Politics / Manipur

Imphal, April 04: In an interesting political turn, the two member of Democratic People?s Party (DPP) may quit the Opposition Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) and join the ruling Secular Democratic Front (SPF). The DPA is a conglomeration of five political parties ? FPM, BJP, Samata Party, MPP and DPP. The Congress sent a formal written missive to the DPP yesterday inviting the latter to the ruling front. An emergency meeting of the DPP was held today and the invitation was discussed by the party?s leadership. The DPP leadership discussed the pros and cons of joining the SPF but a final...

Imphal, April 01: After 12 days of captivity in the hands of UGs, District Commissioner of Chandel, Yambem Thamkishore was finally released March 29 last. He was abducted near the PWD office Chandel, on March 18 last by suspected cadres of UKLF and NSCN(IM). According to reliable sources in New Delhi, the DC was released without the government having to concede to the demand for the return of recovered weapons from the NSCN(IM) men killed by the IRB on March 16 night. Talking to the IFP this afternoon, he expressed his gratitude to the people from all sections of the society, NGOs, Maira...

IMPHAL, March 29? Kidnapped Deputy Commissioner of Manipur?s Chandel district, Yambem Thamkishore was today released by underground NSCN (I-M), district superintendent of police P Dhanakumar said. Dhanakumar told PTI over phone from Chandel that Thamkishore was freed by the kidnappers at a place near Chandel. The SP said he did not know on what condition the NSCN (I-M) released Thamkishore who had been kidnapped from Chandel area on March 18.

As a condition to release Thamkishore, the NSCN (I-M) had earlier demanded return of the arms captured by India Reserve battalion personnel after an...

Imphal, March 27: The Nagaland Baptist Church Council, in a statement today stated categorically that the deputy commissioner, Chandel, Yambem Thamkishore, "should be released immediately without any harm done to him." The release also chided both the IRB and the NSCN(IM) cadres for causing the unnecessary and intolerable loss of human lives in the sorry episode. "Judging from media reports so far, the killing of the 11 NSCN(IM) cadres in Chandel District was needless and intolerable waste of human lives," it said. The NSCN(IM) cadres should have known better not to be riding around in a...

Imphal, March 27: With the abduction of Chandel DC Y Thamkishwor entering the tenth day today, the State leaders are stepping up their campaign for the release of the official. An all political party delegation is being sent to Delhi to press the Centre to take up steps for securing safe release of the DC. As part of the delegation, Revenue Minister E Biramani, Sekmai AC MLA N Biren and Chandel MLA BD Behring left for Delhi today. MP and MSCP president Th Chaoba and Arts and Culture Minister Dr M Nara are already camping in the nation capital. Chief Minister O Ibohi along with the two DPP MLAs...

Imphal, March 26: The United Naga Council, in a press statement today called upon the government of India and the NSCN(IM) to thrash out their differences without further delay to facilitate the safe release of Y Thamkishore Singh, DC Chandel, on humanitarian grounds. The statement signed by the UNC president, KS Paul Leo, also appreciated the selfless efforts of various social organizations based in Chandel in particular and others, for securing the release of the captive government official. The release further expressed serious concern "with the incident of March 16, 2002 at Pallel Bazar...

Imphal, March 26: An all political party meeting held today has discussed the situation arising out of the abduction of Chandel DC Y Thamkishwor and agreed to appeal to the NSCN (IM) to release the officer unharmed at the earliest. Chief Minister O Ibobi told reporters later at the Chief Minister's Secretariat conference hall that as reports from the NSCN monitoring cell in Dimapur had indicated their (NSCN) disinclination to hold talks with the State Government, negotiations for the release of^ the DC is going on at the Home Minister's level. He said till date there has been no direct...

Imphal, March 25: The Assam Rifles has strongly denied reports of harassment and assault of civilians in the areas of Khabam Lamkhai and Luwangsangbam in the wake of the March 21 bomb attach in which one AR personnel was killed and four injured. A statement issued by the Assam Rifles claimed that AR troops exercised extreme caution and restrain inspite of suffering casualties in the IED blast. It said the credentials of a few of the students of Liberal College were checked without causing any harassment since the locals confirmed of two boys moving under suspicious circumstances in the...

Imphal, March 25: Faced with no other option the State Government has decided to approach the Centre to secure the release of Chandel DC Y Thamkishore. This was decided during a Cabinet meeting held this evening, disclosed a highly placed source. The Cabinet meeting was held from 3.30 pm and stretched on till 6.30 pm and was presided by the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister recalled the various talks he had with the Union Home Ministry ever since the IAS officer was abducted by gunmen on March 18. However as law and order is a State subject the Centre had entrusted the entire responsibility...

NEW DELHI, March 25 ? Admitting that the abducted Deputy Commissioner of Manipur?s Chandel district was in their custody, the general secretary of NSCN(I-M) Th Muivah has set several pre-conditions for release of the official stipulating that if Government responds positively then the Deputy Commissioner would be released unharmed within the next few days. The Naga International Support Centre (NISC) quoting Muivah has demanded an immediate apology from the Government of India for the attack at Pallel in Chandel district in Manipur that led to killing of 11 NSCN (I-M) cadres. The general...