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Kharge seeks President’s intervention in Manipur 

Churachandpur [Manipur], Nov 19 (ANI): Members of Kuki organisations hold a rally carrying mock 'coffins' in remembrance of the deceased members of their community who died during unrest in the Manipur, in Churachandpur on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

Kharge in his letter emphasised that both the central and state governments have failed to restore peace and normalcy in the state …reports Asian Lite News

Amid the continued tension and unrest in Manipur, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday wrote a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, wherein he blamed the the “inordinate inaction” of both Centre and state governments towards restoring peace, and called for her intervention to ensure the protection of the lives and properties of the people of the state. 

Kharge in his letter emphasised that both the central and state governments have failed to restore peace and normalcy in the state adding that the people of the state have lost confidence in both governments. 

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posted Kharge’s letter on X, and said, “@INCIndiaPresident @kharge ji has just written to the President of India on the deteriorating situation in Manipur and the Union Govt’s abysmal failure there over the last eighteen months.” 

Kharge in the letter said that more the 300 people have lost their last in Manipur for the last 18 months and nearly a lakh of the human population has been displaced. 

“The country has been inflicted with a grave tragedy of extraordinary proportions due to the unprecedented turmoil in Manipur for the last 18 months, the ongoing turmoil has taken more than 300 human lives, including women, children and even small babies. It has internally displaced nearly a lakh of the human population rendering them homeless and forcing them to live in different relief camps. The agony of the people continues unabated,” the letter said. 

Expressing concern over the deteriorating living conditions of the people of the state, the Congress chief added, “It has affected the economy of the state and the living conditions of its people with retail inflation going up to 10%. This has made the lives of the people of Manipur extremely difficult. Businesses are closed down, jobs are getting lost, professionals have left their own homes, essential food items, medicines, and essential commodities are in scarcity, national highways have been blocked since May of 2023, schools and educational institutions are shut down, and internally displaced persons are dying of suicide in relief camps. Manipur and its people are suffering silently, which in turn has taken a huge toll on the mental health of the entire population.” 

“As both the Union Government and the State Government of Manipur have completely failed in restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur during the last 18 months, the people of the state have apparently lost confidence in both the governments and reasonably so. With every passing day, the people of Manipur are becoming insecure on their own soil – their home turf having witnessed their infants, babies, children and women getting mercilessly killed. With no succour coming from the governments involved, they have been finding themselves completely isolated and helpless for more than 540 days now,” the letter added. 

Kharge further highlighted that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has visited Manipur three times in the last 18 months whereas Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not visited even once. 

Tribals hold ‘coffin rally’ 

Thousands of men and women on Tuesday took part in a ‘coffin rally’ in Manipur’s Churachandpur in solidarity with the 10 Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribal ‘Village Volunteers’, who were killed in a reported encounter with CRPF in Jiribam district on November 11. 

Jointly organised by Zomi Students’ Federation, Kuki Students’ Organisation and Hmar Students’ Association, thousands of men and women wearing black attire symbolically carried 10 dummy coffins to pay homage to the 10 slain Village Volunteers as all the 10 bodies are still kept in the morgue of a local hospital. 

The three tribal organisations on Monday urged the authorities of all schools and colleges in Churachandpur district and adjoining areas to close down their educational institutions and to send students from Class X and above to participate in Tuesday’s rally. 

The three organisations also urged people from all walks of life to participate in the ‘coffin rally’ in large numbers. After the post-mortem of all ten bodies was conducted in Assam’s Silchar Medical College and Hospital, the bodies were airlifted on November 16 to Churachandpur, a Kuki-Zo-Hmar inhabited district. 

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), an apex body of the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur, earlier said that they have decided that the last rites of 10 Village Volunteers, would not be performed till their postmortem examination reports are handed over to the families. “We have not yet received the post-mortem reports. We would wait for autopsy reports of all the martyrs’ bodies. We would not bury the martyrs before that,” senior ITLF leader Ginza Vualzong told the media after Sunday’s meeting. 

He said: “Our martyrs’ bodies would be placed in the district hospital morgue until post-mortem reports are available.” Vualzong said that after receiving the post-mortem reports of all 10 of them, an expert in this field would carefully review the autopsy reports for any irregularity. 

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Centre to deploy additional troops in Manipur 

The MHA last week provided 20 companies of CAPF — 15 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and five of the Border Security Force (BSF). ..reports Asian Lite News

Amid the escalating violence in Manipur, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday decided to provide an additional 50 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to the state government to deal with the prevailing law and order situation, officials said.   

