Protesters in Manipur clashed with police outside a sports complex where the Chief Minister was present, demanding action over the recent killing of three Meitei men. A 48-hour shutdown has affected normal life in Imphal Valley districts, and effigies of political figures were burnt. The state continues to grapple with ethnic conflict.
Militants ambushed 14 Meitei men in Manipur on Monday, killing three and injuring three others. The attack, which occurred in the Sunurok hills, sparked widespread protests in Imphal, with locals placing bodies outside the Chief Minister's residence. Police used tear gas to disperse protesters. Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the killings and held security review meetings, while the opposition Congress demanded his resignation, citing the state's ongoing ethnic violence since May 2023. Security forces have launched a combing operation with drones and sniffer dogs.
Eighty-four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Manipur were hospitalised on Thursday due to suspected food poisoning after consuming breakfast. They had arrived in the state on Wednesday and were staying at a construction site. Their condition is stable, and tests are underway to determine the cause. Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh expressed concern and wished them a speedy recovery, highlighting the BSF's role in maintaining law and order amidst ongoing ethnic violence in the state.
Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam informed the assembly that 306 people have been killed and 49 are still missing in the ethnic violence that began in May 2023. The conflict between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, sparked by a protest over Scheduled Tribes status, led to President's rule and subsequent political changes in the state.
Suspected militants gunned down two Kuki women and burnt farmhouses in Manipur's Tamenglong district, following other recent killings. A Kuki organisation, Kuki Inpi Manipur, has condemned the attacks and stated that the bodies will not be claimed until justice is served, questioning the silence of state and central governments amidst the ongoing ethnic conflict.
The Supreme Court has expressed shock over numerous deaths, including unnatural ones, in relief camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Manipur. It directed the state's chief secretary to explain steps taken for investigation, criminal proceedings, and ensuring safety, questioning low compensation and incomplete post-mortems. The court also sought a report from MSLSA and urged expeditious trials in violence-related cases.
'The unfolding events indicate a dangerous internal security situation in Manipur and the region. It can have external ramifications also.'
Amidst ongoing ethnic tensions, a new political alignment in Manipur sees Meitei and Naga groups uniting to demand an update to the National Register of Citizens with a 1951 base year, a move fiercely opposed by Kuki-Zo communities who fear it will disenfranchise them.
India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is actively courting Sri Lanka's Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a Marxist party with strong Sinhalese nationalist roots, marking a significant shift in bilateral relations despite ideological differences. This engagement, highlighted by a recent high-profile visit by JVP leader Tilvin Silva, aims to foster cooperation on economic projects and address New Delhi's concerns over slow progress in India-aided initiatives in the island nation.
A coalition of 14 Meitei civil society organisations in Manipur has urged Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to implement a National Register of Citizens before the 2027 Census, arguing it is crucial for resolving the state's ongoing ethnic conflict and identifying 'illegal migrants'.
The UK has announced a comprehensive sanctions regime against Israeli settlements in the West Bank, banning the import of goods and targeting entities involved in settlement expansion. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband condemned the "ethnic cleansing of Palestinians" and highlighted international support for the UK's stance, while Israel reacted strongly with counter-measures.
Many women admit that while they keep clamouring to know the whereabouts of their disappeared family members, they are painfully aware that all of them may have been done to death, points out M R Narayan Swamy.
A tragic bomb attack in Manipur's Bishnupur district has killed two children and injured their mother, igniting protests and raising concerns about ongoing ethnic violence in the region.
The BRICS grouping adopted a consensus joint declaration in New Delhi, successfully navigating differences on the West Asia conflict but notably omitting any direct mention of US strikes on Iran or Iranian military attacks on Gulf Arab nations. The declaration also criticised Israel's actions in Gaza and called for a concerted approach against terrorism.
'People have been facing significant difficulties due to skyrocketing airfares, and road transportation was inaccessible until now.'
Suspected Kuki militants launched a bomb attack in Manipur's Bishnupur district, killing two toddlers and injuring their mother. The incident occurred in Moirang Tronglaobi, an area close to Churachandpur, which has experienced ongoing ethnic conflict.
