Latest news with #President'sRule
The Print
6 hours ago
- The Print
Kuki woman killed in ‘crossfire' in Manipur chose to stay back even at peak of conflict, says niece
A farmer and wife of the village chief Khaikhogin Haokip, she was found dead in a forested area approximately 500 metres from the village, and about 50 metres from the road, a senior district police officer told ThePrint. On Thursday, Haokip was shot in 'crossfire' between security forces and 'unknown armed miscreants'. The incident took place in Langchingmanbi village, near the buffer zone dividing areas dominated by the Kuki-Zo community from areas dominated by Meiteis. New Delhi: Having witnessed extreme violence through 2023 and 2024, Hoikholhing Haokip finally felt safe in her village in Churachandpur, after President's Rule was imposed in strife-torn Manipur in February this year. 'Even when the conflict was at its peak in 2023, and most villagers had fled since the village was on the frontline, she was adamant about staying,' recalled her niece Gracie, as she mourned her death. 'My uncle always told us—our forefathers gave us this land, and even if we die, we will die in our own house.' The incident has fuelled a fresh wave of tensions in the region. According to police, Haokip was killed in crossfire amid a search operation after a Meitei man in a village in Bishnupur district was injured earlier that day, when some 'unidentified assailants' opened fire. Ningthoujam Biren Singh, a cultivator from Phubala Awang Maning Leikai, was shot in the left arm around 3 pm while working in his paddy field, Manipur Police posted on X. He was taken to the district hospital, and later referred to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal, about 30 km away. His condition is reported to be stable. 'In response, the security forces launched a search operation in and around Langchingmanbi, Heichanglok, and the western areas of Phubala village. During the course of the operation, security forces came under fire from unknown armed miscreants and the forces retaliated accordingly,' Manipur Police wrote on X. 'During the crossfire, a woman from Langchingmanbi village was found dead with a bullet injury.' Incident Report: Shooting at Phubala and Subsequent Exchange of Fire Today, at approximately 3:00 PM, one Ningthoujam Biren Singh, a cultivator from Phubala Awang Maning Leikai, was shot in his left arm by an unknown armed miscreant while working in his paddy field at Phubala… — Manipur Police (@manipur_police) June 19, 2025 Local police arranged to transport the body to Churachandpur District Hospital for necessary legal formalities. According to a document shared by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), the Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry (JKLI) battalion admitted to its role in the act that led to the death of Haokip. Following this admission, the JKLI agreed to resolve the matter under customary law and offered Rs 11 lakh as compensation to her family. Gracie, her niece, confirmed that the arrangement has been made. After Haokip's death, ITLF—comprising tribal organisations like Kuki Inpi, Paite Tribe Council, Simte Tribe Council, Vaiphei People's Council, Mizo People's Convention, and others—submitted a memorandum to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla Friday, urging immediate action over the killing. It said that the incident was a direct result of the violation of the buffer zone demarcated between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities. It stressed the urgent need to uphold the sanctity of these zones until a mutually agreed-upon Memorandum of Understanding or a Cessation of Hostilities Agreement is in place. 'We urge the government to take firm and proactive measures to prevent future breaches and to ensure that such loss of innocent lives does not recur,' the memorandum read. According to the senior district police officer quoted above, the incident did not occur inside the designated buffer zone, but around four-five km away. The area is close to both Langchingmanbi, a Kuki-dominated village, and Phubala, which has a Meitei majority. 'Even then, the distance between the buffer zone and the place where the incident took place is more than a kilometre,' the officer clarified. The officer added that there had been a longstanding dispute over farming in the area. The assailants were believed to have come from deeper in the hills. 'They are not locals and do not appear to be connected to the communities farming in the immediate vicinity.' A video clip of a man, who was with the Meitei man shot in the paddy field, being heavily circulated, shows him describing the incident. 'They came down, crossed the high canal, and opened fire. The firing happened so close we could see their faces,' he can be heard saying. 'I had to roll over and lie flat. If I had been standing, I wouldn't be alive.' The Kuki civil society organisations then called for the indefinite shutdown in hill areas in protest. 'Mrs Hoikholhing fell victim to the ongoing campaign of state-sponsored ethnic cleansing directed against the Kuki minority. Her assassination is a chilling reminder of the deliberate and relentless violence that has engulfed our people, abetted by the inaction and at times, complicity of the state apparatus,' read the joint press release by the organisations. The shutdown ended Saturday. The 'shutdown' which was imposed earlier in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts passed off without any untoward incidents and normalcy has been restored in the districts. — Manipur Police (@manipur_police) June 21, 2025 Five days ago, there was a similar flare-up in the Pukhao Leitanpokpi area of Manipur's Imphal East district, following a clash between members of the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities over an alleged farmland dispute. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: 'Manipur shows double-engine sarkar has failed. Kuki-Meitei don't trust govt' says GK Pillai
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
NE groups slam US travel advisory, call it ‘utterly irrational'