A top Manipur Home Department official said that the 50 companies of the CAPF (around 5,000 personnel) would soon arrive in the state and they would be deployed in the trouble-torn and militancy-affected districts. 

The MHA last week provided 20 companies of CAPF — 15 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and five of the Border Security Force (BSF). 

The CRPF companies rushed to violence-hit Manipur from neighbouring Assam while the BSF companies came from Tripura. 

A Manipur Home Department official, referring to the MHA communication, said that the fresh 50 companies, comprising the CRPF, the BSF and other paramilitary forces, would arrive in the state in a day or two and they would also be deployed in trouble-torn, vulnerable, mixed population, and militancy-hit districts. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who on Sunday reviewed the situation in the violence-ridden state, would hold another important meeting on Monday to study the situation and is likely to finalise some new strategy. 

Officials in Imphal, quoting the Delhi meeting decisions said that Home Minister Shah directed the senior security officials to take effective steps to prevent violence and maintain peace. 

They said that the Home Minister rushed to the national capital on Sunday after cutting short his campaign in poll-bound Maharashtra and held a meeting with top Home Ministry and security officials. 

“Chief Security Advisor to the Manipur government, Kuldiep Singh, Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi, and Director General of Police Rajiv Singh are likely to attend Monday’s meeting virtually from Imphal,” the officials said. 

Meanwhile, a protester was shot dead during a clash between security forces and a mob in Manipur’s violence-hit Jiribam district on Sunday night. A police official in Imphal said that a youth identified as K. Athouba, 21, was killed in firing and who actually fired the bullet is under investigation. 

However, protesters claimed that the Manipur Police special commando fired to disperse the mob, and the youth was killed in the firing and two others were injured. The police official said that the mob was attacking and vandalising properties of various leaders’ houses and political party offices on Sunday night. They were protesting the killing of three women and three children abducted by militants on November 11. 

The offices of the Congress, BJP, Shiv Sena and the houses belonging to Jiribam’s Independent MLA were ransacked by the mobs, comprising men and women. The Manipur government also closed all educational institutions for two days — Monday and Tuesday — in the curfew-bound five districts — Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching. 

In the extensive violence and attacks by angry mobs on Saturday and Sunday, more than two dozen houses of ministers, MLAs and political leaders and offices of political parties were attacked and vandalised by mobs in several districts, especially in Imphal East and Imphal West districts. This followed the recovery of six dead bodies in Jiribam on November 15 and 16 near the confluence of the Jiri and Barak rivers along the Manipur-Assam border and believed to be of the three women and three children missing since November 11 in Jiribam district. 

Manipur Police earlier said that in a November 11 encounter with the CRPF, 10 suspected Kuki militants were killed while in another incident, militants kidnapped 10 people, all belonging to the Meitei community and inmates of a relief camp at Jakuradhor in Jiribam district’s Borobekra sub-division. According to police, of the 10 kidnapped persons, one person was found alive and rescued and another civilian came back on his own to the police station while the bodies of six others were recovered. 

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MAYHEM IN MANIPUR  

Imphal East [Manipur], Nov 16 (ANI): Women from Lamlai village and Chalou village stage a sit-in protest in Imphal East against the violence and tension in the state after the kidnapping of 6 individuals and the bodies of 3 were found (not clear yet if they belong to the abductees), on Saturday. (ANI Photo)

Protesters try to barge into the personal residence of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday evening, setting off another big escalation between security forces and the protesters in the violence-hit state…reports Asian Lite News

Protesting against the death of six hostages from Jiribam, a mob tried to barge into the personal residence of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday evening, setting off another big escalation between security forces and the protesters in the violence-hit state. 

The security forces had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. The protests come a day after bodies of six missing people, including an eight-month-old infant, were recovered from a Manipur river. The six family members were reported missing in the aftermath of violence on Monday when 10 armed Kuki men died in a gunfight with security forces. 

Last week, a 31-year-old woman of the Hmar group within the Kuki tribal community was burned alive in the state’s Jiribam district.  

A large mob, upset over lack of inaction and communication from government, had gathered and demanded to meet lawmakers in the state capital Imphal on Saturday. 

Earlier Saturday, protesters attacked the residences of at least three state ministers and six MLAs, prompting the government to impose prohibitory orders in five districts for an indefinite period and suspended internet services in parts of the state. 

