Security personnel deployed after Thursday's violence in Imphal. (PTI)Manipur News Highlights (July 2): Two militant outfits of Manipur, under Suspensions of Operation, on Sunday said they have lifted the two-month long blockade in Kangpokpi district along the National Highway-2. However, Kuki civil society group Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), which had announced a roadblock on NH-2 two months ago, has not officially withdrawn the agitation yet. Issuing a joint statement, the United Peoples’ Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) said the blockade has been lifted with immediate effect following “deep concern to restore peace and harmony” by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
In other news, Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Saturday urged women of the state to restrain from blocking security forces from carrying out their operations. She also said that she was deeply shocked and disheartened about the ongoing ethnic clash in the state, and appealed for peace. “Everybody should not believe in spreading baseless rumours and should always try to desist it. All the issues can be and should be solved through a peaceful dialogue to restore the past peaceful atmosphere of the State,” she said.
Meanwhile, Manipur CM N Biren Singh Saturday said that he decided not to go ahead with the decision to resign seeing the support of people who had gathered outside his residence on Friday. “I feel good that after I stepped out (of the CM house), there was a huge crowd on the streets. They cried and showed their trust in me. This proved my thoughts wrong because the people still stood in my support,” he was quoted saying by news agency ANI.
The Manipur government has allowed more officers of various ranks to use flags on their vehicles, according to an official notification.
The notification issued by the Home Department on orders by Governor Anusuiya Uikey said the decision was taken, recognising the practical difficulties faced by officers, who form the backbone of the administration and work irrespective of office hours.
The officials allowed flagposts on their vehicles are all heads of departments working in the field, state protocol officer, deputy protocol officer, officers on protocol duty, IAS and Manipur Civil Services (MCS) officers of the rank of deputy secretary and above, police officers of the rank of SP/CO and above, and IAS and MCS officers of the rank of SDO and above but working in the field. (PTI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the situation in neighbouring Manipur will improve within 7-10 days, with the state and central governments working ‘silently’ to restore peace.
He hit out at the Congress and alleged that the opposition party is showing its concern when “relative peace has come in the northeastern state.” More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur since clashes first started on May 3.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme here, the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor said, “The situation in Manipur is improving day by day. I am of the view that in the next one week to 10 days, there will be more improvement.” Sarma claimed there has been a lot of improvement in the neighbouring state in the last month. Read more
At least three "village volunteers" were killed and five others injured in an exchange of fire with unidentified gunmen in Manipur's Bishnupur district, police said on Sunday.
The incident took place in Khoijumantabi village late on Saturday night when the "village volunteers" were guarding the area in a makeshift bunker, a police officer said.
While two bodies were found initially, the third one was recovered later.
Five people were injured in the shootout that lasted for several hours. A couple of them, the condition of whom was stated to be serious, were brought to a hospital in Imphal, police said. (PTI)
Two militant outfits of Manipur, under Suspensions of Operation, on Sunday said they have lifted the two-month long blockade in Kangpokpi district along the crucial National Highway-2.
Issuing a joint statement, the United Peoples' Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) said the blockade has been lifted with immediate effect following "deep concern to restore peace and harmony" by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
However, Kuki civil society group Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), which had announced a roadblock on NH-2 two months ago, has not officially withdrawn the agitation yet.
Manipur has two national highways -- NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam).
The NH-2 has been under blockade by Kuki organisations since the violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, and was temporarily opened following Shah's visit in late May.
The decision to lift the blockade comes following a recent meeting of the UPF, KNO and other Kuki groups with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati, sources close to the development said. (PTI)
Amid the continuing tensions in Manipur, defence secretary Giridhar Aramane made a two-day visit to Myanmar to meet its senior leadership to discuss issues of maintaining peace in border areas, illegal trans-border movements and transnational crimes such as drug trafficking and smuggling.
“The visit provided an opportunity to raise matters relating to India’s security with senior leadership of Myanmar,” the defence ministry said in a statement Saturday.
India shares an approximately 1,700-km long border with Myanmar. India has deployed thousands of troops in Manipur since the clashes broke out and additional special forces were deployed at the sensitive India-Myanmar border to tackle any possible contingency. Read more
As the central government is under fire from opposition parties over Manipur violence, State Minister for the Ministry of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Saturday saying that the home ministry is dealing with the current situation in the state and is doing whatever can be done.
