A delegation of 21 Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc MPs will pay a two-day visit to Manipur beginning Saturday to assess the ground situation first-hand and then make recommendations to the government and Parliament for a solution to the problems in the violence-hit state.
However, a central BJP leader downplayed the development and ruled out any changes in the state government, noting that tussle between different interest groups has been a feature of Manipur politics.
'The Assam Rifles are supporting the Kuki-narco terrorists.'
Around 800 people, including children and the elderly, are living in pitiable conditions in relief shelters near Thangjing temple and Moirang Lamkhai which are being run by three organisations.
The latest clashes began after the army and para-military forces commenced combing operations to de-arm communities in order to bring peace, officials said.
'It is difficult to replace him because if he is replaced, it will lead to a sense of defeat among the Meiteis, rightly or wrongly, and more chaos.'
The top court also took note of the submissions about objectionable public utterances by some groups and individuals.
'The central government can stop further destruction... if they have the political will to do so.'
'Till the time the chief minister continues to have command over the state forces, we don't think that gives any hope of peace coming back to Manipur.'
The situation in Manipur remained tense on Sunday, after mobile internet services were suspended across the state and prohibitory orders imposed in some areas in the wake of an indefinite 'economic blockade' on two national highways called by an influential student' body over more autonomy for the hill districts, officials said.
'Meiteis started feeling insecure stating that the illegal immigrant population is growing in the valley, and that the majority community would become a minority.'
Gangmei in his appeal said the HAC "was a necessary and proper party and the proceedings before the high court were vitiated on account of not making the HAC a party".
'Why is a powerful person called Amit Shah who camped in Manipur for three days not able to maintain law and order in the state?'
'And (the prime minister does so) without giving any hint of a recognition of the political violence resulting in the ethnic cleansing (of tribals and Kukis) which he simply equates it with atrocities against women in other parts of India.' 'This is not acceptable.'
It asked the state government to file a fresh status report on relief, security, and rehabilitation measures to help violence-hit persons.
'They have come here to protect people, but the allegation is that they help the armed organisations attack and burn down the houses of the Meiteis.' 'Many people have lost faith in the central forces as they believe these forces are involved in the escalation of the problem.'
The apex court ordered adequate steps to be taken for protecting places of worship.
'Had it not been for the complicity of the state and Biren Singh's leadership, these riots would not have spread this far and for so long.'
'If Manipur is divided on ethnic lines, similar demands will come in other states also.'
'Can they (the Union government) provide security to every tribal in the valley? This is impossible now.'
'Given the blood on his hands, it's really hard to believe that he (Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh) has the audacity and the moral numbness to hold onto power.'
'As soon as the violence broke out, they should have stepped in and sent a message that the state is there to stop this violence.' 'Had they done it right there, the situation would not have gone out of control.'
Manipur was on the boil on Tuesday with eight people dying and 31 injured since Monday night in arson, violence and clashes between mobs and police in Churachandpur district even as curfew continued since last night.
The church bells don't toll in Churachandpur any more. The hill district in Manipur has been in mourning for more than a year.
Army Chief Gen MM Naravane on Wednesday described as 'highly regrettable' the December 4 firing incident in Nagaland's Mon district in which 14 civilians were killed and said 'appropriate action,' as required to uphold the law of the land, would be taken based on the investigation.
The officer issued an advisory, saying the contents of the previous letter had been "misconstrued".
The fulcrum of victory or defeat of parties attempting to form a government is held by smaller players and those willing to defect.
Naga splinter groups impatient with stalled talks as well as rebel Manipuri groups who have a stake in disrupting upcoming elections to the state assembly, are believed to be regrouping in the borderlands of China's Yunnan province and Myanmar, taking advantage of the turmoil in the latter by using it as a transit corridor.
About 80 per cent of the electorate on Wednesday voted in the elections to the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat in the hill districts. Reports from Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel and Tamenglong said that polling ended peacefully at 5 pm.
An army jawan was killed and two others seriously injured when a powerful bomb, allegedly planted by insurgents, exploded in Manipur's interior Churachandpur district bordering Myanmar and Mizoram on Tuesday morning.
AFSPA can be safely lifted from almost 90 per cent of Nagaland, argues Shekhar Gupta.
Almost all states and Union Territories have extended the curbs which they first started imposing in mid-April as the second COVID wave hit the country.
Nine young men killed in police firing last August have become symbols of oppression of the tribals of Manipur.
The crippling economic blockades on two national highways in Manipur entered the 93rd day on Monday, even as one of the sponsors called for a 48-hour bandh in five hill districts from midnight to mount pressure on the government.
Exploiting the killings to ratchet up the tension in the region and harden negotiating positions with the central government serves nobody, least of all the people of Nagaland. The peace process must not be stalled because of this incident or distracted by calls to repeal the AFSPA, argues Vivek Gumaste.
With COVID cases declining, Delhi will see further relaxation in lockdown, including reopening of markets and malls and resumption of metro services, from June 7 while Maharashtra will implement a five-level plan to ease curbs based on weekly positivity rate and occupancy of oxygen beds in districts.
The houses belonged to Phungzaphang Tonsimg, minister in charge of family welfare, and MLAs Manga Vaiphei from Henglep constituency and Vungzagin Valte from Thanlom constituency, police said.
More than 10 Kuki outfits, demanding carving out of small states from Manipur on ethnic lines, are operating in the state.
Tamenglong and Chandel districts recorded 85 per cent polling.
Thirteen persons were killed and over 50 seriously injured on Thursday when a bus overturned and rolled down a hill at Tuilaphai area in Manipur's Churachandpur district, official reports said.