The Manipur government has requested the Centre to review and withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA, a controversial law which gives unbridled power to the armed forces, which was reimposed in six police station limits. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs had on November 14 reimposed AFSPA in areas falling under Sekmai PS and Lamsang PS in Imphal West district, Lamlai in Imphal East, Moirang in Bishnupur, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi and Jiribam in Jiribam district. 

At least 250 people have died and 60,000 been uprooted in Manipur since May last year in inter-communal clashes over government grants and quotas in jobs and education. 

The Centre has sent extra security forces and promised firm action against violent members of both communities.  

Manipur has become divided into two ethnic enclaves: a valley controlled by the Meiteis and hills dominated by the Kukis. 

Total curfew in Imphal  

Manipur police officials have arrested 23 individuals who were part of the mob involved in the alleged “ransacking and arson of the houses,” said Manipur Police on Sunday.  

These individuals were arrested from Imphal East, Imphal West, and Bishnupur districts of the state. Additionally, the police officials have recovered one .32 pistol, seven rounds of SBBL, and eight mobile phones from their possession, the police said.  

Amid the escalation in the state, a total curfew has been imposed in Imphal until further orders. Following this, the government immediately suspended Internet and mobile data services for two days.  

According to police officials, 8 persons have been injured in the process of dispersal of the mob that targeted various houses and properties of public representatives in Imphal.  

Following this incident, heavy security forces including the Army and Assam Rifles were deployed in Imphal. In a post on X, Manipur Police wrote, “On 16.11.2024, irate mobs have targeted various houses and properties of public representatives including Ministers and MLAs of the State in Imphal. Police have resorted to firing tear gas shells etc. to disperse the mob. Security forces including Army and Assam Rifles have been deployed in Imphal to strengthen the security in the town area. Flag marches have been conducted. 08 (eight) persons have been injured in the process of mob dispersal.”  

“Further, 23 persons who were part of the mob indulging in ransacking and arson of the houses above have been arrested from Imphal East, Imphal West and Bishnupur Districts and recovered 01 (one) .32 pistol, 07 rounds of SBBL, 08 nos. of mobile phones from their possession, the police added.  

“Total curfew has been immediately clamped in the town until further orders. Internet and mobile data services have been suspended for 02 (two) days immediately. SsP/ COs have been deployed on ground to manage the law-and-order situation. Senior officers are critically monitoring the situation round the clock,” Manipur police said in its post.  

On Saturday, Manipur Police said, “Search operations and area domination were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts. Movement of 456 vehicles carrying essential items along NH-2 has been ensured. Strict security measures are taken up in all vulnerable locations and security convoy is provided in sensitive stretches in order to ensure free and safe movement of the vehicles. A total of 107 Nakas/Checkpoints were installed in different Districts of Manipur, both in the hill and the valley and no one was detained by Police in connection with violations in different districts of the State.”  

Rahul Gandhi urges PM to visit Manipur  

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, expressed deep concern on the “recent string of violence and continuing bloodshed” in Manipur. 

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi dubbed the events as “deeply disturbing”. The LoP also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the violence-hit state and work towards restoring peace and healing in the region. 

“The recent string of violent clashes and continuing bloodshed in Manipur is deeply disturbing. After more than a year of division and suffering, every Indian hoped that the Central and State governments would have made every effort at reconciliation and found a solution,” he said. 

“I urge the PM once again to visit Manipur and work towards restoring peace and healing in the region,” Gandhi added. 

A curfew was re-imposed in Imphal West District from Saturday until further notice, due to the prevailing law and order situation in the region. Earlier, the authorities had relaxed the curfew from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm on November 16, as per an order dated November 15. However, this relaxation order now stands cancelled with immediate effect. Individuals involved in essential services, including healthcare, will be exempt from the curfew, the order mentioned. 

“Now, due to the developing law and order situation in the district, the above-mentioned curfew relaxation order stands cancelled with immediate effect, i.e., from 4:30 pm on November 16, 2024. A total curfew is imposed with effect from 4:30 pm on November 16, 2024, until further orders,” according to an order issued by Imphal West District Magistrate Kirankumar. 

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Anti-drone system deployed after attacks in Manipur

The police also reported that the Superintendent of Police (SP) was fired upon by suspected Kuki militants in the area…reports Asian Lite News

The Assam Rifles (AR) have deployed anti-drone systems in Manipur to counter any ‘rogue drones,’ and additional anti-drone guns are being brought into the state by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to enhance security measures.

