Results for: Manipur

Former Congress leader Kapil Sibal has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, urging it to listen to the advice of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on the issues of rising militancy in Kashmir and Manipur, social unrest, unemployment, and inflation. Sibal emphasized that Modi should prioritize the situation in Manipur, which has been marred by ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities. He also expressed concern about the deadly attack on pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi, questioning the effectiveness of the government’s decision to remove Article 370. Sibal further stated that Modi lacks the mindset of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and that the BJP merely seeks power without the necessary expertise to govern.

The Congress party has emerged victorious in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections in Manipur, securing both the Inner and Outer Manipur seats. This triumph represents a significant defeat for the BJP-led alliance, which includes the National People’s Party (NPP) and the Naga People’s Front (NPF). Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and Alfred Kan-Ngam Arthur have emerged as the winning candidates in the Inner and Outer Manipur constituencies, respectively.

Akoijam, a prominent professor, was favored by voters seeking an alternative to the ruling BJP and secured an impressive 3,74,017 votes out of a total of 7,89,912. Arthur’s victory marks a historic moment as he becomes the third Tangkhul Naga to win a Lok Sabha seat since 1957.

The elections in Manipur were marred by ongoing conflict and unrest that began last year following protests by Kuki tribals. The violence has claimed the lives of over 220 individuals from both the Kuki and Meitei communities, including security personnel.

In an effort to address the flooding caused by clogged waterways, two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs in Manipur took matters into their own hands. Public Health Engineering Minister Leishangthem Susindro and MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh used a bulldozer to remove rubbish from the Nambul River, which had blocked the water flow and led to flooding in the state. The initiative was praised by some social media users, while others criticized it as a publicity stunt.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has de-listed Sangai International University in Manipur and advised against enrolling in any of its programs due to its failure to provide necessary information for inspection over several years. Despite repeated requests and a Show Cause Notice issued in December 2023, the university failed to respond, prompting the UGC to remove its recognition under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956. The UGC urges prospective students and parents to refrain from taking admission in Sangai University’s programs as any degrees awarded by the university will not be recognized for higher education or employment.

Torrential rainfall accompanied by severe hailstorms caused widespread destruction in Manipur on Sunday, resulting in significant damage to homes, particularly in Canchipur and Tera areas of Imphal West, where hailstones shattered tin roofs. Social media footage captured the devastating impact, showcasing strong winds demolishing huts across the region. In response to the worsening weather conditions, the Met Department issued an orange alert, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Manipur and other Northeastern states until May 7. Amidst the worsening conditions, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh ordered the closure of all educational institutions on Monday and Tuesday as a precautionary measure. Additionally, authorities provided a list of contact numbers for affected districts to facilitate assistance. Climate activists attributed the extreme weather events to rampant deforestation in the state. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), widespread light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by isolated thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds, is anticipated in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura over the next seven days.

An attempt by the Indian Army to confiscate weapons and ammunition in the Bishnupur district of Manipur on Tuesday was thwarted by women-led protestors. The incident occurred during a routine patrol in the Kumbi area when army personnel intercepted two SUVs carrying arms. The occupants of the vehicles fled, leaving behind their weapons, which were promptly seized by the army. However, a group of Meitei women known as ‘Meira Paibis’ quickly gathered at the scene and demanded that the weapons be handed over to them. The women argued that confiscating weapons from village volunteers left them vulnerable to attacks from militants in neighboring areas. Despite the army’s attempts to disperse the crowd by firing into the air, the women remained steadfast in their resistance. The situation was eventually resolved when state police forces arrived and negotiated the handover of the weapons to the police. The army personnel have since withdrawn from the area, and the situation has returned to normal.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against six individuals, including a juvenile, in connection with the horrific gang rape and murder of two women from the Kuki-Zomi community in Manipur in July 2022. The chargesheet details the alleged involvement of Manipur Police personnel in driving the victims to a mob of rioters, who then stripped, paraded, and sexually assaulted them. The incident sparked nationwide outrage and led to widespread protests.

A powerful IED blast on Wednesday damaged a key bridge on NH 2 in Manipur, leaving over 150 trucks carrying essential commodities to the capital city of Imphal stranded in the Senapati district. Unidentified miscreants triggered the explosion, damaging the bridge between Koubru Leikha and Saparmeina in Kangpokpi district at around 12.45 am. No casualties were reported in the blast, but the movement of heavy vehicles along NH 2 has been suspended with immediate effect to avoid any further incidents.

An improvised explosive device (IED) explosion on Wednesday damaged a bridge on National Highway 2 in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, affecting vehicular movement. The incident occurred two days before polling for the Outer Manipur constituency, covering 13 assembly constituencies. Security has been heightened and search operations are underway to identify the perpetrators. No outfit has yet claimed responsibility for the blasts. Earlier, violence and allegations of rigging marred the first phase of polling on April 19. The chief electoral officer has assured that the incident will not affect the second phase of polling on Friday.

Just days after Lok Sabha elections concluded in Kangpokpi district of Manipur, three blasts occurred on a bridge along National Highway-2 near Saparmeina on April 24 at around 1 a.m. No injuries were reported, but traffic has been disrupted along the route, which is crucial for supplying essential items to the Imphal Valley. Security forces have cordoned off the area and investigations are underway. No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts, which come just as the remaining parts of Outer Manipur are scheduled to vote in the second phase of elections on April 26.