Latest news with #Meitei-inhabited
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Time of India
Singson's mortal remains taken to Kangpokpi through Kohima
Guwahati: The mortal remains of the 26-year-old Kuki girl from Manipur, Lamnunthem Singson, a cabin crew member of the ill-fated Air India Ahmedabad-London flight, arrived at Nagaland's Dimapur airport on Thursday. People from both the Naga and Kuki-Zo communities from both states paid their last respects to her before her body was taken to Kangpokpi through Kohima, detouring Meitei-inhabited areas of Manipur. A cavalcade of 10 vehicles arrived from Manipur's Kangpokpi district after travelling almost seven hours to receive the mortal remains of Singson, which arrived at Dimapur Airport at 1.30pm on Thursday. Singson's internally displaced family, which belongs to the Kuki-Zo community, decided not to take her body to their rented house in Kangpokpi town through Imphal due to the ongoing conflict between Kukis and Meiteis. Tears rolled down the faces of her relatives and members of Kuki-Zo organisations after the coffin was taken out from the flight at Dimapur Airport. Her body was flown from Ahmedabad via Guwahati to Dimapur airport by an Indigo flight, airport officials said. Members of Kuki Union Dimapur, Kuki Nute Kiloikhom Dimapur and Kuki Youth & Students' Union Dimapur, along with Naga leaders, were present at Dimapur Airport to receive the mortal remains of Singson. "Her body was then taken through NH2, where people paid their floral tributes to her during brief halts in Kohima, Senapati, and small Kuki-inhabited villages in Kangpokpi district. We took the responsibility to ensure that her body reaches their Kangpokpi home safely in her last journey," said Thangrijoy Baite, president of Kuki Students' Organisation, Sadar Hills district unit. Singson's brothers and some other family members accompanied the mortal remains from Ahmedabad. At their Kangpokpi home, a crowd was eagerly waiting for the arrival of Singson's body. Her funeral will take place in a public cemetery in Kangpokpi town on Friday. Singson and her internally displaced family fled from their home in Old Lambulane colony in Imphal to Kangpokpi soon after ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur in May 2023. Though the state govt and leading civil society organisation COCOMI assured safe passage to take Singson's mortal remains through Imphal Airport, the family decided to skip Imphal, which was deserted by Kukis after the ethnic clashes broke out. The travel time from Kangpokpi to Imphal is around two-and-a half-hour by road, but Singson's family and Kuki organisations took a much longer route from Dimapur via Nagaland capital Kohima to reach Kangpokpi after travelling about six hours late Thursday evening. Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma, another cabin crew member from the Meitei community of Manipur, was on the Air India flight that crashed minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad. Her family has been camping in Ahmedabad since June 13, but the DNA match is yet to be done as of Thursday afternoon, her sister Gitanjali Kongbrailatpam said. "Our wait is getting longer. There is no update on the DNA match," Gitanjali said.
New Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
MHA persuades Kuki-Zo groups to relocate seven Suspension of Operations camps near Meitei-dominated areas
NEW DELHI: Officials of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held a meeting with insurgent Kuki-Zo groups and persuaded them to relocate and shut down seven designated camps under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement that are located near Meitei-dominated areas, sources said. They added that the MHA officials also stressed the recovery of looted weapons and the reopening of National Highways. Notably, security agencies on the ground in Manipur had earlier proposed the closure of seven out of 14 existing camps situated close to Meitei-inhabited areas in the Valley, the sources said. A source familiar with the talks said, 'The second round of talks was held earlier this week, where the two sides reached an understanding on the closure and relocation of at least seven SoO camps located close to Meitei-populated zones.' He, however, clarified that there was no discussion on the extension of the SoO agreement, as the talks primarily focused on revising the ground rules, which is seen as a more immediate priority.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Centre meets Kuki-Zo groups, discusses opening of highways, surrender of weapons
Union Home Ministry (MHA) officials on Monday (June 9, 2025) discussed changes in the ground rules of the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement, the opening of national highways and surrender of weapons at a meeting with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups, which was held after two years. At the meeting, the insurgent groups, in peace talks with the government since 2008, were conveyed about ground rules violations and were also asked to shut down or relocate camps close to the Meitei-inhabited areas. The ground rules of the SoO agreement are being reviewed by the MHA, and the next rounds of talks are expected next week to finalise the details for its implementation. A senior government official told The Hindu that the preliminary meeting discussed a road map for restoring normalcy in the northeastern State and finding a long-term solution. The official added that the opening of national highways for free movement of vehicles from Meitei areas and vice versa was emphasised upon. National Highways-2 and 37, which connect the land-locked Imphal valley to Nagaland and Assam respectively, critical for supply of essentials and other commodities, pass through Kuki-Zo inhabited areas. The talks, that were affected due to the May 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur, were held in Delhi after a gap of two years. The insurgent groups reiterated their demand for a union territory with legislature for the Kuki-Zo people. A SoO representative said, 'The grounds for discussion should be spelt out clearly. An agreement for a political settlement should be part of the SoO extension. Most ground rules are likely to remain the same as 2008, but regarding relocation of camps, we will have to discuss with our constituents.' Also Read: The paradox of the approach to the Manipur issue Five members of the Kuki-Zo SoO groups held talks with A.K. Mishra, Adviser (Northeast), MHA and Intelligence Bureau officials on Monday (June 9, 2025). Looting of weapons 'A large number of police weapons were looted since the violence began. The groups were told to surrender weapons to bring long-lasting peace,' the official said. The agreement, in place since 2008, has been periodically extended each year except on February 29, 2024, when the Manipur Government pulled out from the tripartite pact; the MHA and SoO groups being the other two signatories. The representative added, 'The meeting focused on the way forward, it concluded on a positive note. Some of the camps that were set up in 2008 were inappropriately located; they have water scarcity and are in want of serious repair. The cadres have not been paid stipend for the past two years.' The representative added that the State government withdrew from the SoO pact after alleging ground rules violation. 