Guwahati: As the US State Department issued a Level-2 travel advisory for India, with special mention of Manipur and the northeast, leading organisations of the region like the North East Student Organisation (Neso) raised strong objections to such a move. Post-pandemic, tourist footfall has increased across several northeastern destinations, particularly in Assam. A key factor behind this rise has been the improved law and order situation, following the surrender of multiple militant outfits. Neso advisor Samujjal Bhattacharjya said the latest Level-2 travel advisory for India by the US State Department was unwarranted and unjustified. "The entire North-Eastern region is safe and best known for its hospitality. It has always welcomed visitors from across the globe," Bhattacharjya wrote on his X handle on Sunday. He said that such blanket advisories perpetuate unfounded prejudices and must be reconsidered. The All Assam Students' Union (Aasu), a constituent of Neso, also said the travel advisory was utterly irrational. "Assam is a state known for its scenic beauty and the hospitality of the local people. Safety was never a concern for tourists and visitors in Assam. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Doutor: Manter a massa muscular após os 50 anos depende deste hábito noturno Revista do Homem Saiba Mais Undo In fact, the entire Northeast is tourist-friendly," Aasu president Utpal Sarma said. Sarma noted that the advisory issued by the US may inadvertently perpetuate biases. He added, "This is totally unwarranted and needs sincere correction." While Manipur has faced ethnic unrest for over two years, the number of violent incidents has reportedly declined since the imposition of President's Rule in Feb. Responding to the advisory, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) convenor Khuraijam Athouba said, "We believe that it is a direct consequence of the Govt of India's reimposition of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime in Manipur with effect from Jan 1, 2024, in the wake of the ongoing Manipur crisis. This move has misinformed the global community about the actual situation in Manipur and the region, projecting a distorted picture of the security environment, whereas we firmly believe that it has nothing to do with the safety or security of visiting foreigners." Regarding the northeast, the travel advisory for northeastern states urged reconsideration of travel to this area "due to terrorism and violence". "Ethnic insurgent groups occasionally commit acts of violence in parts of the northeast," read the advisory, adding that these incidents include bombings of buses, trains, rail lines, and markets. The advisory, however, stated that there were no recent reports of violence in Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim, or Tripura. US govt employees working in India require prior approval before visiting the states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as when visiting any areas outside of the capital cities of Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Tripura. The advisory advised not to travel to Manipur due to the threat of violence and crime. "Ongoing ethnic-based conflict resulted in reports of extensive violence and community displacement," it added. While the advisory mentioned that attacks against Indian govt targets occur on a regular basis, it stated that US govt employees working in India require prior approval before visiting Manipur.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
3 months after President's Rule, Manipur seeks Rs 1,000 crore from Centre as special assistance
Three months after President's Rule was imposed in Manipur, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has sought Rs 1,000 crore from the Central government as a special assistance grant for the state in the backdrop of the ethnic violence which broke out over two years ago, adversely affecting the state's economic activity and revenue collection, people familiar with the matter told The Indian Express. It has been separately learned that Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has also requested an early release of Rs 500 crore of the Rs 1,000 crore to meet the state's immediate requirements, such as clearing the pension backlog and security-related expenses. The Indian Express has learnt that the Finance Ministry has decided to grant additional funds of Rs 500 crore to Manipur as of now towards various projects under the existing Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) 2025-26. In a communication to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in May, Bhalla is learnt to have spoken about reduced revenue collection because of the unrest in Manipur that followed the ethnic violence which broke out in May 2023. This, he had mentioned, affected the state government's ability to pay pensions, salaries, and other committed liabilities, adding that pension backlogs amounted to Rs 600 crore. It is learnt that the Manipur Governor pointed to tax revenue losses for the state for the 2024-25 fiscal at Rs 1,554 crore compared to Rs 1,528 crore in the previous fiscal. He mentioned that the revenue collection for the state in 2022-23 was Rs 1,983 crore, which shows that there hasn't been any significant recovery in revenue collection, and this may affect the state's ability to meet its developmental and security-related objectives. He is also understood to have pointed out that poor revenue collection has also been due to state expenses on relief and law and order, adding that dues worth Rs 300 crore are yet to be paid to the state by the Ministry of Home Affairs as reimbursement under these heads. He told the finance ministry that the special assistance grant of Rs 1,000 crore to Manipur will help the state clear pension backlogs and meet expenses for security and relief measures for people who had been displaced due to the violence. It will also help the state give its share in various Centrally sponsored schemes and aid with taking various developmental measures in rural areas of the state, particularly in the hill areas. The Manipur Governor has also conveyed that the state has been unable to claim funds under the 15th Finance Commission grants for local bodies from 2021-22, which amounts to Rs 629 