In a post on social media platform X, the Manipur Police said, “AR has deployed a few anti-drone systems in the state at fringe areas to repel any rogue drones. CRPF has also tested one anti-drone system and given it to the force deployed in the State. Some more anti-drone guns are being brought to the state by CRPF shortly.”

“The state police have also started the process for procurement of anti-drone systems to enhance its security measures and tackle threats from drones effectively,” it added.

Kuki militants reportedly deployed long-range rockets at two locations in civilian areas, killing a 78-year-old man, identified as RK Rabei, and injuring six others in Bishnupur, as confirmed by Manipur Police on Saturday.

The police also mentioned that three bunkers were destroyed due to the attack. “Two bunkers at Mualsang village and one bunker at Laika Mualsau village of Churachandpur were destroyed,” Manipur police confirmed in a post.

The police also reported that the Superintendent of Police (SP) was fired upon by suspected Kuki militants in the area.

Senior officers, including the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), have inspected the affected areas to implement immediate countermeasures and supervise the situation. A team from the Mobile Forensic Unit, DFS, Manipur, was on-site to collect evidence.

Manipur Inspector General of Police, Intelligence, K Kabib, said on Saturday that three bodies of miscreants were found after a heavy exchange of fire at Nungchappi village in Jiribam district. He also said that a 63-year-old civilian was killed in an attack by suspected Kuki militants in Jiribam, adding that the three bodies of the miscreants were recovered as well.

IGP Kabib added that the Manipur Police are closely reviewing the security situation and deployment in coordination with other forces.

“The combing operations on both sides, hill and valley, are intensified, focussing on the long-range rockets and drones. The combing operations will cover a minimum of 3-5 km. The ‘nakas’ are also being strengthened,” he said.

Earlier, the district magistrate issued prohibitory orders, restricting assemblies of more than five people and the carrying of arms and ammunition.

According to Manipur police, search operations and area domination were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts on Saturday.

“Movement of 83 and 310 vehicles along NH-37 and NH-2 respectively with essential items have been ensured. Strict security measures are taken up in all vulnerable locations and security convoy is provided in sensitive stretches in order to ensure free and safe movement of the vehicles,” Manipur police said in a post X.

“A total of 92 Nakas/Checkpoints were installed in different Districts of Manipur, both in the hill and the valley and Police detained 129 persons in connection with violations in different districts of the State,” it added. (ANI)

Cong MP asks Centre to take responsibility for deaths

Congress Lok Sabha MP from Manipur Angomcha Bimol Akoijam on Saturday asked the Central government to take responsibility for the deaths and destructions reported from the state which has been in the grip of an ethnic unrest for the past 16 months now.

Akoijam, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Inner Manipur seat where he defeated BJP’s Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh earlier this year, said that despite 60,000 security personnel deployed in the state since the ethnic violence broke out in May last year, the situation has not improved.

“You (Centre) have a puppet regime in Manipur, but everybody knows that under the command of the Government of India, the security forces are acting and other aspects are being looked into. I strongly urge the Government of India to treat Manipur as part of the country,” said Akoijam, who was a professor in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi.

In a video message, the academician-turned-politician said that the Central government should protect the respect and dignity of the people of Manipur, and not do any politics based on communal agenda.

The Lok Sabha member’s charge against the Central government came after the killing of six persons during the past 24 hours in Bishnupur and Jiribam districts.

Five persons were killed in separate incidents of violence in Jiribam district on Saturday, while on Friday, a 78-year-old man was killed and six others sustained injuries as suspected Kuki militants targeted former Chief Minister Mairembam Koireng’s residence in Bishnupur district by lobbing a powerful bomb.

Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Saturday evening met Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and briefed him about the prevailing situation in the state.

The Chief Minister met the Governor after meeting the BJP MLAs and other coalition partners at the Secretariat.

An official said that at the meeting, the Chief Minister discussed the current law and order situation in the state, especially in the aftermath of the recent violent incidents.

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Nothing done to mitigate Manipur violence, says Kharge

The Congress president claimed in a post on X that the Prime Minister has done nothing to mitigate the violence in the state for the past sixteen months….reports Asian Lite News

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has once again questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing violence in Manipur.

The Congress president claimed in a post on X that the Prime Minister has done nothing to mitigate the violence in the state for the past sixteen months.

“@narendramodi ji, it has been 16 months since Manipur has been engulfed in violence, but your ‘double engine’ government has done NOTHING to mitigate it. No measure has been taken which instils confidence among the people of all the communities to ensure peace and normalcy.” Kharge posted on X.

