Showing posts with label Manipur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manipur. Show all posts
15 June 2015

No Sign of Life in This Manipur Village

Assam Rifles personnel to carryout counter insurgency operation in a remote location of Chandel district . DEEPAK OINAMBy Ratnadip Choudhury
Life after ambush: Ever since attack, people have fled in hundreds

Tucked in between dense gurgles and undulating hillocks, Paraolon is now almost a ghost village.

Chandel (Manipur), Jun 15 : The spell of staccato of fire is still in the air; on June 4 just at stone throw distance from this remote village in Manipur’s Chandel district, a joint action unit of militants groups from the North-East ambushed troopers from 6 Dogra regiment who were passing their village as a part of their de-induction.

The attack left 18 Indian Army Jawans dead. The Army claims to have carried out at at least two clinical strikes and inflicted significant casualities.

Now what remain in Paraolon is a heavily armed security picket, domestic animals loitering around without food and with no signs of the local villagers. Ever since the attack they have fled in hundreds, Ten days have elapsed, yet not a single person has returned back to the village.

When journalists reached them on Sunday, some 30 km away in Ralringkhu village near Chandel town, they rubbished government and security agencies claims that confidence building measures are being taken in the border villages on the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur. Paraolon villagers have raised serious security concerns and not a single villager have gone back to their village, since they apprehend’ threat to their lives.

“You have been the first media to find us out. We have been watching in TV so many new things about the militants and the Army counter attack, but no one is bothering about us. We fled in one cloth. Infact most of the villagers were in Chandel owing to the June 1 ADC polls. We had to cast our vote since there was an independent candidate from our village. While over 200 people were in Chandel, only 10 remained in the village when the attach took place. They came here the next day.

We have tried to reach out to the government asking for more security but to our dismay the government did not sent any official to us. The Army and the Assam Rifles never came. Even media went on reporting that we have started moving back, while the reality is that we are in deep fear and apprehend fresh attacks,” said village chief of Paraolon ADC village James Dilbung.

Officially Paraolon has a population of 412 people, but at any given time only 200 odd people live there since oters remains out of the village in search of work and education. Inhabited by the Lamkang Naga tribe, the village has very basic infrastructure. It takes them sometimes two hours to reach the district headquarter in Chandel town, electricity is almost never available and the village Public Healthcare centre (PHC) only has one nurse assigned who comes only once or twice a year. 

The village is dependent on Jhum (shifting cultivation), cutting firewood from the forest and fishing for a living.

Paraolon is the last Naga inhabited village near the Indo-Myanmar border, the border being about 25 Km away. After Paraolon, the village till the international border is dominated by the Kuki tribe. In fact this is not the first time Paraolon has seen violence.

“On April 15, 1993, during the Kuki-Naga ethnic clashes, our village was attacked by suspected Kuki militants. The entire village was torched, 5 people died in that attack. At that time the Manipur government did not help us, this time around the government even does not bother where we are,” says village elder S K Larsing, Many, who lost their houses in 1993, have once again been forced to take shelter in other villages and they fear more attack.
09 June 2015

NIA names leaders of wrong Naga faction in Manipur ambush case

 

Militants armed with advanced weapons ambushed a military convoy in Manipur’s Chandel district bordering Myanmar, killing at least 18 soldiers.

Guwahati, Jun 9 : The case registered by the National Investigation Agency on Saturday against several Naga rebel leaders in the June 4 ambush in Manipur that killed 18 soldiers has mistakenly identified two leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khole Kitovi) as members of ‘NSCN (Khaplang) and its affiliates’.

The NSCN (KK) reacted late Monday night, questioning the NIA’s ‘high-class investigative agency’ tag and wondering how it targeted the wrong group.

NSCN (KK) was formed in 2011 after two senior leaders Khole Konyak and Kitovi Zhimomi fell out with SS Khaplang, chairman of NSCN (K) that abrogated a 14-year ceasefire with New Delhi on March 27. The ministry of home affairs did not lose time in recognising NSCN (KK) and inking a ceasefire pact with it.

A government official in Delhi said the Manipur police, which had initially registered the FIR, had made the mistake: “Since a central investigating agency is required to re-register the original FIR when it takes over a case, the error continues to be reflected in the NIA’s FIR also.”