Security forces in Manipur have conducted extensive search operations in four violence-affected villages in Kangpokpi district, recovering a significant cache of arms and ammunition and destroying thirty illegal bunkers. Similar operations also took place in Churachandpur district. The proactive measures, overseen by the new DGP, aim to curb ethnic violence that has claimed over 260 lives since May 2023, receiving praise from former Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
Ananya Panday, Suhana Khan, Alia Bhatt, and Kareena Kapoor Khan are setting a new fashion trend by pairing traditional saris with modern, strapless blouses, offering a bold and glamorous twist to ethnic wear.
Fourteen civil society organisations from Manipur have urged the Centre to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state before the completion of Census 2027. They argue this is essential to address concerns over demographic changes and alleged illegal immigration from Myanmar, which they believe has altered the state's population profile.
Forty-six militants of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (People's War Group) surrendered before security forces in Manipur on Tuesday, the police said.
Violence erupted in Manipur's Bishnupur district following a bomb attack that killed two children and subsequent protest deaths at a CRPF camp. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and prompted a government investigation.
To get its act going in Myanmar, India would need very dynamic diplomacy and not the lazy all-eggs-in-one-basket approach, points out Subir Bhaumik.
The Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Delhi and NCR, has voiced strong opposition to the current Manipur government, citing a lack of legitimacy and demanding a separate administration for Kuki-Zo people amid ongoing ethnic tensions and displacement.
Two people were killed and five others injured after a mob stormed a CRPF camp in Manipur's Bishnupur district following a protest against a bomb attack that killed two children.
A US Congressman has introduced a resolution urging the US government to recognise the 1971 atrocities committed against Bengali Hindus in Bangladesh by the Pakistani Army as a genocide, seeking justice and historical acknowledgement.
Two years after ethnic violence erupted in Manipur, thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) continue to live in overcrowded camps, struggling to rebuild their lives and facing an uncertain future. Despite the sacking of the Chief Minister and the imposition of President's rule, peace remains a distant hope. While hill-based Kukis demand a separate administration, Meiteis seek implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and deportation of those they consider illegal immigrants. The IDPs, grappling with severe psychological distress, feel forgotten by the government and are forced to depend on the mercy of others for basic needs.
The BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi concluded without a joint statement due to disagreements over the West Asia conflict, with Iran blaming the UAE for the lack of consensus. India, as the host, issued a chair's statement highlighting the differing views.
Tension remains high in Manipur's Ukhrul district after Tangkhul Naga civilians were allegedly detained by villagers of another community. The incident follows recent ethnic clashes between the Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities, prompting appeals for calm and the safe release of those detained.
Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh expressed optimism following a meeting with the Kuki Zo Council, viewing it as a positive step towards restoring peace and trust between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the state.
'President's Rule has already been extended twice and one cannot keep the assembly in suspension for much longer.'
For now, Yumnam Khemchand Singh's leadership will be judged not by promises or symbolism, but by whether his government can prevent further violence and begin the slow, difficult work of rebuilding trust.
Iran was the chance to arrange a concert of nations, to actually be a Vishwaguru. Instead, we are watching from the sidelines as Pakistan, the same country that is apparently still at war with Afghanistan, hosts talks between US-Israel and Iran. The irony is hard to miss, points out Amberish K Diwanji.
'Vijay did not defeat Dravidian politics from outside. He entered the Dravidian field and claimed ownership of it. 'His argument was not that the room should be destroyed. It was that the present occupants no longer deserved to remain in it.'
The Supreme Court has directed the CBI to submit a status report on the FIRs related to the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence and is considering having the Manipur or Gauhati High Courts monitor the trials.
'Why are IPKF martyrs not being officially recognised and appropriately honoured? And is the government really changing its mind on this now?', asks Aditi Phadnis.
Kuki organizations are demanding justice after a Kuki woman from Manipur died from an illness allegedly linked to the trauma she suffered after being gang-raped in 2023. They allege government inaction and demand an independent probe.
No process can offer a panacea for ethnic conflict, but there are times at which a legal process could work to defuse violence, asserts Supreme Court lawyer Devvrat.
The ITLF said Mizoram has welcomed more than 40,000 refugees from Myanmar and displaced people from Manipur, and it is still the most peaceful state in India.
'But at least the stepping stone has started.'
Modi said peace is paramount for development, and the Centre is committed to achieving it.