The Congress President also asked why the Prime Minister hasn’t removed Chief Minister N. Biren Singh from his post, claiming that the CM is culpable in “virtually paralysing the state machinery”.

“Why has the Manipur CM made to brazen it out and has not been sacked by you? Is he not culpable in virtually paralysing the state machinery, and making obnoxious statements, now recorded in public domain? A resignation drama was enacted to shamelessly dodge that bullet.”, added the Congress President on X.

Kharge further said that PM Modi has not visited the state and that even a fundamental peace process hasn’t started because of the union government.

“Why have you not bothered to set foot in the state? It is because of your ego that people of all communities are suffering. Your government’s rank incompetency and shamelessness has not been able to start even a fundamental peace process!”, said Kharge.

The Congress President also highlighted the recent drone attack in Imphal and said that the state is also facing a national security crisis at its borders. “Bombing through drone attacks have just taken place in Imphal West district and the Union Home Minister seems to be asleep at the wheel. Even your own BJP leaders and their houses are being attacked. Apart from internal turmoil, now a National Security threat also looms large at the borders of Manipur.”

Earlier, Rajya Sabha MP Sanajaoba constituted a high-level committee and held meeting with its members to conduct an investigation after unarmed Koutruk villagers in Manipur’s Imphal were attacked with drones, bombs and sophisticated weapons on Sunday reportedly by the Kuki militants.

The Manipur Police also had confirmed the reports of usage of drones in the attack in Kotruk, ” In an unprecedented attack in Koutruk, Imphal West, alleged Kuki militants have deployed numerous RPGs using high-tech drones. While drone bombs have commonly been used in general warfares, this recent deployment of drones to deploy explosives against security forces and the civilians marks a significant escalation.” (ANI)

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Finally, PM breaks silence on Manipur  

New Delhi, Jul 03 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in the Rajya Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI Photo/Sansad TV)

Modi says that the central and the state governments are establishing interactions with all stakeholders to restore peace…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday affirmed that the central government is making efforts to normalise the situation in the north-eastern state of Manipur, which has been witnessing ethnic violence since last year.

The Prime Minister was replying to the debate on ‘Motion of Thanks’ on the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha.

“The government is continuously making efforts to normalise the situation in Manipur. More than 11,000 FIRs have been registered and over 500 people arrested. Incidents of violence are continuously reducing in Manipur”, Modi said.

He further said that the central and the state governments are establishing interactions with all stakeholders to restore peace.

“Today, schools, colleges, offices and other institutions are open in the state. The Central and the State govt are talking to all stakeholders to restore peace”, he said.

Giving a strong response to the opposition on the Manipur issue, Modi further attacked the Congress party stating that it had imposed President’s rule in Manipur 10 times.

“The Union Home Minister stayed there for many weeks…Central govt is extending all cooperation to Manipur to tackle the ongoing flood situation in the state. Today, two teams of NDRF have reached Manipur. I warn those who are trying to add the fuel to fire will be rejected by Manipur…Congress had imposed President’s rule in Manipur 10 times…” he said.

He further called on the opposition leaders to cooperate with the government to restore peace in the state.

“Leaving behind politics, we should cooperate to restore peace in Manipur”, he said.

Notably, Modi clashed with Congress over Manipur issues in Parliament, sparking disruptions and accusations amid heated debates on regional unrest.

The northeastern state has been witnessing ethnic violence since May 3 last year following clashes during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category.

Earlier in June, Union Home Minister Amit Shah did a holistic review of the security situation in Manipur in a high-level meeting here in the national capital and directed to ensure that “no further incident of violence takes place” in the northeastern state.

In the one-hour-long meeting at his North Block office, the Home Minister stressed upon strategic deployment of the central forces to restore peace and tranquillity in Manipur.

Cong slams Modi

Meanwhile, Jairam Ramesh, MP and Congress general secretary, on Wednesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Manipur made in Rajya Sabha and said that the north-eastern state has been burning and the PM has still not visited the state and the not met CM, the state leaders.

Ramesh spoke on the Manipur issue and said, “Whatever our non-biological PM has said in the Rajya Sabha regarding Manipur, is completely contrary to reality. Since May 3, 2023, Manipur has been burning, and there is tension between different communities. There has been violence. Hundreds have been killed, and thousands have been displaced.”