The minister further said that no one should not indulge in politics related to Manipur.
"Home Ministry is dealing with the current situation in the state and is doing whatever can be done. The Home Ministry is taking cognizance of the happening...we should not indulge in the politics over this," Jitendra Singh said.
Ethnic clashes broke out in the State nearly two months ago on May 3 after clashes erupted during a rally organised by the All Tribal Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of Meiteis in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).
Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 'Purvoday' conclave in Guwahati showcasing the incredible transformation in the Northeast during the last nine years of the Modi government. (ANI)
At least two "village volunteers" were killed in an exchange of fire with unidentified gunmen in Manipur's Bishnupur district, police said.
The incident took place in Khoijumantabi village late on Saturday night when the "village volunteers" were guarding the area in a makeshift bunker, a police officer said.
Heavy exchange of fire was underway till filing of this report, he said, adding casualties are likely to go up. (PTI)
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday took a swipe at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his remarks that the situation in Manipur will improve within 7 to 10 days, saying it would help if the BJP leader does not "poke his nose" into Manipur's conflict and stayed away.
The former home minister also asserted that it would help if Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned as the CM and President's Rule was imposed in the northeastern state for a few months.
Sarma on Saturday said the situation in neighbouring Manipur will improve within 7-10 days, with the state and central governments working "silently" to restore peace.
He had hit out at the Congress and alleged that the opposition party is showing its concern when "relative peace has come in the northeastern state".
More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur since clashes first started on May 3.
In a tweet, Chidambaram said, "CM, Assam has promised that peace will return to Manipur in a week. It will help if CM, Assam did not poke his nose into Manipur's conflict and stayed away." "It will also help if Mr Biren Singh resigned as CM and President's Rule was imposed for a few months," Chidambaram said.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Dibrugarh on Saturday, Sarma, the convenor of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), said, "The situation in Manipur is improving day by day. I am of the view that in the next one week to 10 days, there will be more improvement." Sarma claimed there has been "a lot of improvement" in Manipur in the last month. (PTI)
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh Saturday said that while it is “not possible to confirm or deny international hand” in the ongoing ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the state, it “seems pre-planned”.
In an interview with news agency ANI, Singh also said that he was considering resigning from his post earlier this week due to fears that the public had lost confidence in him, but the show of support made him change his mind.
Read more
Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey has urged women of the state to restrain from blocking security forces on the roads.
Appealing for peace, Uikey said on Saturday that she was deeply shocked and disheartened about the ethnic clash, which is still continuing.
The governor's statement came after the forces reported several incidents of road blockades in the strife-torn state during security operations.
"I, from the bottom of my heart further appeal to you all, especially mothers and sisters, to restrain from blocking security forces on the roads as they are discharging their responsibilities for the safety of the people of the state," she said.
"Most importantly, everybody should not believe in spreading baseless rumours and should always try to desist it. All the issues can be and should be solved through a peaceful dialogue to restore the past peaceful atmosphere of the State," she added. (PTI)
On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit to Manipur, CM N Biren Singh says, "...We can't stop anyone. But the timing - it has been 40 days. Why did he not come earlier? He is a Congress leader but in what capacity was he making the visit? I don't think the timing was right. He seemed to have come with a political agenda. He came & then there was an incident in the market & BJP office was attacked. Did he come for the situation in the state or for political mileage? I don't support the manner in which he came."
When asked what could be the reason behind violence in his state, Manipur CM N Biren Singh says, "I am confused as well...I had said a consensus is important...High Court had asked us; my Government had still not recommended if Meitei community should or should not be included as Scheduled Tribe. There was four-week time. So, I don't know the reason. It should be the organisation, that organised a solidarity rally to not include Meitei, that should tell the world...They have the answer..."
On his decision to finally not resign as the CM, Manipur CM N Biren Singh said, "A leader can't be a leader without public confidence. I feel good that after I stepped out (of the CM house), there was a huge crowd on the streets. They cried and showed me their trust in me. This proved my thoughts (of doubts) wrong) because the people still stood in my support. They told me not to resign. If they tell me to resign, I will; if they tell me not to, I won't..."
THE DRAMA around his resignation rumours ending on a torn note, literally, on Friday, with N Biren Singh declaring that he was staying put, the Manipur Chief Minister’s official Twitter account appears to have spent the next few hours engaged in spats with social media users.