“The government should have known that the NSCN and NSCN (K) are two separate parties. In spite of NSCN (K) claiming responsibility outright for the Chandel incident, NIA is wasting time implicating the wrong people,” a NSCN (KK) statement said.
08 June 2015

After the ambush: What needs to be done for peace in Manipur



Manipur police commandos detain and question locals after a rally against the Manipur state government in Mao. (AP file Photo)

Thursday's ambush of an Indian army convoy by militants in Manipur's Chandel district, about 15 km from the Myanmar border, in which 18 army personnel lost their lives has been described by the Prime Minister as a senseless act.

While the perpetrators are yet to be identified, all available evidence indicates the ambush was authorised by a new umbrella militant outfit called the United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFW in short) formed a couple of months ago under the leadership of Khaplang, chairman of NSCN(K), a Naga insurgent group active in eastern Nagaland and having camps in the adjoining areas of Myanmar.

UNLFW is said to be a conglomerate of NSCN(K), United Liberation Front of Assam - Independent (ULFA-I), National Democratic Front of Boroland - Songbijit (NDFB-S), and Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO). This is not the first ambush inspired by UNLFW. There were two other ambushes on the Assam Rifles in the past few months, resulting in a loss of lives.

NSCN is a Naga insurgent group formed in 1975, having Naga sovereignty as its objective. In 1988, the group split into two factions, NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K). The Government of India and NSCN (IM), the larger group, entered into a ceasefire agreement in 1997 and peace talks soon after. The ceasefire still holds -- incidentally, it is one of the longest ongoing ceasefires in the world -- and the negotiations continue.

NSCN(K) also desired a ceasefire and in 2001 the government entered into such an agreement. Owing to strong differences between the two factions of NSCN, and also the fact that Khaplang himself lives mostly in Myanmar, direct formal peace talks with him could not commence.

Meanwhile, the Naga civil society tried its utmost and with persistence, to bring peace between the rival factions and to end factional killings. NSCN(K) keeps on splitting. In 2010, it split, leading to a new faction called NSCN-KK. In March 2015, Khaplang expelled two NSCN(K) leaders and unilaterally abrogated the ceasefire with the government on the ground that the ceasefire did not lead to any political solution.

The expelled leaders formed a new outfit called NSCN (Reformation) and in April 2015 signed a ceasefire agreement with the government for a period of one year. The government expressed its dissatisfaction with the Khaplang faction as its cadres continued to commit ceasefire violations and extortions.

NDFB(S) and ULFA(I) are also anti-talks factions, and have split from the parent organisations when the latter settled for negotiations with the government.

Reports that many other Meitei insurgent groups such as KYKL and KCP were closely involved with Khaplang in planning the creation of UNLFW, as a coordinating body to achieve the common objective of fighting against the government, are worrying. This tie-up could lead to various Northeast insurgent groups finding safe havens in NSCN(K) camps in Myanmar, easier procurement of illegal arms, better training for militant cadres, etc.

Manipur is largely comprised of hills (80% of the area) dominated by the Naga and Kuki tribes and the valley area (the remaining 20%) is almost exclusively inhabited by the Meiteis (read Manipuris).

There has been a large number of Meitei militant groups operating in the valley for several years. Their principal grievance is that the merger of Manipur state was done under pressure and that the Government of India gives more attention to Naga issues and not to issues related to the Meiteis.
Irrespective of the merits of these arguments, the fact remains that neither the government nor the Meitei insurgent groups ever seriously attempted to get to the negotiating table. The Meitei insurgency is being treated essentially as a law and order problem. It is important that a serious political dialogue is started with the Meitei groups to look at their social, developmental and political issues.

Even as regards the negotiations with Naga groups, with whom negotiations are going on or are to be commenced, the groups must feel convinced that the government is serious about finding a mutually acceptable solution. It is easier said than done. A lot depends on the reputation and credibility of the government’s interlocutors.

Simultaneously, the government should seek necessary cooperation from the Myanmar authorities to deny safe havens for militant groups active in India. The international border has to be managed in an effective manner to stop crossing over of militants.

