Normal life was affected in Manipur on Thursday because of an 18-hour general strike called by some major social organistions to protest against kidnapping of a businessman by suspected Naga militants.
Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Issac-Munivah wanted to join the operations against NSCN-K militants.
Naga rebel group Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah has accused Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh of trying to derail the ongoing peace talks by making 'destructive remarks' against the organisation. According to the Naga rebel group, which had declared a state of truce with the government of India, the Manipur chief minister has shown his "antagonism" towards the peace talks.
Those who quit included deputy chief minister Y JoyKumar Singh.
Governor La Ganesan and Chief Minister N Biren Singh were among the early voters in their respective constituencies of Sagolband and Heingang.
The agency filed the charge sheets in the interconnected cases before a designated special court in Kamrup, giving a sequence of events before they went missing.
Violent protests over the death of two youths in Manipur continued till the early hours of Thursday with a mob vandalising the deputy commissioner's office in Imphal West and torching two four-wheelers, officials said.
They saluted 'the hands that weave timeless stories'.
Blockade is an issue which has seemingly widened the divide between the hills and the plains.
Prime Minister Manmohon Singh on Saturday said that there were no plans for a 'supra state' for Nagas in the northeast and appealed to militants to ensure peace in Manipur for speeding up development work there. "Manipur needs peace and tranquility for all-round development. Different communities have been living here for centuries and there should not be any misunderstanding among them," Dr Singh told a public meeting.
Two bodies, including that of a woman, with bullet wounds were recovered in Imphal East and West districts in Manipur, police said on Thursday.
To expect that these past decades of grief, inter-group killings, anxiety and fear will be brushed aside because of the Naga peace accord is being unrealistic. Memories are built on old wounds and they heal slowly. So, it is important to be cautiously optimistic, says Sanjoy Hazarika.
The government on Monday banned nine Meitei extremist groups and their associate organisations, which mostly operate in Manipur, for their anti-national activities, and launching fatal attacks on security forces.
The United Naga Council on Monday lifted its 100-day economic blockade on the Manipur side of two national highways without any condition but with a caveat that agitation would be re-launched if the government did not make an 'alternative arrangement' for Nagas in the state.
Sharmila will contest from Thoubal seat, convenor of her party People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance Erendro Leichonbam, said.
According to a statement by the Eastern Command, a column of the Indian Army operating along Indo-Myanmar border was fired upon by unidentified insurgents of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang about 4.45 am.
The Nagas, who inhabit the hills, feel the Manipur (Hill Area) District Council Act (Third Amendment) 2008, under which the election was to have been held, takes away the powers of the tribal people.
The NSCN-IM rebels have been accused of indulged in inducing voters in favour of candidates of Nagaland People's Front in Manipur hill districts dominated by Naga tribes.
The CBI has arrested from Pune a 22-year-old man suspected to be the mastermind behind the case of two missing Manipuri students who were believed to have been killed, officials said.
The crippling 'economic blockade,' imposed by the All Naga Students Association of Manipur on national highways in Manipur was lifted on Thursday noon.
These families were taken to the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district on the northern side of Imphal Valley early on Saturday, as they had become 'vulnerable targets', an official said.
"We are actually shocked. The prime minister did not even take into confidence chief ministers of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, who are directly affected. Here is another show of arrogance of this government," Gandhi told media persons.
Over 50 armed militants stormed the house of Khangthauanang Panmei, the independent candidate, overpowered the security guards and beat up his supporters before kidnapping him.
Incumbents Pushkar Singh Dhami and Pramod Sawant are the clear favourites but face some opposition
Manipur needs an integrated politico, military, socio-economic approach, says Sanjeev Nayyar.
Security was beefed up at all BJP offices throughout the state following the violence which erupted after the candidate list was announced, official sources said.
During a fresh round of talks with North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier in the day, the NPP leaders stuck to their demand for change in the leadership of the BJP-led coalition government, they said.
Naga rebel leader Thuingaleng Muivah, who signed the pact with the Indian government, says the framework agreement will lead to a new relationship
A maximum statewide alert has been sounded as social organisations plan to take out a torchlight rally protesting attempts to divide the state in the wake of the Naga talks.
She also demanded that Chief Minister N Biren Singh admit his failure and apologise to the people of Manipur.
The issue at the core of it is the perceived fear among the locals of getting outnumbered and uprooted by 'others' and eventually losing their identity
Five police personnel have been placed under suspension in connection with the incident in which a 29-year-old journalist was killed in police firing in Manipur, official sources said on Monday. The sources said a three-member enquiry committee headed by Principal Secretary, Home, Suresh Babu has been constituted to probe Sunday's incident and the panel would submit its report to the government for further action within a week.
The indefinite economic blockade called by two student bodies to demand that 7000 students be allowed to appear in the Class-X Manipur board exam began from midnight Thursday night along Imphal-Moreh National Highway, affecting movement of vehicles carrying goods.
The prime minister gave this assurance to an all-party delegation from Manipur led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. Singh also wanted a constitutional amendment in this regard.
The curfew was imposed this noon and covers Porompat and Sawombung subdivisions of Imphal East district, said an order issued by the district magistrate. It will continue till further directions.
"The voting percentage is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations are obtained as polling is scheduled till 6 pm in many constituencies. Final figures will be known on Saturday after the scrutiny of form 17A," the EC said.
Ban is the bane of life in the frontier state of Manipur that is plagued by myriad troubles ranging from insurgency, ethnicity to underdevelopment.
Only one petrol pump has stock but it will supply petrol and diesel only to school buses and school vans, official sources said.
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