News Analysis India

Tag: Manipur

  • Attack on Assam Rifles: Myanmar border will be sealed on priority, says Manipur CM Biren Singh

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: A day after the militants came from Myanmar and carried out the deadly ambush on an Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, the state’s Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said the government would expedite fencing the porous international border.“We share a 398 km border with Myanmar. Given the sensitivity, the Home Ministry has already started the fencing work in vulnerable areas. It will be the priority of the state government and the Centre to fence the porous border to avoid such incidents,” Singh told journalists after visiting six injured personnel at a hospital in state capital Imphal.He said the border fencing work was going on at a stretch of 40 km and the work was stopped at some places due to disputes.Singh condemned the attack and said he had passed instructions to the state’s Home Department and the paramilitary forces to nab the perpetrators of the crime.

    ALSO READ: PLA rekindles cycle of violence in Manipur by killing Colonel, wife and sonSounding a warning to the militants, he said the state government would not compromise on such a terrorist act.Colonel Viplav Tripathi, who was the commanding officer of 46 Assam Rifles, his wife, their six-year-old son and four personnel were killed in the ambush carried out jointly by the People’s Liberation Army and the lesser-known Manipur Naga People’s Front.The incident took place at Thinghat, around 20 km from the Myanmar border, when the victims were returning after visiting a forward camp in the Singhat sub-division of Churachandpur.Col Tripathi hailed from Chhattisgarh. The four other slain personnel were from Assam, Nagaland, West Bengal and Rajasthan. Their mortal remains were flown to their respective state on Sunday.The security forces launched a massive manhunt for the insurgents responsible for the attack. A senior army official did not rule out a cross-border operation by the security forces. “That’s an option,” he told this newspaper.In June 2015, Indian para commandos had conducted a cross-border operation against insurgents belonging to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) and killed over a dozen of them. Just days before the operation, the NSCN-K had killed 18 Army personnel in an ambush in Chandel district of Manipur.

  • Strongly condemn attack on Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur, says PM Modi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Strongly condemning the attack on an Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur that claimed seven lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

    Five soldiers including the Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles, and his two family members were killed in the attack on their convoy at Churachandpur in Manipur on Saturday.

    Modi tweeted, “Strongly condemn the attack on the Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur. I pay homage to those soldiers and family members who have been martyred today. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of sadness.”

    ALSO READ: Army colonel, wife and son among seven killed in Manipur ambush by militants

    The convoy was targeted by suspected militants of the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), a militant group in Manipur demanding a separate homeland.

    West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed anguish over the killing of five Assam Rifles personnel in Manipur on Saturday and described the attack by militants as “dastardly”.

    “I strongly condemn the dastardly attack by militants on a convoy of 46 Assam Rifles in Manipur. It pains me to learn that we have lost five brave soldiers, including the CO & his family members,” she tweeted.

    “Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The entire nation awaits justice!” Banerjee said in the Twitter post.

  • Army colonel, wife and son among seven killed in Manipur ambush by militants

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: An Army colonel, his wife and their son were among seven people killed by militants in an ambush in Manipur on Saturday.

    The attack was carried out at Behiang in the state’s Churachandpur district at around 10 am. The slain colonel was serving as the commanding officer of an Assam Rifles unit in the district on deputation.

    Apart from him and his family members, the four others killed were Assam Rifles personnel. A source from an intelligence agency said three to four other personnel were also injured.

    The Army officer was either going on leave or returning to the unit after leave, the source said.

    So far, no militant organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack. The police and security forces launched a massive operation in search of the militants.

    Manipur has over 40 insurgent groups, a large majority of them lying low following their signing of separate suspension of operation agreements with the government.

  • Disqualification of 12 BJP MLAs in Manipur: We’ll do something, no direction required, SG tells SC

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court was assured Thursday that the Governor of Manipur will soon take a decision on the opinion given by the Election Commission (EC) regarding the disqualification of 12 BJP MLAs in the “office of profit” issue.

    The assurance by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta came before a bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao which asked him about the decision of the Governor.