Taking into account the cross movement of insurgent groups in the Northeast, the responsibility of sealing the India-Myanmar border should be the sole responsibility of the Army. A proper assessment of the performance of the Assam Rifles should be done and a decision taken about their deployment in the Northeast or elsewhere.

The state police forces should be strengthened substantially. They can be supported by central police organisations, which have been substantially strengthened in the last decade. If conditions in the Northeast improve, the government should review the use of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in specific areas.

The author is former home secretary and interlocutor for talks with the Naga group NSCN-IM. The views expressed are personal.
05 June 2015

20 Indian Soldiers Killed in Ambush in Manipur


By Hari Kumar

New Delhi, Jun 5 : At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed during an ambush Thursday by militants in the remote northeast of the country, in one of the deadliest confrontations in recent years.

The attack, in the Chandel district of Manipur State close to the border with Myanmar, was carried out against a small convoy of army vehicles traveling from one army camp to another in the hilly and forested area about 60 miles south of the state capital, Imphal.

“At least 20 soldiers were killed and 11 are injured,” said Col. Rohan Anand, an army spokesman in New Delhi. “The army convoy was first blasted using improvised explosive devices followed by rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire.”

Several similar attacks have been reported in recent months in the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

As Thursday’s ambush occurred in an area without phone communication, details were slow to emerge. “We are still waiting for the police party to come back,” said P. K. Tutusana, the spokeswoman for the Manipur police.

India’s defense minister, Manohar Parrikar, condemned the assault and vowed in a statement that “those who have committed this cowardly act will be brought to book.”

Manipur has 41 militant groups, though the government is currently in peace negotiations with 36 of them. However, the remaining five “are the most important ones,” said J. Suresh Babu the home secretary of Manipur. “This is a desperate attempt by militants to make their presence felt, and to try to make sure that people should not forget them.”
15 May 2015

Curfew Imposed in Imphal, 8 Members of Banned Outfit Held

The two masons died when they were taken "into custody" by the underground group during interrogation by the cadre members.

Kuki tribals, Kuki Revolutionary Front, KRF rebels, imphal curfew, imphal riot, imphal news, riot news, kuki news, India news
Children play near a vehicle torched in Imphal, Thursday.

By Esha Roy

Imphal, May 15 : Eight cadre members of the Kuki Revolutionary Front (KRF), a banned underground group in Manipur and a Suspension of Operation signatory with the Indian government, were picked up on Wednesday by a joint team of the Imphal West and Imphal East police commandos for the murder of two masons after a search operation was conducted in Thingsat village and its surrounding areas.

The two masons died when they were taken “into custody” by the underground group during interrogation by the cadre members. A furious mob turned violent on Thursday in light of these deaths in Patsoi village, where both the victims hailed from. They allegedly attempted burning a Church last night and today beat a Kuki driver to death. The violence has taken a communal turn as the masons belong to the majority Meitei community and there have been sporadic attacks on Kuki tribals travelling in the area. The Manipur police has imposed a curfew in the areas and has stopped movement on the Imphal-Jiribam highway where the village is located.
The two victims, both 20-years-old – Moirangthem Dayananda and Maibam Premananda – were working in Needy Home Academy, a residential school located at Maipou Khullen village. They, alongwith a 12-year-old Class 6 student Konthoujam Bishal, were picked up by the KRF cadre members who suspected them of being informants to another Meitei underground group. They went missing Sunday morning. On Tuesday, May 12, Bishal was handed over to his family by the KRF who also informed them that Dayananda and Premananda had “died during interrogation”. Bishal is presently being treated at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences.

The police have since recovered Abung and Premanandas bodies. Furious Patosi villagers have been blocking the national highway with human chains and tree branches and boulders and burning tyres at various points on the national highway. Police teams have been deployed along the highway to control the situation. They have imposed a curfew in the area and the Joint Action Committee formed by the family members of the deceased and villagers have called a 24-hour general strike from midnight tonight till midnight tomorrow.

The villagers have tried to burn a Church at Patsoi village last night. Five passenger vehicles were halted today and the passengers were made to disembark. The passengers, all belonging to the Kuki tribe, were beaten up – some severely. The five vehicles were then set on fire by the irate mob. A Shaktiman driver, another Kuki tribe members, was also beaten up by the mob. He succumbed to his injuries as he was being rushed to the hospital by the police. Sources said that there have been sporadic attacks on anyone being identified as belonging to the Kuki tribe.

