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Imphal Airport On High Alert After Small-Sized Drone Detected In Airspace

By LokMarg 19th November 2023

Imphal Airport was put on high alert after a small-sized drone was spotted by security personnel on Sunday afternoon, sources said.

According to sources, the drone was spotted by a security personnel at 3 pm thereafter alert was issued.

“An alert was also issued to other agencies at the airport and operations were postponed till security clearance,” sources said.

Three flights were affected due to the security clearance and flight operations later resumed at 5.30 pm.

In this regard, the Eastern Command of the Indian Air Force said that it activated its Air Defence response mechanism.

In a post on X, Eastern Command said, “IAF activated its Air Defence response mechanism based on visual inputs from Imphal airport. The small object was not seen thereafter.”

A passenger named M Pramod who was travelling to Chandigarh said that his flight was delayed.

“I had to move to Chandigarh but our flight was delayed due to some reason. Now we will move to Chandigarh tomorrow after on a re-issued ticket,” he said.

All incoming and outgoing flights were delayed after a UAV drone was found hovering around Bir Tikendrajit Imphal International Airport. (ANI)

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Central Police Forces Officials Hold Meet On Manipur Situation

By LokMarg 28th September 2023

Senior officers of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) held a meeting at the Manipur Police Headquarters in Imphal to discuss the law and order situation in the state.

“A meeting of senior officers of CAPF was held at PHQ, Imphal to discuss the present law and order situation in the state,” the Manipur Police said in a post on ‘X’ on Thursday.

The officers were apprised of the unfortunate injuries of students as well as security personnel, police said adding that the forces discussed using minimum force in dealing with the public, especially students.

“Manipur Police appeals to the students to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in maintaining peace and bringing normalcy back early. Any miscreants taking advantage of the current situation will be firmly dealt by police. The joint security forces are making all efforts for expeditious investigation into all the cases,” the police added in the post.

Meanwhile in Imphal West and Imphal East district authorities have lifted the restrictions on the movement of people outside their residences from 5 am to 11 am on Friday.

“Restriction of movement of general public outside their residences is hereby lifted for 29th September, 2023 from 5 am to 11 am for all areas of Imphal West District. This relaxation shall not include any gathering/sit-in-protest/rally etc, without obtaining approval through competent authority,” the government order from the District Magistrate’s Office of Imphal West district stated.

“Restriction of movement of persons outside their respective residences imposed in Imphal East is hereby relaxed from 5 am to 11 am on 29th September for all areas of the district. This relaxation shall, however, not apply to any gathering/large scale movement of persons/sit-in-protests/rally etc which is unlawful in nature,” the government order from the District Magistrate’s Office of Imphal East district stated.

Fresh protests erupted in Manipur on Monday after a video showing the bodies of two students who reportedly went missing in July went viral on social media. The government responded by re-imposing the suspension of internet services for five days as a precautionary measure and announced that all schools in the state would be closed till Friday.

Earlier in the day, taking cognisance of reports about allegations of use of ‘excess force’ by security forces during the maintenance of law and order in the last few days in the Imphal area, Director General of Police Manipur Rajiv Singh on Thursday ordered to form a committee to look into the issues and asked it to submit a report at the earliest.

“There have been various reports/allegations of the use of excess force by the Security forces during the maintenance of law and order situations in the last few days in the Imphal area. To verify such complaints/allegations, a committee is being formed to look into the issues and submit the report at the earliest,” read the order issued by the Director General Of Police Manipur on Thursday.

The Committee will be headed by K Jayanta Singh, Inspector General of Police (Administration), Manipur and assisted by Th Sanatomba Singh, AAIG(Adm).

Manipur has been witnessing violence since May 3, following the protests against the High Court’s order asking the state government to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the category of Scheduled Tribes (ST). (ANI)

21-Member Oppo Delegation To Land In Imphal For 2-day Manipur Visit

By LokMarg 29th July 2023

A 21-member delegation from the grand Opposition alliance, I.N.D.I.A, is set to touch down at Imphal airport on Saturday for a two-visit to violence-hit Manipur.

The visit follows from a chorus from the Opposition members for a debate on the Manipur situation and a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has resulted in repeated disruptions and adjournments in both Houses of Parliament.
The Northeast state has been racked by ehtnic violence, which broke out over a Manipur High Court order asking the state government to consider adding the Meitei community to the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Amid the persistent violence, a video from May 4, when the clashes broke out, surfaced recently purportedly showing two women being paraded naked.