    “An opinion was given by the Election Commission in January. According to Article 192, the Governor has to go with the decision. In the past 11 months, nothing has happened. We don’t want to pass an order but please convey your good offices so that opinion is given so that they can be challenged,” the bench also comprising Justices B R Gavai and B V Nagarathna said.

    Mehta submitted,” I assure we’ll do something and no direction will be required to be passed.”

    The top court had earlier said the Manipur Governor cannot “sit over” the opinion given by the Election Commission (EC) regarding the disqualification of 12 BJP MLAs in the “office of profit” issue.

    The observation was made after the bench was apprised that the Governor is yet to take a decision on the EC’s opinion furnished on January 13, 2021.

    The top court was hearing a plea filed by Karong MLA D D Thaisii and others seeking disqualification of 12 MLAs on the ground that they were holding the posts of Parliamentary Secretaries, which amounted to “offices of profit”.

    Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Thaisii, had contended that the Governor cannot keep the decision pending and he was entitled to know the view.

    The 12 BJP MLAs from Manipur are reportedly facing disqualification in a 2018 “office-of-profit” case for holding the position of parliamentary secretaries.

    The MLAs were found not to be in violation by the EC as they had held the posts of parliamentary secretaries in the state under an exemption granted by two laws, the reports said.

    The laws were later struck down by the high court.

    After the court declared the laws void, the Manipur Congress had approached Governor Najma Heptulla, seeking disqualification of the 12 BJP MLAs on account of holding the posts of parliamentary secretaries.

    The governor had sought the EC’s views on the matter in October last year.

    According to the report, in a letter to Heptulla in January, the EC opined that since the two laws were in force at the time the lawmakers held the posts of parliamentary secretaries, they could not be disqualified for holding any office of profit retrospectively.

  • Bomb blast at residence of NPP candidate in Manipur

    By PTI

    IMPHAL: Unidentified miscreants hurled a hand grenade at the residence of Nationalist People’s Party (NPP) candidate N Diten on Friday evening, police said.

    The incident occurred at Ukhongsang Mayai locality in Thoubal district around 6.45 pm, they said, adding, no one was injured.

    Diten, who had been campaigning for the upcoming assembly elections from his residence for the last few months, was not at home when the explosion happened, a police officer said.

    An investigation is underway, he added.

  • Manipur celebrates 50 years of India’s victory of 1971 war

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Northeastern State of Manipur on Saturday celebrated 50 years of victory of the Indian armed forces in 1971 war against Pakistan Army. The event was attended by the top echelons of political and military leadership.

    Lt Col Mohit Vaishanav, Defence PRO Manipur said the event was to welcome the victory flame as part of the Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations. “Chief Minister N Biren Singh, IG Assam Rifles (South), Red Shield Division Commander, DGP Manipur attended the programme with a large public participation,” he told.

    Lt Gen Manoj Pandey, Eastern Army Commander also gave a complimentary video message. Vincent Ekka, son of Param Vir Chakra awardee Lance naik Albert Ekka who laid down his life during the 1971 war was also present at the event.

    Victory flame was started in December 2020 to mark the 50 years of 1971 war. The four victory flames were flagged off from Delhi in four directions which will cover the whole country before they converge at the same place in December 2021.

    The celebrations also included a friendly football exhibition match between renowned football clubs of Manipur. Event was attended by Bollywood actor Anuskha Sharma, former national football Captain Bhaichung Bhutia. Silver Olympic Medal Winner Mirabai Chanu, Mary Kom and Vijender Singh were also present during the event.

  • Manipur: Four insurgents neutralised in Hingorani

    By ANI

    IMPHAL: Four insurgents were neutralised by security forces in a joint operation in Manipur’s Hingojang.

    The joint operation was launched by Assam Rifles and Indian Army’s 3 Corps on Saturday. The change of fire started on Sunday morning. The insurgents belonged to Kuki group.

    “Security Forces of Assam Rifles under Spear Corps, Indian Army launched a joint operation on 09 Oct in Hingojang, Manipur. Area cordoned & firefight started in the morning of 10 Oct. Four insurgents neutralised. Operation in progress,” PRO Defence, Imphal tweeted.