The JAC has demanded an explanation from the KRF as to why these boys had been killed. They have also demanded that the government take action against the group and provide “befitting punishment’’ to the arrested cadre members. They have contended that such incidents do take place every once in a while but the government has not only failed to take action in the past but proper investigations are also not conducted into such incidents.
27 March 2015

VDF Rally in Imphal Turns Violent, Several Arrested

Imphal, Mar 27 : The Manipur Police today fired several rounds of tear gas shells and live bullets as the agitating Village Defence Force (VDF) personnel turned violent and tried to manhandle Imphal West Additional SP (Law and Order) S. Ibomcha at Khoyathong.After holding a meeting at THAU ground under the aegis of All Manipur VDF Welfare Association, over 1000 VDF personnel took out a rally towards Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh's residence.

Their demands included honorarium hike, setting up of a separate VDF battalion and service security.

A heated verbal confrontation broke out between the VDF personnel and a police team led by S. Ibomcha as the rally was blocked near ABC godown, Khoyathong.

Later, the police teams led by the OCs of Imphal and City Police stations and Imphal West Commando DSP Krishnatombi also arrived at the spot to control the agitating VDF personnel.
The police personnel later fired some tear gas shells to disperse the agitators as they tried to force their way towards the Chief Minister's bungalow pelting stones on the police.

In the clash, a group of VDF personnel rushed towards Ibomcha with one of them trying to manhandle the police officer, who was trying to help an injured VDF personnel.

On seeing the attack on the Additional SP, Imphal West commando DSP Krishnatombi and his team fired several rounds of live bullets in the air.

Several VDF personnel were taken into custody after the untoward incident.
20 March 2015

Rs 10L Ex Gratia For Manorama Devi’s Family

Imphal, Mar 20 : The family of Thangjam Manorama Devi, who was a victim of the excesses of the Assam Rifles, has received Rs 10 lakh as ex gratia from the Centre.

Manorama's bullet-riddled body, with signs of torture and rape, was found near a tribal village in Imphal East district on July 11, 2004. Soldiers of 17 Assam Rifles had picked her up from her Bamon Kampu residence of the same district the previous night.

Manorama's killing had triggered widespread protests across the state with locals renewing their demand for scrapping the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

As part of the protest, 15 women had stripped at the gate of the then 17 Assam Rifles headquarters at Kangla Fort in Imphal.


On Wednesday, the amount, which was deposited in the account of Manipur high court by the Centre, was given to Manorama's mother Th Khumanlei.
13 March 2015

IMPHAL, Over 30 Blasts in Just 80 Days

By Alok Pandey, B Sunzu

In This State Capital, Over 30 Blasts in Just 80 Days
There have been 35 blasts in the last 80 days in Manipur.
Imphal, Mar 13 :  Three people were killed and 23 injured in Imphal's latest Improvised Explosive Blast (IED) blast on Wednesday evening that took place near a crowded marketplace. This blast was the latest in a series of explosions that have rocked Manipur's capital this year, continuing a disturbing trend over the last few years, where explosions, loss of lives and a general atmosphere of insecurity have become the norm in Imphal, and across the state.

In just the last 80 days or so, Manipur has seen a whopping 35 grenade or IED blasts, a majority of these in Imphal. In addition, another 15 bombs have been detected, and defused. Among those dead in Imphal's latest explosion was 22-year-old Mintu Yadav from Bihar, a migrant labourer working in Imphal for five years, and someone who just got married four months ago. Imphal has a sizeable population of migrants who mostly work as labourers or run small businesses.

"You know this is very scary. Sometimes I just want to pack my bags and leave," said Arun Mahatong, who settled in Imphal in 1986, and runs a small grocery shop.
In 2014, there were 66 blasts across Manipur, which killed 15 and injured 76. Again, most of these blasts happened in Imphal.

A host of insurgent outfits operate in Manipur , often with impunity. The government says it is tightening up security measures and making CCTV camera surveillance operational in Imphal, but so far, these measures do not seem to be working.

