Security has been tightened in Manipur's Jiribam district ahead of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's scheduled visit on Monday, with authorities imposing a ban on aerial photography using drones, officials said.
Curfew was relaxed in three Imphal Valley districts on Tuesday and the suspension on broadband internet lifted with conditions, even as Chief Minister N Biren Singh blamed the Congress for the present crisis in Manipur and NDA MLAs called for a "mass operation" against militants responsible for the killing of six women and children. Peaceful rallies were also staged across the state, with hundreds taking to the streets with empty coffins in Churachandpur district, demanding justice for those killed in a gunfight with the security forces in Jiribam, and members of various civil society organisations bringing out a procession in Imphal West district to protest the reimposition of AFSPA in parts of the state.
Manipur Governor Shivinder Singh Sidhu administered the oath of office and secrecy to Ibobi Singh.
This comes after 10 Kuki MLAs, cutting across party affiliations, had expressed their inability to attend the assembly session as violence in the northeastern state continued.
The proceedings began at 11 am with two-minute silence for those killed in the ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kukis that began on May 3.
'The prime minister has not yet expressed anything regarding Manipur. Is Manipur a part of India or not? If it is, why hasn't the Prime Minister of India spoken about it'
Violence was reported from some places of the north east state hours before the second phase of polling commenced as a BJP supporter was gunned down allegedly by a Congress worker and a crude bomb exploded outside the residence of an expelled saffron party leader, police said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party is ahead in 20 seats in Manipur, with Chief Minister N Biren Singh leading by a handsome margin of more than 16,000 votes against his nearest Congress rival in Heingang constituency, Election Commission data showed.
They cited the lack of trust in the leadership of O Ibobi Singh and said that due to him, the Congress failed to form the government even when it was the single largest party in the state.
The militants belonged to the banned United National Liberation Front, People's Liberation Army, Kangleipak Communist Party, Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup, People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and People's United Liberation Front
Prime Minister Manmohon Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi arrived in Imphal on Saturday on a day's visit to Manipur, official sources said.
London Olympics bronze-medallist M C Mary Kom has finally been alloted the plot of land promised to her by the Manipur government to expand her boxing academy.
Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has said that he tried to open peace talks with the ISIS, but the deadliest terrorist organisation rejected the offer by sending him a photograph of a beheaded body of a man
On paper, the prestigious Wangkhei assembly constituency in the heart of Manipur capital Imphal will witness a multi-cornered contest but all eyes will be on the interesting fight between senior minister Y Erabot Singh and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh's nephew Henry Okram.
The ruling Congress has pledged to improve the law and order situation in Manipur and withdraw the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act if voted to power in the assembly election.
Manipur government would award Rs 50 lakh to boxer Mary Kom who won a bronze medal in the London Olympics.
Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has expressed 'immense pleasure' and congratulated boxer Mary Kom on her winning the fifth women's world boxing title at Bridgetown, Barbados on Saturday.
The decision was taken following a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, an official spokesperson of the Relief and Disaster Management Department of Manipur told PTI.
Those who quit included deputy chief minister Y JoyKumar Singh.
The Manipur government has decided to provide arms and ammunition to the people of the state to defend themselves from militants. Official sources said in Imphal on Saturday that the state cabinet, presided over by Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, discussed the issue on Friday night at a meeting. About 300 youths at Heirok and 200 youths at Chajing, commanded by police forces, will be recruited to provide security to the people. Each youth would be provided with Rs 3,000
Several social organisations have also been opposing the AFSPA, which empowers security personal to shoot any suspect even causing death, and demanding its withdrawal from the state for many years.
The ruling party along with its alliance partner CPI notched up 22 seats of the 58 results declared so far.
Ibobi Singh was delivering his speech in a low voice just before inaugurating the fly-over, when he signalled for a glass of water. He shortened his speech and tried to take his seat, but fainted and fell down on the chair in front of the dignitaries present.
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on Thursday said some innocent people had lost lives in the past few years and urged the Centre to review or modify the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Manipuri organisations which oppose special powers to the army are open to holding talks with centre and state
Okram Landhoni, wife of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh won the Khangabok Assembly constituency, Thoubal district, with a margin of over 18,000 votes.
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, however, said he would not tolerate violent agitations that are being organised by a few groups in the state.
The police doused the flames but three of the youth received serious burn injuries, official sources said
The 37 MLAs supporting him in the 60-member House, include 30 from his party, the Congress, four of the Communist Party of India and three from the Rashtriya Janata Dal, party sources said.
Besides law and order, the long standing demand for junking Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, economic woes of the land-locked state which has hardly any industries, are expected to figure high on the agenda of the unfolding electoral battle between the two main parties with smaller local parties such as National People's Party and the Naga People's Front chipping in with their own demands.
The state government declared closure of all educational institutions on Wednesday to prevent the students from carrying out their protest.
A Manipur Police commando and two police constables were killed while nine others were injured when militants ambushed road-opening parties at two different places in Chandel district of Manipur on Thursday.
The blockade was imposed by the UNC since November 1, 2016.
Mobile internet services have been suspended in the state for the next five days.
Clashes erupted between agitators and police in Greater Imphal area on Sunday as supporters of introduction of Inner Line Permit in Manipur continued their defiance of the curfew, which stepped into the fifth day, and took to the streets in large numbers.
The PM added that developing the infrastructure in the north-east region is being given top priority by the government.
Myanmarese troops have attempted to construct a defence post and fencing along the border in Manipur where there is no demarcation of boundary between the two countries prompting India to take up the issue.
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