    Further operations are underway. 

  • Manipur animal rights groups seek info on dog killers, announce Rs 60,000 bounty

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Two animal rights organisations of Manipur have jointly announced a bounty of Rs 60,000, seeking information from people about two persons who killed a Golden Retriever.

    The Manipur Dog Lovers Club and the Yening Animal Foundation announced the reward to secure justice for Mylo, the seven-year-old male dog.

    At midnight of October 3, two masked men came riding a two-wheeler, killed the dog with a stick, carried the carcass, and fled.

    The incident occurred right in front of the house of the dog’s owner Longjam Anandkumar at Wangjing Lamding Cherapur in Thoubal district. It was captured by a CCTV camera.

    Anandkumar has already lodged a complaint with the police. The police said they were probing the case.

    Laishram Joy Singh, who is the president of Manipur Dog Lovers Club, told The New Indian Express that as it was dark, the bike’s registration number was not clear in the CCTV footage.

    “It is a very unfortunate incident. When we heard about it, we immediately contacted the dog’s owner. We had also contacted the police seeking their help to trace the two accused persons,” Singh said.

    He said the dog was dear to Anandkumar and his family members. “They are inconsolable. They have stopped eating food,” Singh said.

    He said if required, the members of the two organisations would submit a memorandum to the state government seeking justice for Mylo and urging it to rein in the cases of cruelty against animals.

    Given that some people in the Northeast relish the meat of dogs as a delicacy, it was suspected that Mylo was killed for its meat.

    A poster campaign was organised on Wednesday seeking justice for the slain dog.

    “Poster campaign on #JusticeforMylo was held at Thoubal district yesterday. Manipur Dog Lovers Club and Yening Animal Foundation pasted over 200 posters in and around Wangjing Cherapur. Thank you to all the volunteers for joining us,” the Manipur Dog Lovers Club wrote on its Facebook page.

  • Four Kuki militants arrested, arms and ammunition seized in Manipur

    By PTI

    IMPHAL: Four insurgents of the proscribed Kuki National Front (Mangkholam Kipgen faction) outfit have been arrested in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district and arms and ammunition seized from their possession, police said on Saturday.

    Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of Manipur Police and Assam Rifles raided a forest near Gopibung village and nabbed the four militants.

    Two country-made 9mm pistols and four cartridges were seized from their possession, an officer said.

    A case was registered and legal action will be taken against the arrested people, he added.

  • Manipur Naga leader’s killing: CM Biren Singh apologises, 16 cops suspended

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday tendered an apology to the family of Athuan Abonmai following public outrage over the killing of the prominent Naga leader.

    Abonmai was abducted by a group of alleged rebels of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) from Tamenglong on Wednesday and hours later, his bludgeoned body was retrieved 7 km away.

    The victim can be seen in a viral video being bundled into a jeep under the nose of some policemen. He had come out of his home to attend a government programme.

    Singh, also the state’s Home Minister, is livid with the police inaction. He wondered if the morale of the police lowered to such a level.

    “It was the duty of the policemen to intervene and save his life,” Singh told journalists at a press conference.

    ALSO READ | Militants gun down Manipur Naga leader after abduction

    So far, 16 policemen, including officers, have been suspended. The government has already ordered a probe which is headed by an Inspector General of Police.

    Singh said the government would hand the case over to the National Investigation Agency if a nexus between the militants and the police was established.

    In a complaint lodged with the police following the abduction, the victim’s son Arai Abonmai, had written: “…I have come to know from relatives that my father has been kidnapped at about 11:30 am by NSCN-IM cadres from Tamenglong headquarters, Pologround. As there is apprehension that my father may be harmed, I pray that immediate measures are taken to rescue him.”

    For some reasons not known, Abonmai’s differences with the NSCN-IM grew in recent times. As he was facing a threat to his life, he had curtailed his movement.

    He was the former president of Zeliangrong Baudi, which is a conglomerate of tribal organisations representing Inpui, Liangmei, Rongmei, and Zeme tribes from Manipur, Assam, and Nagaland.

    Various organisations have demanded the immediate arrest of the perpetrators of the crime.