The viral video triggered a fierce war of words between the BJP-led Centre and the Opposition, both within the four walls of the Parliament and outside, over the prevailing state of affairs in the Northeast state.

Demanding that all scheduled businesses in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha be set aside for a discussion on Manipur, members of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) raised a ruckus, disrupting and stalling proceedings in both Houses.

The visit by the I.N.D.I.A delegation comes even as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla accepted a motion of no cofidence moved by the Opposition against the Centre over the Manipur situation.

The motion was tabled in the Lower House by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who is part of the delegation visiting Manipur on Saturday.

Defending the motion against the Centre, Opposition leaders said it was aimed at eliciting a response from PM Modi over the Manipur situation in Parliament.

The 21-member Opposition delegation, from both Houses, includes Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh and Phulo Devi Netam of the Congress; Rajiv Ranjan Lalan Singh of the JDU; Sushmita Dev from Trinamool Congress; Kanimozhi from DMK; Sandosh Kumar of the CPI; AA Rahim from CPI(M), Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD; Javed Ali Khan of SP; Mahua Maji of JMM; PP Mohammed Faizal of NCP; Aneel Prasad Hegde of JDU, ET Mohammed Basheer of IUML; NK Premachandran of RSP; Sushil Gupta of AAP; Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT); D Ravikumar of VCK; Thiru Thol Thirumavalavan also of VCK; and Jayant Singh of the RLD.

Only Demand Is Peace With Justice: Manoj Jha

As per the schedule, the delegation, split into two teams, will reach the Imphal airport at 12 pm on Saturday and will leave for Churachandpur, the epicentre of the ethnic violence in the state. The delegation will likely hold a press conference at 8.30 pm later in the day.

The Opppsition members have been adamant on the demand for a discussion on Manipur and a statement from PM Modi on the prevailing state of affairs in the state since the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 20.

While the Treasury said it was ready for a discussion on Manipur, the Opposition insisted on a debate under adjournment motion.

Amid the disruptions in the Rajya Sabha over the Manipur issue, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday held a meeting with leaders of all Opposition parties to discuss the proceedings of the Upper House next week.

The BJP’s Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha and Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said the Opposition should proper functioning of the House by way of dialogue, debate and discussion.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Manipur during which he announced several steps to restore peace.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had visited the state in June. (ANI)

Day 2 Of Manipur Visit: Rahul Arrives At Moirang Relief Camp

By LokMarg 30th June 2023

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived at a relief camp in Manipur’s Moirang to meet people affected by violence in the north-eastern staying there. He was seen conversing with people there, enquiring about their health and well-being.

Earlier in the day, in an Instagram post, Rahul mentioned that it was heartbreaking to see and listen to the plight of those who have lost loved ones and homes due to the violence in Manipur.
“There is a cry for help in the face of every brother, sister and child I meet,” he said appealing for peace in the state.

Following his visit to the relief camps in Moirang, Rahul will be back in Imphal where he will meet civil society organisation leaders, United Naga Council’s leaders, 10 like-minded political parties and women leaders, Manipur Congress president, Keisham Meghachandra said.

Earlier on Thursday, the Congress leader met violence-affected people in Manipur’s Churachandpur on the first day of his two-day visit to the state that has seen ethnic violence. Rahul Gandhi in a tweet earlier said Manipur needs healing and peace has to be the only priority.

“I came to listen to all my brothers and sisters of Manipur. People of all communities are very welcoming and loving. It’s very unfortunate that the government is stopping me. Manipur needs healing. Peace has to be our only priority,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi, who landed in Imphal on Thursday, returned to the state capital after local police prevented his convoy from proceeding to Churachandpur. Police said it had been done for “security” reasons and the Congress leader could go by air. The Congress leader’s convoy was stopped at a checkpost near Bishnupur, which is about 20 kilometres from Imphal. (ANI)

Manipur: Rahul To Meet Like-Minded Party Leaders, Civil Society Members

By LokMarg 30th June 2023

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who is on his two-day visit to the state, arrived in Moirang on Friday to meet people affected due to violence in the state. He will also meet 10 like-minded party leaders and members of civil society organisation in Imphal.

