, defence sources said on Wednesday.

A police officer said that combined search operations continued in vulnerable areas of Kangpokpi, Thoubal, Churachandpur and Imphal West districts to recover looted arms and ammunition. 

Two persons, including a village defence volunteer (VDV), were killed while seven others were injured in heavy firing between two rival groups at Narainsena in Bishnupur district on Tuesday, the police said.

In another incident, media reports quoting the police said that unidentified attackers snatched three weapons from the security personnel guarding the residence of former Health Director K. Rajo on Sunday at Sagolband Bijoy Govinda in Imphal West district.

10 tribal MLAs, including two ministers, who have been demanding separate administrations for tribals in Manipur, will boycott the Assembly session commencing August 29 citing security reasons.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Wednesday said that prefabricated houses are being constructed to rehabilitate displaced people temporarily  while the permanent structures would be built at the original places for those affected by the violence in the state.

Blockade on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) continued for the second day on Tuesday, while the security forces provided security cover to facilitate the movement of vehicles along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37).

The state cabinet earlier on August 4 had made a similar recommendation to Governor to convene the 4th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 21 but the Governor did not summon the session.

United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of the Nagas in Manipur, on Monday objected to the demand of a Kuki organisation for the creation of the posts of Chief Secretary and Director General of Police or equivalents in the Kuki areas.