"We have to contain these kinds of things. It is very disturbing that so many blasts are happening. I am not justifying anything, but Manipur is not the exception. These things could take place anywhere," said Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam Gangmei.

Another disturbing trend, how migrant labourers are increasingly being targetted in explosions. Since December 2014, seven non-locals have been killed in Imphal in three separate attacks. These attacks have come in the backdrop of a violent agitation over the past year and more, for the imposition of the Inner Line Permit rules across Manipur that will restrict the entry of outsiders into the state. The Manipur government says they have no confirmed link between the blasts and the Inner Line Permit Agitation, but it is certainly another worrying factor for an administration, already struggling with so many blasts.

Man arrested in Delhi for harassing a group of women from Manipur

Police said that the man has been accused of taunting and gesturing at the women. In a complaint to the police the women said that incident had happened around 5pm when they were at the park for an evening walk. The man had started following them and had had passed a few remarks as well.

New Delhi, Mar 13 : An 32-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly harassing a group of women from Manipur at the Lodhi Garden on Monday afternoon. Police said that the man has been accused of taunting and gesturing at the women. In a complaint to the police the women said that incident had happened around 5pm when they were at the park for an evening walk.

The man had started following them and had had passed a few remarks as well. When the women protested against this the man had allegedly made lewd gestures at them. Following this they called the PCR and registered a complaint.

The man was arrested from the spot by a team from the Tughlaq Road police station. During interrogations, the man has revealed that he works at a multinational company based in Dwarka and was at the park after work. A case under section 354 IPC (outraging the modesty of a woman) has been registered against him.
12 March 2015

First Swine Flu Death in Manipur

First Swine Flu Death in Manipur

Imphal, Mar 12 :  Manipur recorded its first swine flu casualty as a 35-year-old woman today died of the disease, state Health Director O Ibombcha said.

The victim, identified as Basaspatimayum Gita of Imphal East district died in a private hospital.

Another woman, whose fluid sample has been sent to Mumbai for confirmation of the H1N1 also died, but it was not yet confirmed whether she died because of the deadly virus or diabetes, Mr Ibombcha said adding the report from Mumbai laboratory was expected either this evening or tomorrow.

Mr Ibomcha said all precautionary measures had been taken to prevent spread of the disease with all government hospitals arranging separate wards for such patients and they would be treated free of cost.

Adequate medicines have been procured, he said and appealed to the public not to panic.

Four Killed After Explosion in Busy Market in Manipur

After an explosion in Imphal, Manipur, India, 2009.File photo

Imphal, Mar 12 : Four people were killed and fifteen wounded after a powerful explosion in a busy marketplace in northeast India on Wednesday.

The explosion occurred in central Imphal, state capital of Manipur, Myanmar's neighbor. It is a restive area that has long been the site of violent separatist attacks.

"Most of the victims were either shoppers or vendors," A.K. Singh, senior state police official, told AFP by phone from Imphal, adding that "a powerful IED (improvised explosive device) was planted".

According to Singh’s report, the injured were delivered to the local medical college hospital; at least six of them seriously wounded.

Hospital officials said four bodies were found in the site of explosion.

The motives of the attack weren’t clear and no rebel group has claimed responsibility for it.

The state has long been the site of violent attacks. Numerous tribal groups and small guerilla armies often clash with each other in the struggle for dominance in the state.
10 March 2015

We Hold Key To Manipur Peace, Naga Body Tells SC

New Delhi, Mar 10 : At a time when the Supreme Court is hearing a petition on Manipur being cut off from the rest of the country due to frequent blockades of the national highway, the United Naga Council on Monday audaciously told the court that there could be no peace in Manipur without the conglomerate's "consent and guarantee".

The petition was filed in the aftermath of the over month-long blockade of NH-39 by Naga groups at Mao, resulting in a severe economic crisis in Manipur. Essential commodities became scarce and their prices skyrocketed.

Referring to the recent lynching incident in Nagaland, advocate Prashant Bhushan wondered whether there was something called "law and order" in the state.

However, senior advocate B B Sanyal, appearing for the Naga Council, told the court that the council should be made a party to the pending litigation. "Without consulting us and without our guarantee, there will be no peace in Manipur," he told the court.

