Manipur News

IMPHAL | Nov 13

The proscribed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) in a release has claimed responsibility for the blast that occurred at 6.10 am today on the near Maha Mani Village under Chandel district. It said the PLA’s Demolition Unit accomplished the mission.

The release signed by assistance secretary, publicity, Bangkim also said two Assam Rifles jawans were killed in the attack and five others injured.

It said it is known everywhere in the world that since India forcefully occupied Manipur, 8983 people have been killed under AFSPA,  1528  people fake encounters and several others missing after being arrested.

India can no longer deny the charges of human rights violations in the SAARC and UN meetings, it continued. After the same reports of human rights violations were brought up at United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on May 4, 2017, there is an ongoing debate on whether AFSPA should be repealed or not, it said.

 After questions were put up as to why AFSPA was implemented in the first place, India in order to cover its crimes, started initiating ‘Look East Policy’ now ‘Act East Policy’ and started constructing roadways and bridges, appointed new posts in the government etc, in a hurried manner, it continued.

However, these acts were not done out of love for the people of the Northeast, they were carried out to make a false impression to other countries and to further oppress the people, it said.     

The army still continues to kill people by using hired hands and their lap dogs. They also use these stooges to even kill women or to extort money from the civilians in the guise of revolutionary organisations, it alleged.

When the army was found involved in drug trafficking, the people had expressed that there will be no peace as long as the army is present, it said. The people must realise that the coloniser India and its colonial forces like the army is plotting to oppress the people forever, it added.

The chief of army staff from the war office of the party commended the Demolition Unit of PLA, those who planned the attack and completed the mission, it added.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 13

At least two jawans of the 18 Assam Rifles were killed and six other sustained injuries in a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion suspected to be triggered by militants early morning today in Mahamani village of Chandel district headquarter.

According to reports, the IED exploded around 6.10 am when the AR team was on routine patrol duty.

The bomb ripped off from a roadside near the district veterinary office, just a stone throw away from the 18 AR battalion gate and about a kilometer away east of the Chandel police station.

It is learnt that the explosion killed one jawan on the spot and injured seven others.

One of the injured jawans however also succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital. All the other injured have been reportedly evacuated to Leimakhong military hospital.

The deceased jawans have been identified as one Indira Singh and Sohanlal while the injured are identified as S. Sarkar, N. Shyam Kumar, Tirendra Nath Das, Ram Govind Singh, Nirmal Roy and Lalnunpuia.

Soon after the blast additional forces including police commandos rushed to the blast site to take stock of the situation.

Denouncing the bomb attack locals of Mahamani village and surrounding areas in association with Naga Chief’s Association Chandel staged a sit in protest demonstration at DC Lamkhai.

Many civil bodies of Chandel district led by the apex Chandel Naga People’s Organiastion (CNPO) also strongly condemned the IED blast.

In a statement the CNPO said the Naga people of Chandel have been living in peace, tranquility and harmony for many years.

We consider it as an act of cowardice and a plot to disrupt peace talks between the Centre and NSCN (IM) which is at the threshold to its logical conclusion, it contended.   

Demanding a clarification from the perpetrator the motive behind the attack by midnight of November 15, it threatened to impose 24-hour total bandh from midnight of November 15 to 16 on Pallel to Chandel and Moreh road if the perpetrator failes to comply with the demand. 

The Naga Chief Association, Chandel, Anal Naga Tangpi, BJP Chandel also in a release strongly condemned the blast.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 13

Deputy chief minister, Y. Joykumar said that the duties assigned to security personnel can be carried out fully only when they have a good rapport with the public. He was speaking at the flagging-off ceremony of the Assam Rifle tri-nation motorcycle expedition from the IGAR-South campus, Mantripukhri.

The expedition which started from October 30 by 33 AR personnel will be covering Myanmar and Bangladesh and the Northeastern states (approximate 2150 kilometers) promoting the message of peace, prosperity and brotherhood will end on November 17 at Shillong.

The deputy chief minister continued that it is a must to have a good understanding and mutual cooperation with the neighbouring countries especially Bangladesh and Myanmar in order to control the illegal immigrants.

Stretching that Northeast based militants groups are taking shelter in Myanmar and Bangladesh, and it is easy for them to come to India as many areas of the border does not have a good proper fencing, he said the security personnel need to be very alert and have a good cooperation in order to stop them from crossing borders.

Joykumar appreciated AR for taking up such initiatives with the objectives of national integration, cultural exchange, social and development initiatives and wishes good luck to the expedition team.

As a part of the function children performed various cultural activities before the flag off. 

Royal Riders Manipur accompanied them till Mao, Senapati district.