Manipur Congress president, Keisham Meghachandra informed that the Congress leader will also meet 10 like-minded party leaders and United Naga Council (UNC) leaders and civil society organisation members after returning to Imphal.

“Rahul Gandhi will meet all the affected families and visit the relief camps in Moirang. After that, he will be back in Imphal. At Imphal Hotel he will meet civil society organisation leaders, United Naga Council’s leaders, 10 like-minded political parties and women leaders. He is here only for peace,” Meghachandra said.

Earlier on Thursday, the Congress leader met violence-affected people in Manipur’s Churachandpur on the first day of his two-day visit to the state that has seen ethnic violence.

Rahul Gandhi in a tweet earlier said Manipur needs healing and peace has to be the only priority.

The Congress leader’s convoy was stopped at a checkpost near Bishnupur, which is about 20 kilometres from Imphal. (ANI)

Manipur: 3 Member-Panel Formed To probe Causes, Spread Of Violence

By LokMarg 4th June 2023

The Centre on Sunday constituted a three-member Commission of Inquiry, headed by former chief justice of the Gauhati High Court Ajai Lamba, to investigate into the incidents of violence in Manipur which started in early May.

The Commission shall submit its report to the Central Government as soon as possible but not later than six months from the date of its first sitting.
The Government of India led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has notified a Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, chaired by Justice Ajai Lamba, former Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court with Himanshu Shekhar Das, IAS (Retd.) and Aloka Prabhakar, IPS (Retd.) as members to inquire into the incidents of violence in the state of Manipur on May 3 and thereafter, the official notification said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in a release said the commission shall make inquiry with respect to the causes and spread of the violence, which took place in Manipur, and whether there were any lapses on the part of any of the responsible authorities or individuals.

The headquarters of the commission shall be in Imphal – the capital of Manipur.

Meanwhile, a total of 202 arms, 252 ammunition and 92 bombs of all kinds recovered after the visit of Home Minister Amit Shah to Manipur. A total of 789 arms and 10648 ammunition have been recovered till date.

Security Advisor to Government of Manipur Kuldiep Singh said that the situation in Manipur by and large remained under control.

There are reports of blockades at Imphal-Dimapaur National Highway-2. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has appealed to the people to lift the blockade.

In his tweet Home Minister has said, “My sincerest appeal to the people of Manipur is to lift the blockades at the Imphal-Dimapur, NH-2 Highway, so that food, medicines, Petrol/Diesel, and other necessary items can reach the people.I also request that Civil Society Organisations do the needful in bringing consensus. Together only we can restore normalcy in this beautiful state”.

“We hope that people will surely take into account the Home Minister’s appeal and lift the blockade on the Imphal-Dimapaur National Highway-2 at the earliest,” the official release said.

“Curfew relaxation has been made for 12 hours in the valley and 10 hours and 07 hours in the neighboring hill districts.During the last 24 hours 23 more arms have been recovered. This makes a total of 202 arms, 252 ammunition and 92 bombs of all kinds recovered after the visit of Home Minister. A total of 789 arms and 10648 ammunition have been recovered till date,” the official statement said.

Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah had visited Manipur during May 29 till June 1, 2023, and after taking stock of the situation had announced appointment of Commission of Inquiry.

Shah’s visit to the violence-hit state was to take stock of the situation and to hold talks with different stakeholders in a bid to restore a sense of calm in the state.

Amit Shah had urged all communities and sections of society to maintain peace, hold discussions and promote harmony as well as surrender their weapons to the police. He also appealed to the people not to pay heed to rumours and maintain peace and harmony.

Internet services continue to remain suspended and security forces deployed in Manipur after clashes between communities residing in hills and plains districts. The violence apparently started after a Scheduled Tribes reservation was demanded by the plains dwellers, who are predominantly Meiteis and are the majority in numbers.

Against those demands, a rally was organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) — mostly from Kuki community.

Manipur on Wednesday, which later turned violent and ever since there has been incidents of violence and arson with dozens of lives so far. However, curfew has been withdrawn in some districts.

Earlier today, Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to the people of Manipur to lift the blockades at the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway-2 so that basic food items, medicines, fuels and other necessary items can reach the citizens.

“I also request that Civil Society Organisations do the needful in bringing consensus. Together only we can restore normalcy in this beautiful state,” Shah wrote on Twitter. (ANI)