A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu impleaded the Naga Council as a party to the pending litigation and allowed Manipur standing counsel Sapam Biswajit to file response to the council's application.
09 March 2015

First Case of Swine Flu Detected in Manipur

In Manipur, a woman was detected with swine flu, the first case of this season to be found in the North Eastern state.

According to Dr. Jugindro Singh, Superintendent of Shija Hospital, the woman was undergoing treatment after being suspected of being infected by the H1N1 virus. Her blood sample was sent to SRL Diagnostics in Mumbai on February 28, following which her sample was found to be positive.

The woman is now under medical supervision.

The medical department in the Shija Hospital has been alerted so as to undertake urgent measures to tackle any eventuality of spread of the virus.
05 March 2015

Imphal-Mandalay Bus Service Talks On

New Delhi, Mar 5 : India is in discussion with Myanmar to start a bus service between Imphal and Mandalay and a joint technical survey was carried out in January to finalise the route alignment, Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh informed Lok Sabha today.

“Government of India is in discussion with Government of Myanmar for starting cross border bus service between Imphal in Manipur and Mandalay in Myanmar. A Joint Technical Survey was carried out in January, 2015 for finalising the route alignment for the bus service,” Singh said in a written reply.

He also said India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan are exploring the possibility of signing a sub-regional agreement on movement of motor vehicles.

“Two rounds of negotiations have taken place,” he said, adding that the agreement would enhance connectivity, facilitate easy movement of passenger and goods vehicles and enhance cross border transportation.

Singh said the leaders of SAARC, in the Declarations issued at the conclusion of Summit Meetings, called for realisation of the ideal of the South Asian Economic Union.

He said a study has also been commissioned by SAARC and Asian Development Bank (ADB) to suggest ways and means for the achievement of the South Asian Economic Union.
23 February 2015

Zomi tribes celebrate ‘national day’ in Manipur

Imphal, Feb 23 : The Zomi tribes on Friday celebrated their 67th 'Zomi Nam Ni' (Zomi National Day)-cum-Mithun Festival at Churachandpur district headquarters with pomp and gaiety.

Music and dance performances by various tribes lightened up the festive atmosphere and amid all the din and bustle the political leaders pledged to maintain peace and unity. This year's theme was "Marching forward in Unity".

Zomi tribes from Myanmar, Mizoram and New Zealand also participated in the event. The tribe can be found in 35 countries. The Zo ethnic group comprises Chin, Kuki, Mizo, Lushai and Kachin, according to the community elders.

Former chief minister and veteran politician Rishang Keishing (96) was the chief guest. He appealed to all the communities co-existing in the state to set aside their narrow interests and join hands for a better Manipur.

Keishing, who served 33 years as legislature and 22 years as MP, expressed dissatisfaction over the internal conflicts that have earned a bad repute for the state.

People should not forget that the hills should be brought on a par with valley in terms of development to maintain peace and harmony in Manipur, Keishing said.

Kuki National Organization (KNO) president P S Haokipw urged the state people to harbour a fellow feeling among themselves. KNO is an umbrella body of 17 Kuki militant groups which are signatories of the Suspension of Operation (Soo) with the government.

"I am pleased to say that the vision of unity is not confined to our people in Manipur, but extends to our fellow Mizo, Chin, Kachin, Konyak, Khimnungan, Zeliangrong, Karbi, Heimi, Para, Makury , Lainao, Naow and Nahen people," Haokip said. "We share a common past, customs, culture and tradition that bind us despite international boundaries that physically separate us," he said.
11 February 2015

Ex-Mizo CM Raps UPA For ‘Delaying’ Peace Deals

Aizawl, Feb 11 : Former Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga slammed the UPA government for refusing to engage with Manipur-based Kuki-Chin-Mizo ethnic insurgent groups in spite of signing ceasefire agreements with them.

The Mizo National Front (MNF) chief, who was in Shillong last week to broker a peace deal between United People's Front' (UPF) and the state, said the UPA regime signed Suspension of
Operation (SoO) agreements with Hmar, Kuki, Gangte and Paite militant groups but
did not hold political talks with them in the past 6 years.

"I met the Manipur-based groups in Shillong to find a permanent solution to their problems," the former underground leader said.