'The ground rules are violated if our cadres attack the security forces. Post-May 3, 2023, the State police commandos at the behest of the State government were attacking our camps with mortars.' Around 2,200 cadres of the SoO groups comprising United People's Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) – umbrella organisations of 25 insurgent groups, live in 14 designated camps in the hill districts of Manipur. The cadres are entitled to a stipend of ₹6,000 per month which has not been paid since the violence erupted. The SoO agreement was signed in the wake of Kuki-Naga clashes in the 1990s when hundreds were killed. The insurgent groups demanded an independent land for the Kuki-Zo people. Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had claimed that SoO groups violated ground rules and instigated ethnic violence. The violence between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei people, which erupted in the State on May 3, 2023, has claimed the lives of 250 people, displacing more than 60,000 people from their homes.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Manipur govt will ensure Gwaltabi incident does not occur in future: Chief Secretary
Manipur Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh on Thursday (May 29, 2025) said that the government will ensure that the incident at Gwaltabi, where security forces allegedly covered the state's name written in the windshield of a bus with a white paper, does not occur in future. He said the administration is committed to the integrity of the State of Manipur. Addressing a press conference with Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, the Chief Secretary said the recently concluded Shirui festival at Ukhrul district attracted about 1.70 lakh people, and people of all communities travelled with families from valley areas and other parts of the state as well as from outside the state. Mr. Singh acknowledged that an unfortunate incident happened at Gwaltabi on May 20 when a Manipur State Road Transport Bus ferrying journalists to the festival was stopped, and the name of the state written on the windshield was reportedly covered with a white paper, leading to widespread criticism. Over the last week, protests over the Gwaltabi incident have rocked the Meitei-inhabited Imphal Valley. Mr. Singh said, "That there had been no instructions whatsoever or even remote thought of covering the name of the State, as has been alleged. This has been amply clarified by the state government as well as by the responsible political leadership. What transpired on the ground, would be revealed after a thorough inquiry only." Expressing regret over the incident, Mr. Singh also said the state administration has taken the reported untoward incident with utmost seriousness and the Governor has constituted an Inquiry Committee which will submit its report in a timebound manner. Urging all to maintain public order, Singh also assured all concerned that "Once the report is submitted and those responsible for the lapses, if any, are identified, strict action would be taken." "The state government will also ensure that such incident does not occur in future. The administration is committed to the integrity of the state of Manipur, and the only aim of all these efforts is to establish lasting peace in the state," Mr. Singh added.
The Print
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Former Manipur CM N Biren Singh discusses prevailing situation in state with governor
It was alleged that security forces had stopped a state-run bus, on which journalists were being taken by the government to cover the Shirui Lily festival in Ukhrul district on May 20, near the Gwaltabi checkpost and forced the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) staffers to cover the state's name written on the windshield with a white paper. Over the last week, protests over the Gwaltabi incident have rocked the Meitei-inhabited Imphal Valley. Imphal, May 27 (PTI) Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday said that he discussed the prevailing situation in the state with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and urged him to invite the protesters for talks to resolve the Gwaltabi incident. Addressing a late-night press conference, Singh said, 'Today I meet governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. I discussed with him regarding the prevailing situation in the state and suggested some points. He listened and necessary actions will be initiated to resolve the present crisis by inviting the protesters. I hope so.' Singh said he also apprised the governor about the issues of internally displaced people (IDP) staying in relief camps. 'I also apprised him (governor) about the issues of IDPs who are staying in relief camps as well as the sufferings of the valley people due to the non-opening of national highways. People are not able to travel by road and I apprised him of that,' he said. 'I also urged him to disarm all those miscreants who are in possession of illegal arms. Only then, we can proceed for peace,' Singh said. The former CM said that the purpose of the meeting included showing appreciation to the Ministry of Home Affairs for setting 30-day deadline to identify illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar. 'Today's main purpose of visit was to appreciate the Ministry of Home Affairs for setting a deadline of 30 days to identify illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar… I also submitted all documents which were started in 2021 during which several illegal immigrants were identified under the leadership of then minister Letpao Haokip, who was the chairman of a sub-committee to look into the matter,' Singh said. Later in a post on X, Singh said, 'We had a detailed discussion on a range of pressing issues concerning the state, including issues regarding the Gwaltabi incident and to resolve the tensions arising from it.' 'We also had a talk on the initiatives taken under the BJP-led government in line with the Ministry of Home Affairs' 30-day directive- from biometric registration and verification drives to deportation of undocumented foreign nationals… I requested the Governor to seek an extension of the 30-day deadline issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. These measures are vital for ensuring national security and preserving Manipur's cultural fabric,' Singh added. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups, who are the majority in the hill areas, since May 2023. The Centre imposed the President's rule in the state on February 13 after N Biren Singh resigned as chief minister. The assembly, which has tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation. PTI COR RG This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