He added further, “And when the Supreme Court says that constitutional machinery has finished, the PM is silent. Till date, the PM has not gone to Manipur. Before today, he didn’t say a word regarding Manipur and today too, he was forced to say. It’s been 16 months but the PM hasn’t visited Manipur, he hasn’t met Manipur’s CM, he hasn’t talked to Manipur’s political parties and the leaders… What is this hypocrisy?”

Further coming down heavily on PM, Ramesh said that the Prime Minister said only two to three words regarding Manipur and the words he spoke were completely contrary to the reality. “The people of Manipur are asking why the PM is not coming,” he added.

“He keeps on visiting so many countries. He has declared himself ‘Vishwaguru’ but he does not go to Manipur. During the election campaign, he went to Tripura, Assam. Manipur is between them and he could have gone for some time but he didn’t go,” he asserted.

Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday after the House adopted the motion of thanks on the President’s address.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi replied to the debate on the motion of thanks on the President’s address and said the next five years will be devoted to ensure saturation of basic facilities and for the fight against poverty.

He said the country will emerge victorious against poverty in the next five years.

Modi said when India will be the third largest economy in the world, its impact will be felt on every sphere of life.

Opposition MPs staged walkout during PM Modi’s reply. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed his disappointment and disapproval over the move of opposition MPs.

Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Tuesday after PM Modi’s reply to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s Address. The Parliament session saw new members taking oath in the two Houses. This was the first session of Parliament after the results of Lok Sabha polls last month.

The Lok Sabha session started on June 24 while the Rajya Sabha session began on June 27. (ANI)

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Militants ambush Manipur CM’s convoy

Singh condemned the dastardly attacks on his security personnel after his convoy was allegedly attacked by armed miscreants in Manipur’s Kotlen on Monday…reports Asian Lite News

An advance security convoy of Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh was ambushed by unidentified miscreants in Kangpokpi district on Monday, leaving two police personnel injured, police said. The convoy was on its way to Jiribam to assess the security situation ahead of Singh’s visit to the district that has been affected by violence in the past one week.

The incident took place at T Laijang village near Kotlen under Kangpokpi district, around 10.50 a.m. In the attack, the driver of a Bolero identified as Moirangthem Ajesh alias Bobo (28) sustained injuries after he was hit by a bullet on the back. A CID personnel in civvies, who was in the convoy, also suffered minor injuries after a bullet hit on his leg.

Both the injured were rushed to Imphal. Soon after the incident, a combing operation was launched by joint security forces. Singh, who reached Imphal on Monday after attending the swearing-in ceremony of the Union Cabinet in Delhi, termed the incident a “direct attack on the people of the State.”

“It is very unfortunate and highly condemnable. It’s an attack on the chief minister, which means a direct attack on the people of the State,” Singh said. He said that the government will take a decisive action against those behind the violence in the state.

Singh condemned the dastardly attacks on his security personnel after his convoy was allegedly attacked by armed miscreants in Manipur’s Kotlen on Monday.

“I strongly condemn the dastardly attacks on the security personnel who are carrying out their duties day and night in service of the state and the country,” Singh said in a post on ‘X’.

The Chief Minister paid a visit to the injured security personnel at the hospital and said that the miscreants will be brought to justice.

“Visited the injured security personnel who are being treated at Shija hospital. They were ambushed on the way to Jiribam by armed miscreants. The assailants will be brought to justice,” he added.

Biren Singh was expected to visit Jiribam after reports of fresh violence in the area.

According to Manipur Police, several houses belonging to both Meitei and Kuki communities were burnt by unknown miscreants in Kotlen following the murder of a person.

Around 600 people from Manipur’s Jiribam area are now taking shelter in Assam’s Cachar district following fresh violence reported in Manipur’s Jiribam area. The Cachar district police have heightened security along the bordering areas.

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97% South Asia displacements linked to Manipur

The conflict triggered the displacement of approximately 67,000 people, with most of the movements occurring within Manipur. …reports Asian Lite News

Conflict and violence led to 69,000 displacements in South Asia in 2023, with Manipur alone accounting for 67,000 of these, according to a report by the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). This marked the highest number of displacements due to conflict and violence in India since 2018.

The violence in Manipur was sparked on May 3, 2023, during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organized in the state’s hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The march led to violent clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, resulting in over 200 deaths.

In March of the previous year, the Manipur High Court had recommended that the central government recognize the Meitei community as a Scheduled Tribe, a status that provides legal protection against marginalization. This recommendation faced opposition from other local tribes, including the Kukis, who feared it would exacerbate land disputes and social tensions.