Zoramthanga said he hopes the NDA government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would work to solve the issues of the region.

"The outfits are extremely fed-up with the delaying tactics of the erstwhile UPA regime. We hope to have peace now," he said.

Zoramthanga had already met the Manipur-based
ethnic groups in Delhi after he returned from Myanmar and Thailand in January.

The former chief minister had visited Yangon and Bangkok to broker peace between the Myanmar government and ethnic insurgent groups in that country.

After meeting Myanmar ministers and officials in Yangon, Zoramthanga met
17 ethnic Myanmarese
insurgent groups, comprising Karens, Kachins, Was, Arakanese, Chins and other ethnic factions, in Yangon.
04 February 2015

A Slice of Royalty

MK Binodini Devi, Somi Roy,
Somi Roy, son of the late novelist MK Binodini Devi. (Source: Deepak Shijagurumayum)


By Esha Roy

It was northeast India’s first entry at the Jaipur Literature Festival. Churachand Maharajgi Imung, (The Maharaja’s Household: A Daughter’s Memories of Her Father) (Zubaan Books) is the story of Maharajkumari Binodini Devi, presented by her son Somi Roy, and uncle of the present King of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba.

“The rest of the country has little idea about Manipur, and the Northeast in general. It’s either all the news of violence or an exotic view of the state from the government’s tourism website. By exoticising us, we are seen as ‘the other’. At Jaipur, Manipur has finally claimed a seat at the table,” said Roy, at the launch of the book during the recently concluded festival in Jaipur.

When The Indian Express met him in Manipur, there’s none of the political rhetoric. He sits on the lawns of his mother’s home as white butterflies flit across. In the same garden at the back, is a pond, and two imposing trees flank a shed where performances were once held. “Some of my earliest memories of home was when I was barely four-years-old. Every evening, around 10-15 artistes would come home either to practice a play or sing Rabindra sangeet. Where we are sitting was once the heart of Manipuri culture and Binodini Devi was the Renaissance figure of Manipur,” he says.
MK Binodini Devi, a descendent of the Ningthouja dynasty, passed away in January 2011. A student of painting and sculpture at Shantiniketan’s Kala Bhavan from 1948 to 1950, she was greatly influenced by the works of Rabindranath Tagore. But it is through her writings that Imasi or the Royal Mother, came to be known in Manipur as its first educated woman and author. She went on to win the Sahitya Kala Akademi award in 1976 and the Padma Shri for Literature the same year.

“MK Binodini was Manipur’s Jahanara. Like Jahanara, she was a privileged princess. She was educated, she wrote and was published. And like Jahanara she loved her father dearly and stayed with him at his time of isolation till the end,’’ says Roy. This book was her last published work. She was the daughter of Maharaja Churachand Singh (1891-1941) and his queen Maharani Dhanamanjuri Devi. Princess Binodini was the youngest of five daughters from this queen (her father had an elder queen) and her book begins in 1891 when the Maharaja was still a boy and Manipur was Britain’s last acquisition. The book straddles the dual worlds of Manipuri tradition and modernity — of palace events, equestrian sports on one hand, and the building of Manipur and resistance towards the British, on the other.

There are stories about the royal staff, the tailors, the ironers, the coal workers, the soldiers’ wives who came, the hangers-on and the wet-nurses. Traditions, unique to Manipur, come alive in the pages. For instance, the bridal procession of a princess, which is headed not by the queen mother but the wet-nurse or the maid. She sits on a phiranji or a patch of red velvet usually reserved for royalty in the kingdom and has her own palanquin and brings the princess bride to her new home.

After Roy’s coaxing in 1992, on a visit to New York, Binodini Devi began writing her stories as a column in a Manipuri newspaper Poknapham. “The book is essentially a compilation of these essays,” says Roy, who has translated the book into English. A film curator in New York, Roy has now started a trust called Imasi, which preserves and promotes his mother’s art and the culture of Manipur.
26 January 2015

Manipuri Officer To Unfurl Tricolor

Imphal, Jan 26 : A young Manipuri woman officer, Lieutenant Haobam Bella Devi, will conduct one of the most important and prestigious activities during the Republic Day parade — unfurling the national flag — at Rajpath in New Delhi on Monday.

