News Analysis India

Tag: Manipur

  • Tribal body opposes burial of academician who died of COVID in Manipur

    By PTI
    IMPHAL: A tribal body in Manipur opposed the burial of academician Nehginpao Kipgen who died of COVID- 19, stating that he was not “indigenous” to the state.

    Nehginpao, 46, headed the Centre of South East Asian Studies at OP Jindal University in Hyderabad.

    He died on May 2 at AIIMS-Delhi while undergoing treatment for COVID-19.

    In a statement, the United Naga Council (UNC) demanded the “legal ground” for the burial of Nehginpao at Kangpokpi.

    It said that the “burial of a foreigner” will set a bad precedent, while also questioning how he got Indian citizenship.

    Even though Nehginpao was born at Teijang village in Myanmar, he grew up in Manipur, the Thadou Students’ Association argued.

    His wife is from Churachandpur and his relatives are from Kangpokpi.

    He did his schooling in Manipur, and taught in different parts of India, it said.

    Nehginpao is of the Kuki community.

    The Thadous are part of the Kuki-Chin community, which is settled in this area for nearly two centuries even as kinsmen are still found in Myanmar that borders the state.

    The Kangpokpi district administration had allowed the vehicle carrying Nehginpao’s body to stop for 30 minutes for people to pay homage before it was laid to rest at the Leikot area of the district on May 5.

  • Woman flies to Manipur with fake COVID-19 negative report, found to be positive

    By Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: A 21-year-old woman in Manipur has been fined Rs 2,000 for travelling with a fake COVID-19 negative test report.

    Wangkhem Rabina Devi of Papal Mayai Leikai in Thoubal had travelled from Hyderabad to Imphal via Kolkata on April 22 by an IndiGo flight.

    That she was carrying a fake COVID-19 negative test report was detected during verification of documents at the Imphal airport. An investigation revealed she had tested positive for the disease on April 21.

    Thoubal District Magistrate N Bandana Devi said in a statement that the woman was slapped with a fine of Rs 2,000 for violating the Manipur Epidemic Diseases (Enforcement of COVID-19 Guidelines) Regulation, 2020. The statement said such an irresponsible act has the potential to spread infection to co-passengers and other contacts.

    The woman was directed to execute a bond with sureties for good behaviour for six months under Section 110 of the CrPC, 1973 as and when she recovers and is medically fit to appear before the Executive Magistrate.

    The Manipur government has made it mandatory for all persons entering the state, by air and land, to produce a negative report of a COVID-19 RT-PCR/TrueNat/CB-NAAT test conducted within 72 hours from arrival.

    Meanwhile, the COVID situation in the state is getting worse. Five people, including a woman, died while 146 others tested positive in the state on Monday. This was the state’s worst single day fatality count ever since the outbreak of the pandemic last year.

  • Manipur makes it mandatory for people entering the state to produce COVID-19 negative report

    By PTI
    IMPHAL: The Manipur government has issued an order making it mandatory for all persons entering the state to produce a negative COVID-19 test report, an official said on Friday.

    The official said the order shall become effective from April 18.

    The order issued by Deputy Secretary, Health department, Soiminlian Lengen on Thursday said that “All persons entering Manipur, whether by air or by road, and irrespective of place of origin, shall be allowed entry only on mandatory production of a negative RT-PCR/TrueNat/CB-NAAT COVID-19 test report taking within 72 hours from arrival in Manipur.”

    The order further said that all Army and Central Armed Police Forces units are instructed to arrange for COVID-19 testing of their personnel entering Manipur.

    Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police and Nodal Officer COVID-19 of Manipur Police, Elangbam Priyokumar Singh in a press release said 284 people were fined on Thursday for not wearing face masks in public places, spitting in public and violating the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the state government.

    He said the police collected Rs Rs 45,350 as fine from the 284 people for violating COVID-19 guidelines in the state.

    Manipur on Thursday reported 18 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the tally in the state to 29,579.

    The state now has 141 active COVID-19 cases.

  • Manipur’s politicians aiding drug lords? Rights panel registers case after BJP MLA claims nexus

    By Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: The Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has registered a case suo motu in connection with BJP MLA Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei’s claim that even as the state government is waging a war against drugs, some MLAs, Ministers and police personnel are supporting the drug lords.

    Meetei, who is also the deputy chairperson of State Planning Board, had made the remarks at a public function recently. The MHRC took up the suo motu proceeding based on media reports.

    “…On perusal of the news reports, this Commission is of the view that the allegation levelled by a sitting MLA…is very serious in nature and therefore, the matter deserves the intervention of this Commission. It is noteworthy that menace of drug may have devastating human rights violation consequences and undermines the right to health and privacy…” the MHRD wrote in its order. 

    The Commission ordered the state’s Special Secretary (Home) and the Director General of Police to examine the contents of the news reports and make necessary inquiry/investigation before submitting a report to it on or before May 5. 

    Earlier, the Congress had slammed the state’s BJP-led government over its “hypocrisy” on the war against drugs.

    “BJP MLA’s sincere revelation of the truth…needs to be seriously looked into. Who are the Ministers, MLAs and police officers who are involved in drugs crimes?” the Congress had asked. 

    The party further asked the government why it was not transferring all drugs-related cases of crime to the Central Bureau of Investigation or the National Investigation Agency. 