The violence began in Churachandpur district and quickly spread to other districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Tengnoupal, and Kangpokpi. The conflict triggered the displacement of approximately 67,000 people, with most of the movements occurring within Manipur. However, a significant number of people also fled to neighboring states such as Mizoram, Nagaland, and Assam.

In response to the escalating violence, the central government imposed curfews, shut down internet services, and dispatched security forces to the region. Relief camps were established, and a peace committee was formed under the state governor’s chairmanship. However, disagreements about the committee’s composition hindered its effectiveness.

By the end of the year, all those displaced by the violence remained in internal displacement, according to the IDMC. The report also noted that around 5.3 million people across South Asia were internally displaced due to conflict and violence by the end of 2023, with 80% of these individuals in Afghanistan.

According to IDMC report, in 2023, India witnessed a significant decrease in internal displacements caused by natural disasters, totalling over half a million compared to the previous year’s 2.5 million.

The report shed light on various calamities that led to displacement, including floods, storms, earthquakes, and other environmental crises.

Deadly floods ravaged the Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, while a glacial lake outburst flood in Sikkim resulted in the collapse of a hydroelectric dam, claiming over 100 lives and affecting more than 88,000 individuals.

In Delhi, identified as a “flood displacement hotspot,” heavy rains caused the Yamuna River to overflow on July 9, 2023, prompting the evacuation of residents from their homes.

The city recorded 27,000 displacements due to this event, with rainfall reaching a record 153 mm in just 24 hours, the highest since 1982.

Overall, South Asia reported approximately 3.7 million internal displacements, with disasters causing 3.6 million, marking the lowest figure since 2018.

The decline in displacements was attributed in part to the El Niño event, resulting in below-average monsoon rainfall and a weaker cyclone season.

Despite this, floods and storms persisted, albeit with reduced impact in certain areas.

India’s flood displacement figure of 352,000 was the lowest since 2008, with notable events affecting regions like Assam and Gujarat.

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Parties face ethnic issues in violence-hit Manipur

Political pundit Rajkumar Kalyanjit Singh observed that in view of the ethnic violence, the political parties have to consider the permutation-combination of the prevailing complex ethnic situation in the violence ravaged state…reports SUJIT CHAKRABORTY

As the Election Commission readies to conduct elections to the two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur, the political parties here are grappling with ethnic issues to decide their strategies because of the over 10-month long ethnic violence between the non-tribal Meitei and the tribal Kuki-Zomi communities.

Though Manipur has 34 different communities, the non-tribal Meitei and the tribal Kuki-Zomi and Naga people dominate the state’s politics and other electoral aspects.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the valley areas comprising six districts while the Nagas, Kuki-Zomi constitute a little over 40 per cent and reside in the remaining 10 mountainous districts.

Even as the Election Commission will issue the statutory notifications in two days (on March 20), the major political parties including the ruling BJP and the main opposition Congress are yet to declare their candidates.

Political pundit Rajkumar Kalyanjit Singh observed that in view of the ethnic violence, the political parties have to consider the permutation-combination of the prevailing complex ethnic situation in the violence ravaged state.

“Political parties in Manipur have to give balanced consideration in selecting candidates and formulating election related strategies,” Singh said.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Rajkumar Ranjan Singh of the ruling BJP won from the Inner Manipur seat in 2019 while Naga People’s Front (NPF) leader Lorho S Pfoze represents the Outer Manipur constituency.

The BJP’s senior most state vice-president Nongthombam Nimbus Singh said the party has already formed a state level election management committee to take up the overall task for the polls.

“The committee has 32 different departments and each department will take the onus to smoothen the assigned tasks. Besides the committee, all members of the party numbering over four lakh have begun work at the booth level across the state,” said Nimbus Singh.

Once the party’s central election committee in New Delhi announces the names of the candidates for the state, the statewide campaign would be rolled out for which everything is in place, he pointed out.

On the other hand, the opposition Congress has a different say, as its state vice-president and spokesperson Kh Debabrata Singh said that their first demand was to defer the election taking into account the unceasing ethnic violence.

“Our request is to bring a solution first and polls next. Though election is mandatory, the climate for the polls at this juncture is not conducive,” he said, adding that as the poll dates have been announced, “we have to participate in it.”

The Election Commission has decided to hold the election in Inner Manipur constituency on April 19 while polling would be held in the Outer Manipur seat (reserved for the tribals) in two phases on April 19 and April 26.

