MANIPUR: Weekly News Roundup
In this weekly news roundup from Manipur, we bring you the most important events and developments from Manipur state in the Northeast.
In an era where information is constantly evolving, our mission is to bring you a curated selection of the week’s top stories, offering a concise and insightful overview of the key happenings in politics, technology, business, science, entertainment, and more.
Violence continues unabated in Manipur
Bishnupur district in Manipur continues to report heavy gun-battles between the Meitei and Kuki armed forces, leading to the death of over 6 people in the violence (at the time of filing the report).
In one of the bloodiest episodes of violence in the strife-torn state, fierce gunfights between Meitei and Kuki groups on the border Bishnupur-Churachandpur districts borders continues for fourth day on Friday today. The dead include two jawans of the India Reserve Battalion (IRB). Security officials quoted above said that additional reinforcements sent by the army and Assam Rifles were unable to reach the spot because of road blockade by women protesters. Manipur Police said the situation was tense but under control.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), an umbrella group of Kuki organisations, confirmed the deaths and extended an emergency shutdown in Churachandpur district
Government considering greater autonomy for district councils
To find a political solution to the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, the State Government has expressed its willingness to consider granting greater autonomy to the existing hill councils in the State. However, the state government has clarified that it will not compromise with the territorial integrity of the State.
The Kuki community has been demanding separate administration alleging the State Government’s discrimination against community. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also been holding talks with representative groups from both Meitei and Kuki communities to find a solution to the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, the State Government has constituted a committee of five members—three Naga and two Pangals (Meitei Muslims)—under the chairmanship of BJP MLA and Hill Area Committee (HAC) Chairman Dinganglun Gangnei to talk to both Meiteis and Kukis in the State to find a solution.
CBI takes over 27 cases of Violence in Manipur
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation in 27 FIRs lodged in connection with Meetei-Kuki ethnic violence in Manipur that has claimed more than 160 lives in nearly four months.
As per reports, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has so far registered 27 cases handed over to it by the state police — 19 cases of crime against women, three related to an armoury loot by a mob, two of murder and one each of rioting and murder, kidnapping and general criminal conspiracy.
The agency has mobilised a team of 53 officers, including 29 women, drawn from various units of the federal agency across the country to probe the cases. Another 30 officers are probing cases in Manipur. Altogether, around 100 officials of the agency are working on the ground to conclude the investigation in the 27 cases.