crore, due to its inability to hold elections for urban local bodies and Autonomous District Councils from 2020 and for Panchayati Raj institutions from 2022. Earlier, the Ministry of Finance had provided Rs 500 crore to the state as special assistance for revenue loss and economic recovery, which was provided in two instalments. The funds are understood to have been fully utilised by the state. Last year, The Indian Express reported that the Manipur government, ahead of the Union Budget presentation, had approached the Centre with a wishlist that includes demand for additional funds over and above the 10 per cent usually earmarked from gross budgetary support for northeastern states, financial support for 5,000 units of housing for violence-affected victims as a special project under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PM-AWAS), and enhanced allocation for security-related expenditure. Last year, former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh sought a financial grant of Rs 2,000 crore from the Centre as a special case, citing the loss of tax revenue in the state due to security and economic challenges. In October 2023, Singh had also requested a three-month advance of Manipur's share in Central taxes to tackle the financial crisis due to the ethnic clashes in the state.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Farmers' stand-off near Manipur's ethnic buffer zone
Representative image (Photo: PTI) GUWAHATI: Kuki and Meitei villagers clashed on Sunday along the boundary of Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts in Manipur after a standoff between farmers from both communities over ploughing rights at a foothill village. Three to five people suffered minor injuries during the skirmish near Sadu Lampak, an area straddling an unofficial buffer between Meitei-majority Imphal valley and Kuki-Zo tribal hills. Security forces intervened. According to Manipur police, a Meitei farmer from Leitanpokpi arrived with a tractor to plough a paddy field in Sadu Lampak, close to a Kuki-majority area. "Some nearby Kuki villagers came and objected, saying the paddy field did not belong to him. Some Meitei villagers too reached the site," the police said in a statement. Meitei farmers said they had obtained permission from authorities to cultivate the land, which had remained uncultivated since the ethnic unrest. With the paddy sowing season approaching and violence subsiding under President's Rule since February, the farmers decided to return. Videos of Sunday's clash circulated widely online. Manipur police urged the public not to fall for rumours. Over the past two years, several farmers have been killed while working in fields near volatile boundary zones. Ethnic violence since May 2023 has killed more than 250 and displaced over 60,000 people in the state.
Hindustan Times
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: AAP, Congress, SAD oppose ‘One Nation One Election' proposal
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Opposition Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal registered strong objection to the 'One India One Election' proposal during a meeting with the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), chaired by PP Choudhary, which is in Punjab. Addressing the media after attending the JPC meeting in Chandigarh on Saturday, Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema and AAP state president Aman Arora termed the proposal a direct assault on the fundamental structure and spirit of the Constitution of India, framed by Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar. Stating that the Punjab government and AAP have completely rejected the proposal, and would also give it in writing, Cheema said, 'The One Nation, One Election bill, proposed by the BJP, is a calculated move to eliminate regional parties that represent diverse cultures, languages, and regions, and serve as the backbone of Indian democracy.' He added that the bill, if passed, would render the state assemblies' tenure at the discretion of the Union government. Cheema said the bill will further encourage the misuse of Article 356 (President's Rule) and 360 (financial emergency) by the Union government. The state finance minister said the concept will ultimately backfire as it would enable the Centre to conduct state elections at its convenience a year or two after general elections. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also said the proposal goes against the basic concept of federalism guaranteed by the Constitution of India. Pointing out that Parliamentary and assembly elections are held on entirely different issues, Warring said, 'The idea of imposing simultaneous elections to the Parliament and the state assemblies will mean imposing dictatorship by default.' The regional and local issues, which get prominence during the assembly elections, will be ignored and crushed, the PPCC chief said, adding that regional and local aspirations will get muzzled down. SAD urges JPC to recommend dissolution of Article 356 The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), meanwhile, urged the JPC to recommend dissolution of Article 356, which allows for the imposition of President's Rule in the state, saying that it was the root cause for disruption of simultaneous elections in the country. The SAD delegation, led by Dr Daljit Singh Cheema and Balwinder Singh Bhundar, briefed the JPC that in case Article 356 was not done away with, the election schedule would be disrupted again. The delegation also opposed the insertion of Article 82 A, Clause 5, which empowers the Election Commission of India (ECI) to defer elections of legislative assemblies. 'This can be misused against opposition parties anytime,' they asserted. Dr Daljit Singh Cheema and Balwinder Singh Bhundar also demanded a solution to constant byelections. Stating that bypolls were turning out to be the root cause of election malpractices, they proposed that if a legislator expired, the party should be given the right to nominate another leader of the party for the remaining period. The SAD delegation also highlighted the federal concerns of the bill and said it would cause more harm than improvement.