Meanwhile, even as the Communist Party of India (CPI) is a partner in the 10 ‘like-minded’ parties’ alliance in Manipur led by the Congress, the Left party on Saturday nominated Laishram Sotinkumar as its candidate from the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency.

A CPI leader said that the party’s national executive meeting held on March 14 decided to field Sotinkumar, a former state council secretary, from the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.

A veteran Left leader, Sotinkumar, who is currently serving as the General Secretary of the AITUC in Manipur, said that his party would extend full support to the Congress candidate in the Outer Manipur seat.

“We may reconsider contesting the Lok Sabha elections if normalcy and peace are not restored in the state,” the Left leader said.

Besides the Congress and the CPI, the other parties part of the alliance are the Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, CPI-M, Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Shiv Sena-UBT, Janata Dal-United and the Nationalist Congress Party.

A Congress leader slammed the CPI for their unilateral announcement of the candidate and said that it will divide the anti-BJP opposition votes.

In Manipur, a total of 20,26,623 voters, including 10,46,706, women, are eligible to cast their votes in 2955 polling stations in the state’s two Lok Sabha seats.

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Oldest Armed Group in Manipur Signs Landmark Peace Accord

The peace agreement signed with the UNLF by the Centre and the Manipur government marks the end of a six-decade-long armed movement….reports Asian Lite News

Terming it a historic move, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Manipur’s oldest valley-based armed group, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), on Wednesday signed a peace agreement to renounce violence and join the mainstream.

The agreement was signed in the national capital in the presence of Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and some members of the UNLF.

The peace agreement signed with the UNLF by the Centre and the Manipur government marks the end of a six-decade-long armed movement.

It is a landmark achievement in realising PM Narendra Modi’s vision of all-inclusive development and providing a better future to the youth in Northeast India, Amit Shah said in a post on ‘X’

Shah further said the relentless efforts of the Centre, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to establish permanent peace in the Northeast added a new chapter of fulfilment with the signing of the joint peace accord with the UNLF in the national capital on Thursday.

Shah took to his official handle on ‘X’ to share the news of the peace accord.

“A historic milestone achieved!!! Modi govt’s relentless efforts to establish permanent peace in the Northeast have added a new chapter of fulfilment as the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) signed a peace agreement today in New Delhi,” Shah posted from his X handle.

“UNLF, the oldest valley-based armed group of Manipur has agreed to renounce violence and join the mainstream. I welcome them to the democratic processes and wish them all the best in their journey on the path of peace and progress,” he added.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh also took to his official handle on ‘X’ to share the news of the peace accord.

“The oldest armed group of Manipur has chosen the path of peace, renouncing violence to join the mainstream and embrace democracy. The United National Liberation Front (UNLF)  has signed a peace agreement in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in our relentless pursuit of permanent peace in the Northeast,” the Manipur Chief Minister posted from his X handle.

“The unwavering support and vision of Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi for a brighter and peaceful North-East has made this possible. May this collaborative effort contribute to a harmonious and prosperous future for Manipur and the entire region,” he added. 

In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs also said that the agreement is poised to usher in a new era of peace in the Northeast in general and Manipur in particular.

The MHA, in its statement, added that in line with the vision of Prime Minister Modi and under the guidance of the Union Home Minister, the Centre has signed agreements with several armed groups of the North East region since 2014 to end militancy and promote development.

Further, as per the statement, this is the first time a valley-based Manipuri armed group has agreed to return to the mainstream by abjuring violence and agreeing to honour the Constitution of India and the laws of the land.

“The agreement will not only bring an end to hostilities between UNLF and security forces, which have claimed precious lives on both sides over the last more than half a century but also provide an opportunity to address the longstanding concerns of the community,” the MHA added in its statement.

It also mentioned that the return of UNLF to the mainstream will also encourage other valley-based armed groups to participate in the peace process in due course.

The UNLF was formed in 1964 and has been operating both within and outside Indian Territory. The agreement is poised to give a fillip to usher in a new era of peace in the North East in general and Manipur in particular.

The agreement will not only bring an end to hostilities between UNLF and security forces, which have claimed precious lives on both sides over the last more than half a century but also provide an opportunity to address the longstanding concerns of the community.

It is hoped that the return of UNLF to the mainstream will also encourage other valley-based armed groups to participate in the peace process in due course.

A Peace Monitoring Committee (PMC) will be constituted to oversee the enforcement of the agreed ground rules. The development is likely to be a significant step in restoring peace and normalcy in the state. (ANI)

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