  • Don’t provide food or shelter to fleeing Myanmar nationals: Manipur government tells DMs

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: The Manipur government has directed the Deputy Commissioners (District Magistrates) of five districts to not open any camps to provide food and shelter to people fleeing coup-hit Myanmar.Manipur’s Special Secretary (Home), H Gyan Prakash issued the directives in a “confidential” memo to the DMs of Chandel, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Ukhrul and Churachandpur, all of which share a border with Myanmar.“As the fallout of the events taking place in…Myanmar, it is reported that the country’s nationals have been trying to enter India through the border states, including Manipur. In this regard, I am directed to request you to kindly take the following actions,” the memo reads.The DMs have been directed that people trying to enter/seek refuge in Manipur should be politely turned away but in case of grievous injuries, medical attention may be provided on humanitarian consideration.“Aadhar enrolment should be stopped immediately and Aadhar enrolment kits taken into safe custody. A report on action taken may kindly be submitted by 30/03/2021,” the memo reads.Apart from Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh share a border with Myanmar. Over 500 nationals of the neighbouring country have already made their way into Mizoram.Recently, the Mizoram government had written to the Centre, requesting it to view the Myanmar refugee crisis on humanitarian grounds and allow the fleeing people to enter India. But the Centre has directed the Assam Rifles to thwart influx from Myanmar.India shares a 1,643 km land border with Myanmar. People from Myanmar’s Chin community and the Mizos in India belong to the Zo ethnic group and they share the same ancestry. The Chin people are settled in Myanmar’s Chin State, which shares a 404 km porous border with Mizoram.

  • Another bomb found near Assam Rifles transit camp in Manipur

    By PTI
    IMPHAL: A bomb was found near a transit camp of the Assam Rifles (AR) in Manipur’s Imphal East district on Friday, police said.

    The bomb squad of Manipur Police safely removed the bomb from the spot and defused it.

    It is suspected that a proscribed insurgent outfit, People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) Progressive Group, planted the bomb.

    The explosive was discovered two days after an AR jawan was injured while trying to defuse another bomb planted near the transit camp.

    PREPAK(Progressive) had claimed responsibility for planting it.

    The organisation is against the ‘homecoming ceremony’ in which 20 militants belonging to various banned outfits surrendered and laid down their weapons before Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday.

  • Rs 1,581 crore loan given to 3 lakh beneficiaries in Manipur under PM Mudra Yojna: Ramdas Athawale

    By PTI
    IMPHAL: Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday said that loans amounting to Rs 1,582.57 crore have been disbursed to 3 lakh beneficiaries in Manipur under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna.

    The Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, who is on a two-day visit to the state, told reporters that 5,000 houses have been constructed in the state at Rs 238 crore under the PM Awas Yojna (Urban).

    He said that 1.57 lakh households in the state have been provided with free LPG connections under the PM Ujjwala Yojna and 28,000 people have benefited from the PM Jan Arogya Yojna.

  • No news in Manipur as journalists cease work protesting attack on daily ‘Poknapham’

    By PTI
    IMPHAL: No newspaper was published and no TV news was produced in Manipur on Sunday as journalists ceased work, protesting against the attack on Manipuri daily Poknapham.

    The decision to cease work was taken by the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors Guild of Manipur (EGM), journalists said.

    A hand-grenade was lobbed at the office of Poknapham in Keishampat Thiyam Leikai in the Imphal West district around 6.30 pm on Saturday, police said.

    Protesting against the attack, journalists held a sit-in demonstration at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai from 11 am to 3 pm.

    Later, a memorandum was submitted to Chief Minister N Biren Singh, urging him to ensure that the press in the state functions freely.

    As per CCTV footage from the location, a woman came on a two-wheeler and lobbed the hand-grenade at the newspaper’s office, police said.

    The reason for the attack is yet to be ascertained, they said.

    No outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack, they added.

  • PM Narendra Modi greets people on statehood days of Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted the people of Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya on their statehood days and offered his best wishes to them.

    “Statehood day greetings to the people of Manipur, India is proud of its contribution to national development,” he tweeted, adding that the state is a powerhouse of innovation and sporting talent.

    Modi wished the state the very best in its journey towards progress.

    “Best wishes to the people of Tripura on the special occasion of their Statehood Day. The culture and warm-hearted nature of the people of Tripura is admired across India. The state has achieved outstanding progress in various fields. May the same spirit continue,” he said in another tweet.

    Extending his greetings to people of Meghalaya, the prime minister said the state is known for its remarkable kindness and spirit of brotherhood.

    “Youngsters from Meghalaya are creative and enterprising. May the state keep scaling new heights of progress in the times to come,” he added.

  • Dzukou Valley fire put out? Officials say no active blaze spotted

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Ten days later, no active fire was spotted in areas near the ecologically-sensitive Dzukou Valley on the Nagaland-Manipur border on Friday.

    Official sources in both states confirmed it.

    “No active fire was spotted today. However, smoke was found in three locations. It was controlled in two of them. The third could not be reached,” Rajkumar M, who is the Divisional Forest Officer of Kohima in Nagaland, said.

    He said over 150 personnel of the police, National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, forest department besides local volunteers, stationed at a base camp, would try to reach the spot on Saturday and control the smoke.

    His Senapati counterpart in Manipur D John Sha said neither fire nor smoke was detected on the day.

    “There was no active fire. There was also no smoke. Things are almost under control now on our side,” the forest officer said.

    The Indian Air Force (IAF), which deployed four helicopters to douse the inferno, said it would continue its mission on Saturday.

    “The IAF helicopters will continue the mission to assist fire-fighting at Dzukou Valley tomorrow,” Shillong-based Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh said.

    The choppers, which used Bambi Buckets to tame the fire, were requisitioned by the Nagaland government. The Manipur government had also sought the Centre’s help in controlling the situation.

    The Dzukou Valley is known for its natural environment, seasonal flowers, and flora and fauna and is a popular tourist destination.