Insurgency / Manipur

Imphal, May 10: Even though political parties have been harping on modernizing the security forces of the state, the government has failed to utilize the funds for the past some years under the Security Related Expenses (SRE) sponsored by the Centre. An officials source said out of the released amount by the Centre the State had to return back Rs 19.43 crore during the year 1998-99, Rs 3.44 crore during 1999-2000, Rs 14.17 crore during 200-2001 and Rs r crore during 2001-2002. The total amount comes to a staggering Rs 41.08 crore. The scheme has been allotted to the state for purchasing new...

Imphal, May 10: About sixty surrendered militants gheraoed the chief minister?s bungalow this afternoon, for around three hours, demanding implementation of their promised rehabilitation package. The ex-militants, most of whom have been lodged at barracks in Imphal west and east police station, congregated at the front gate of the chief minister?s residence at around 1 pm. The onetime militants, having affinity with different valley based proscribed groups, were hoping to address their grievances to the chief minister, O Ibobi and urge him to actuate the government?s promises for their...

Imphal, May 09: Indo-Myanmar border trade has been severely affected following the indefinite transport strike called by the Imphal-Moreh Road Transporters' Joint Action Committee on the Imphal-Moreh Road from today protesting the imposition of hefty vehicle "taxes" by UGs. Goods and items worth several crores of rupees are transacted daily at Moreh and its adjoining Myanmar town, Namphallong. Plying of both passenger and goods vehicles came to a screeching halt on the Imphal-Moreh road as a result of the strike. Trucks and auto-rickshaws have not been allowed to ply. The JAC has made stern...

Imphal, May 08: Though announced with much hype under the Prime Minister package at the fag end of 1998, the Loktak Downstream Project is yet to take off. Sources from the National Hydro Electric Project Limited, NHPC said the project is yet to take off because the State Government has failed to provide the required security cover and also because of the wrangling overcompensation for land acquisition. NHPC which is to be spearheading the project had taken an unofficial stand that they would not be able to continue work at the project if the State Government does not provide adequate security...

Imphal, May 06: A fierce encounter between two rival militant outfits near Latinkhan inside Jiribam PS last Saturday afternoon reportedly claimed the lives of five cadres. According to reports received by our correspondent, a five-hour long gun battle ensued between cadres belonging to MPLF and a combined team of NSCN (I-M) and ZRA cadres in a jungle near Latinkhan, 23 kilometers off Jiribam PS, inside Churachandpur district resulting in the death of five militants. However, official sources at Jiribam PS have not confirmed the report so far claiming they have not received any information. On...

Imphal, April 24: The underground Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, KYKL, is observing its eighth birth anniversary tomorrow. The chairman of the party, Achou Toijamba, has greeted the people of Manipur, and other peoples of the south-east Himalayan region, on the occasion. In his message, Achou Toijamba stated that the KYKL was formed on April 25, 1994 with the objective of unifying all underground groups of Manipur to jointly pursue the struggle for liberation. This ideal remained foremost for the KYKL, he declared. Underscored the need for all underground groups to join together in a single...

Imphal, April 24: Manipur Human Rights Commission member Y Laba has suggested to the O Ibobi Government to seriously consider the reviewing of the Disturbed Areas Act now in force in the State. In his letter sent today, Laba recalled the Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Act was first passed in Parliament in 1958 for implementation to the then undivided State of Assam and Manipur. "This means that Manipur has been considered "disturbed" as early as 1958 barely nine years after the country became independent", he pointed out. Stating that more and more areas of the NE region have...

IMPHAL, April 24 ? Five persons including three civilians were killed during an encounter between the BSF and militants at Sugnu area in Manipur?s Thoubal district, DIG BSF PK Misra said on Wednesday, reports PTI. Earlier reports had said four persons including two civilians were killed in the encounter which lasted for over an hour on Tuesday. Two underground members were also killed in the encounter. Two others were injured during the exchange of fire, police said. The bodies of the dead and the injured persons were taken away by the underground members. Misra said in a statement that an...

Imphal, April 23: Three of a family were killed and another member of the same family, a one and half year old kid injured in a crossfire between BS and militants near Zou Veng, a Kuki village around half a kilometer south of Sugunu police station last night. Reports said eh BSF ambushed the militants and the subsequent encounter began from 11.30 pm and lasted till 1.45 in the morning. A BSF statement said a group of PLA cadres numbering around 60 were fired upon by 2nd Bn BSF personnel in between Sugunu and Sangaikot at around 12.30 pm last night. During the encounter, one PLA cadre...

Imphal, April 19: The chief minister O Ibobi Singh has reaffirmed that his Secular Progressive Front ministry will never implement Prevention of Terrorist Act, POTA in the state. The chief minister during a short interview this evening at his official bungalow said that even though Parliament has passed POTA, his ministry will not accept this act, as the existing acts and laws are quite sufficient for facing insurgency at present. He said, the forthcoming cabinet meeting which is going to be convened on April 24 next will take a decision to nullify the process taken up for implementation of...