Towards Friday night, tweets from his official handle took on those criticising him as being Kukis and “belonging to Myanmar”. While these tweets were deleted on Saturday morning, there was no official clarification by his office over the posts till the evening.
A member of Biren Singh’s social media team though denied that the tweets had been written either by him or his team. (Read More)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the situation in neighbouring Manipur will improve within 7-10 days, with the state and central governments working ‘silently' to restore peace.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme, the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor said, “The situation in Manipur is improving day by day. I am of the view that in the next one week to 10 days, there will be more improvement.” Sarma claimed there has been a lot of improvement in the neighbouring state in the last month.
“Silently, the Manipur government and the Union home ministry are working. You can see what was the level of violence a month ago and what it is today,” he said, adding, “I can tell you with guarantee that there has been a vast improvement in the situation.” Taking a swipe at the Congress, the BJP's trouble-shooter in the Northeast said, “Now, the Congress is crying about Manipur when relative peace has come. They should have cried when the situation was volatile.” (PTI)
AS CURTAINS came down on a day of drama in Imphal on Friday, which ended on the high note of a ‘resignation letter’ by Chief Minister N Biren Singh being torn, the BJP was at pains to emphasise that there was no question of the beleaguered leader stepping down.
While the Opposition parties have been long seeking Biren’s resignation over the two-month-long violence in the state – including at an all-party meeting held by the Centre in Delhi – the CM has refused to step down.
Rumours that he might finally do so started after a lull in violence ended on Thursday, with the death of two people from the Meitei community in firing in Kangpokpi district. As the body of one of them was placed in the heart of the city, hundreds, especially women, gathered to protest, chanting slogans against the CM. (Read More)
? Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday appealed for peace in Manipur, saying "violence is no solution"
? He met Governor Anusuiya Uikey, members of civil society groups and victims of violence lodged in relief camps on the concluding day of his visit to the restive state.
? Gandhi met members of Manipur civil society organisations. Among those he met included the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (CoCoMI), representatives of United Naga Council, the apex body of Naga community in Manipur, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, and prominent personalities including JNU professor Bimol A.
? He also urged the government to improve "basic amenities" at the camps.
? "I share the pain of the people of Manipur. It is a horrible tragedy. It is extremely sad and painful for all the people of Manipur and the people of India as well," he said.
? "Peace is the way forward and everybody should now talk about peace and start moving towards it. I am here and will help in any way I can to bring peace to this state," he told reporters outside Raj Bhavan after meeting Uikey.
? Congress leaders said the governor assured that steps are being taken to restore peace in the ethnic strife-hit state.
? On Thursday, he had visited relief camps in Churachandpur, one of the worst affected towns in the ethnic rioting, which has plagued the northeastern state for the last two months. (PTI)
As the situation in Manipur continues to remain tense, the state government on Friday decided to defer the resumption of normal classes at all schools in the state till July 8.
The order read, 'The resumption of normal classes for all schools in the state, as issued vide order of even no. dated 19-06-2023, stands deferred till 08-07-2023 or until further order, whichever is earlier.' 'All Zonal Education officers under the Department of Education-Schools, Manipur are hereby directed to inform all concerned and take up necessary actions accordingly,' the order read. (ANI)
"The people have come out supporting the Chief Minister because they have faith that situation will improve. People believe that if the situation is not controlled this time, it might go out of hand. The current situation in the state is the result of the doings of the previous government. The public has full trust in CM Biren's government," BJP State President, A Sharda Devi was quoted saying by news agency ANI.
Following Thursday’s violence in Manipur, which had seen two weeks of relative peace in between, the security establishment is restrategising the deployment of forces in the fringe areas of the Imphal valley. It has now been decided to give responsibility of certain districts to one single force rather than deploying columns of various forces at different places in a district.
Given the frequency of violence in these troughs where the Valley meets the hills, the Manipur security establishment had decided to create buffer zones in these areas so that Valley people could be prevented from going towards the hills and vice versa. However, Thursday’s incident on the Imphal West-Kangpokpi boundary that led to deaths of at least two civilians and some incidents of arson in the preceding days has exposed the inadequacy of the security arrangement.
Deeptiman Tiwary reports
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