Insurgency / Manipur

IMPHAL, April 19: UNC president Paul Leo who was abducted by suspected KNF (MC) cadres from Keithelmanbi on April 17 is safe and sound in the custody of his captors, said reliable sources. For the second day today leaders and representatives of Kuki and Naga voluntary organisations held a meeting at the residence of Transport Minister Haokholet Kipgen. Inside sources said representatives of both Naga and Kuki organisations met KNF (MC) functionaries late last evening at an undisclosed place at Senapati and urged the under ground outfit to release the UNC chief unharmed and at the earliest...

IMPHAL, April 18: The MSF has flayed the decision of the Catholic school authorities to close down the schools just because they were receiving monetary demands from militants. The more than 15,000 students of Catholic schools were admitted after the school authorities took full responsibility and they cannot be discarded just because the authorities were facing some problems, the students body said. Stating that the school authorities cannot use the students as their shields, a statement of the MSF said it will stand for rights of the students. Making a fervent appeal to all underground...

IMPHAL, April 18: All the major pressure groups of Naga and Kuki communities today made an impassioned appeal to the KNF (MC) for the unconditional release of the president of the UNC KS Paul Leo who was abducted by the Kuki militants Tuesday near Keithelmanbi in Senapati district. The leader of both Naga and Kuki communities including the presidents of All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and Kuki Students' Organization (KSO) at an emergency meeting held at the residence of the Tribal Development Minister Haokholet Kipgen this afternoon resolve to put on record the safe keeping of...

IMPHAL, April 17: The president of the United Naga Council, the apex body of Naga tribes of Manipur, was abducted today by suspected Kuki militants from National Highway 39 in Kangpokpi subdivision. The UNC chief, K. Paul Leo, was travelling to Imphal from Karong village in Senapati district in a passenger bus. Six Kuki militants stopped the bus in which Paul was travelling near Keithelmanbi village at 1 pm. They dragged out Paul and a Sema Naga couple travelling to Imphal from Nagaland. The Naga couple, however, was rescued by Manipur Rifles personnel later. The couple was escorted by Manipur...

IMPHAL, April 17: The president of the United Naga Council, UNC, KS Paul Leo, was kidnapped by unidentified armed men at Keithelmanbi, near Kangpokpi, on National Highway 39 from an Imphal bound passenger bus this afternoon. The UNC president was reportedly on his way from Karong to Imphal along with a friend. Reliable sources said the passenger bus in which they were traveling was stopped at around 12:30 pm at Keithelmanbi village, located about six kilometers south of Kangpokpi police station by about 10 well-armed men dressed in combat uniform, believed to be KNF (MC) cadres. After boarding...

IMPHAL, April 16: Another group of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party, KCP on the occasion of its 21st Anniversary has greeted the people of Manipur. The outfit, in a message issued today through Home Secretary Apanba Meitei, in connection with the foundation anniversary has fervently appealed to all the insurgent groups operating in Manipur to jointly pursue the common goal of achieving independence from the 'colonial yoke' of the Indian government. Pointing out that efforts to subjugate, conquer, and dominate any culture, country as well as traditions of any nation in the world by some...

IMPHAL, April 16: The Catholic Schools in the state are still in a limbo even after the school teachers have taken over the management of the schools. It may be recalled that the schools had closed down following threats from an underground group. All the headmasters of Don Bosco schools in Imphal have either left or are in the process of doing so for fear of harm coming to them after handling over the charge of day to day management of their schools to the teachers for the time being. However, the teachers and students are reluctant to attend classes after an anonymous caller ordered closure...

IMPHAL, April 16: The Judicial Magistrate First Class (Imphal East) Ms Noutuneshori has passed an order to produce the 28 year-old hunger striker Irom Sharmila in the court located at Lamphelpat for further detention under judicial custody on April 18. Mention may be made here that from Sharmila of Kongba had launched fast unto death agitation since November 5 last year in public soon after the Malom massacre in which 10 persons were brutally shot dead by 8 Assam Rifles personnel. Miss Sharmila is demanding immediate removal of the black laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 from the...

IMPHAL, April 15: A fierce gunbattle broke out between a combined force of suspected NSCN(IM) and KRA and the KNF (MC) in the wee hours today at Heijang village atop a hill, 3 kms south east of Kangpokpi police station. One militant was killed when Assam Rifles troops who rushed to the spot opened fire towards the militants. The gunfight reportedly lasted five hours. Villagers told this reporter, who went for a spot report, that the gunbattle began from 2 am and dragged on till 8 am. Police said they heard the loud gunshots from 1 am onwards. They said 21 Assam Rifles stationed at Kangpokpi...

IMPHAL, April 15: The All Manipur Students Union, AMSU has decided to appeal to the concerned authorities and others to make it possible for Catholic schools based in the valley to reopen immediately in the interest of the students. This was one of the resolutions adopted at a meting between AMSU and guardians of students studying in the Catholic schools in the valley of the state today at the conference hall of DM College of Arts from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm in connection with the suspension of regular classes in eight Catholic schools. A statement issued by the general secretary, AMSU H/Q, after...