Insurgency / Manipur

Imphal, Feb. 27: After campaigning against drugs and liquor, the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) of Manipur has imposed a ban on chewing tobacco. The RPF, whose crusade against social evils has earned it the image of an outfit with a conscience, said in a statement here that all brands of khaini and zarda should be neither sold nor consumed in the state from April 13. “Anybody who is found violating the ban will be punished without warning,” it added.

The outfit appealed to elders, especially parents and guardians, to advise their wards against chewing tobacco.

The RPF observes...

Imphal, February 27: Though Yumlembam Sanamacha was picked up by personnel of 17 Rashtriya Rifles way back in February 1998 and still remain untraced and though his last rites were finally performed on February 23 this year, the investigation of the case taken up by the Yairipok Police Station is still pending as the police have yet to effect examination and arrest the guilty Army personnel. And what is more interesting is that the personnel of the 17 Rashtriya Rifles who were allegedly involved in the case have had already shifted to other States. On February 13 this year, Yumlembam Amubi...

Imphal, February 26: The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in connection with raping of one Meinam Bina Devi of Luwang-shangbam Matai Mamang Leikai by a personnel of 25 Assam Rifles on October 6, 2001 has been moved before the Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court today. The PIL is being filed jointly by Human Rights Alert represented by its executive director Babloo Loitongbam and Human Rights Law Network (Manipur Unit) represented by its coordinator Nonibala Devi Yengkhom against deprivation of bodily integrity and invasion of sexual freedom of the victim. Meihoubam Rakesh, the counsel...

Imphal, February 26: In a significant ruling a Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court has asked the Centre and the State Government to pay Rs 2 lakhs to the family members of Laishram Bijoykumar who disappeared after he was picked up by Hindi speaking personnel on the intervening night of June 4 and 5, 1996. Laishram Bijoykumar, a resident of Thangmeiband Hijam Dewan Leikai and a martial art exponent and social worker disappeared after he was allegedly picked up by Hindi speaking personnel on the said night from his residence. Issuing the ruling, Justices Amitab Roy and IA Ansari asked the...

Imphal, Feb. 24: The cremation and shradh ceremony of Yumlembam Sanamacha, who went missing six years ago after being taken away by the army, were held today. After a fruitless wait of six years, the class X student’s parents — Jugol Singh and Arubi Devi — gave up all hope that their beloved son would return someday. They cremated their son on February 17 and observed the shradh ceremony as per Vaishnavite rites and rituals on Sunday.

Since not a single part of Sanamacha’s body has been found by the bereaved family, a body was carved out of a log of wood and cremated with religious rites...

Imphal, February 23: Reacting to the news item that a PIL has been filed against Assam Rifles authority for failing to take up a rape case, Assam Rifles has spelt out its position and the action taken up in connection with the rape case. A statement issued by the PIB Defence Wing today said that for speedy trial and quick dispensation of justice, the Assam Rifles authority took over the case in question from the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal on October 30 last year. Immediately a departmental inquiry was ordered to establish prima facie responsibility, said the statement and added that the...

Imphal, Febuary 21: Taking serious concern at the high incidence of rape of women by the security personnel with virtual impunity in Manipur, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed with the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench today by taking up the case of one Meinam Bina Devi who was raped by a personnel of 25 Assam Rifles on Oct 6, 2001 at Luwangshangbam Matai Mamang Leikai. The PIL was jointly filed by Babloo Loitongbam, executive director of Human Rights Alert and Nonibala Devi Yengkhom, co-ordinator of Human Rights Law Network (Manipur Unit). The petition strongly contended that...

Imphal, Febuary 13: Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singli while urging the Centre to initiate political dialogues with all militant outfits operating in Manipur, has expressed the hope that the decade-long armed struggle by the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) will come to an end with the militant outfit signing a memorandum of settlement (MoS) with the governments of India and Assam in New Delhi on Feb 10. Talking to the North East Press Service at his office chamber here, the chief Minister who also holds home portfolio blamed the Centre for its failure to take any spade work for inviting the...

IMPHAL, Feb 10? In a major ambush carried out by an underground group operating in this border State, five Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed near Lokchao along Imphal-Moreh highway in the Chandel district today. The incident took place near Moyonkhullen, 3km from Lokchao towards border town Moreh when well-armed underground militants attacked a BSF patrol around 9 am today. The BSF party was posted at Lokchao. The militants also took away three INSAS Rifles from the slain BSF personnel. The victims were head constable Dharam Pal, constables Robert, Sanjay Kumar, Laxman Bhai and...

IMPHAL, Feb 6 ? Militants freed six persons, including two government contractors, from captivity in Manipur?s Churachandpur district, official sources said on Tuesday.

The Kuki ultras, who had taken away four mechanics and two government contractors from the Khuga dam project site in Lamka area of the district on Sunday, released all the six at an interior locality of the district on Monday, the sources said here.

The sources refused to say whether any ransom money was paid to the kidnappers as demanded. The six released from captivity were ? mechanics O Joy, Kumar Singh, P K Sharma, Patwal...