The act will be done in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee, PM Narendra Modi and the chief guest on the occasion, US President Barak Obama, among other distinguished personalities.

"When the President along with chief guest has been seated, the CO of the President's bodyguard gives command for salute. Right after that, the national flag is unfurled and national anthem is played along with a 21-gun salute," said a defence statement.

"Lieutenant Haobam Bella Devi of Ordnance Corps has been assigned the duty this year. Lt Haobam Bella Devi, a second generation army officer, is the daughter of Col H G Singh (Retd), of Top Leikei, Singjamei, Imphal," said the statement issued by Lt Col Ajay Sharma, PRO defence (Imphal).

Another Manipur officer Colonel Nameirakpam Romeo Singh, will be awarded the coveted Sena Medal (Distinguished) on Republic Day for his devotion to duty and successful command of Unit 2 Rajput (Kalichindi) in counter insurgency operations. tnn
22 January 2015

Court Rejects Attempt to Suicide Charge Against Irom Sharmila

By Alok Pandey
Court Rejects Attempt to Suicide Charge Against Irom Sharmila
Irom Sharmila

Imphal, Jan 22 :  For the second time within a year, a court in Manipur's Imphal has ruled that activist Irom Sharmila is not trying to commit suicide through her indefinite fast against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act or AFSPA. The latest court order in her favour means that Irom Sharmila will be released from judicial custody; she has been confined to a room at a government hospital in Imphal for the last 15 years.

The Imphal court today refused to accept the Manipur Police's chargesheet over a 2014 case, charging her with an attempt to commit suicide

On August 19 last year, a court in Imphal, while ruling on a case lodged against the activist way back in 2000, had ordered that she be released from custody. The court had also observed that the Manipur government and the police had "failed miserably" to demonstrate that she had intended to commit suicide through fasting.

Just three days after her release, the Manipur Police re-arrested Irom Sharmila and charged her with another case of attempted suicide. She was also charged under Section 353 of the Indian penal Code, for stopping a public servant from performing his duty, was also brought in.

Today, the court dismissed both the charges.

An anguished Sharmila told the judge today, "I am tired of this cycle of release and re-arrest. Please put my case to trial once and for all. Let the case be decided".

Babloo Loitongbam, an activist from Imphal and part of the Save Sharmila campaign, says, "She has been released by the court. All of us value her liberty and we hope she will not be criminalised further."

Neither the Manipur government nor the police have reacted on the court's verdict yet.

Manipur Director General of Police Shahid Ahmad told NDTV over the phone that he would only be able to speak later this evening.
20 January 2015

Dog-Bite Toll Rises in Manipur

By Khelen Thokchom

Imphal, Jan 20 : The dog-bite death toll in Churachandpur district increased to 13 as the fear of rabies spread to Imphal East and Thoubal too with similar cases being reported from these districts.

Andro MLA Th. Shyamkumar Singh said a 13-year-old boy, Ahongsangbam Angousana of his constituency which covers Imphal East district, died yesterday after being bitten by a dog some days ago.

Shyamkumar said the boy's death had triggered the fear of rabies in Imphal East and urged the authorities to take precautionary measures in the district as well.

The Churachandpur district monitoring cell of the medical directorate today said a six-year-old boy, Pauzakham, who was bitten by a dog some days ago died yesterday after four days of treatment at the district hospital.

The monitoring cell also received delayed information of the death of a 10-year-old boy, Letminthang Haokip, on January 9. He was bitten by a dog in October last year.

According to the cell, seven dog bite victims died last year while four died this month.

Dog-bite victims continued to pour into the district hospital of Churachandpur, official sources said.

The state government sent blood samples of two of the dog-bite victims to a Mumbai-based laboratory on Saturday for confirmation of rabies. The result is yet to come.

Official sources said four stray dogs have been caught since October last year by the Churachandpur district administration.

The total number of people given anti-rabies shot has been put at 304 since October last year. More than 3,400 dogs have been vaccinated.

Manipur health director O. Ibomcha Singh today toured Thoubal district following reports of dog bites to check preparedness of health centres in the district.

Official sources said 15 cases of dog bite were reported in Thoubal district.