Imphal, January 11: The proscribed KYKL has claimed responsibility for shooting A Debidash Sharma on the leg on January 6 while he was on exam duty at DM College of Arts and Commerce. Stating that the teacher was punished for encouraging the students to indulge in unfair means during the TDC examination, the outfit in a statement today said that the punishment was carried out by a team of the Special Task Force (STF) under the Operation New Kangleipak (ONK). KYKL said that a team of the STF went to DM College of Arts and Commerce on receiving specific information that the students were...

Imphal, January 11: The first ever Asian theatre festival ended here today with the staging of Ritu, celebrated playwright-director Ratan Thiyam s latest production. Law and Parliamentary affairs Minister L. Nandakumar was the chief guest who declared the festival closed at 'The Shrine' playhouse. Thiyam, widely acclaimed for his series of plays based on war and violence themes, this time turned his focus on the relationship man and environment. Ritu, a brilliant portrayal of Indian cycle of six seasons - Grishma, Varsha, Sharad, Hemanta, Shishir and Vasanta - drawn from Kalidas's detailed...

Imphal, January 11: Despite staunch resistance by the Committee Against Tipaimukh Dam and threat to launch agitations, the State Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the implementing agency of Tipaimukh Multi-Purpose Project, Northeastern Power Corporation (NEEPCO) at New Delhi. Even as a meeting of the Committee held today at the conference hall of MBC, Imphal resolved to organize public rallies, bandh on NH 53, seminars and other agitational steps if the State Government signed the MoU, State Power Secretary, Rajesh Kumar had already struck the deal with NEEPCO officials...

New Delhi, January 11: Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah today assured Defence Minister George Fernandes that NSCN (I-M) will not target the Indian army any more. The unscheduled meeting with Fernandes turned out to be more significant than either side had expected as the minister too reciprocated in kind, saying that their cadres would not be ‘‘victimised unnecessarily.’’ The insurgent leaders had sought an appointment with Fernandes, known to be a Northeast sympathiser, only late last evening. He obliged and agreed to meet them despite the Governor’s meeting today.

Both the leaders...

Imphal, January 11: An all-party emergency meeting presided over by Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today conveyed to the Centre that the territorial integrity of the state would be maintained ‘at any cost’.

The meeting was held in the wake of the NSCN (I-M) leaders’ demand for formation of ‘greater Nagaland’ placed during the ongoing peace talks with the Centre in Delhi.

The resolution adopted at the meeting said the people of Manipur would ‘‘unitedly oppose attempt by any authority to disintegrate the state’’.

‘‘The territory of Manipur belongs to Manipuris (different communities...