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The Wire
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Wire
The Meitei Voices From Manipur Who Paid the Price For Criticising Biren Singh
New Delhi: This June 22, a low intensity bomb exploded near the residence of the former Manipur deputy chief minister Y. Joykumar. Police search unearthed another bomb, 'a battery-fitted' one, hidden at a meira shang (a public shed) near his house. Local news reports stated that the bomb was suspected to have been planted at the location by 'militants'. The explosive might have been triggered remotely, according to the police. Though no one was injured, the fact that the bombs were planted on the busy DC Road of Imphal in an afternoon has angered the residents of the area. Local women carried out a sit-in protest urging 'all groups' to 'avoid actions that could put the lives of innocent civilian in danger.' For over two years now, Manipur has been under the cloud of an ethnic conflict. It also means that the two communities directly identified with, and affected by, that conflict – the Kukis and the Meiteis – don't usually step into areas (districts) where they are not in a majority for the fear of coming under communal attack. Even though President's Rule has been clamped in February, that 'buffer zone' between the hill and the valley districts of the border state – a byproduct of that conflict – has not been lifted. Incidents of violence, like the bomb blast on June 22 at Imphal, and one in Churachandpur in April, continue. With none criss-crossing through each other's 'territories', the sit-in protesters in Imphal were essentially urging 'all groups' (read militants/armed militia) belonging only to the valley districts – areas where the Meitei community is in a majority. They were urging the armed groups within their own community not to target them, and other civilians. As such, the conflict has been between the Kukis and the Meities, but it would be ingenuous of anyone to look at it merely as a black and white case where the division has been firmed up only on ethnic lines. Voices questioning N. Biren Singh face threats and physical attacks Many political and civil society voices within the Meitei community who have questioned the chief minister (now former) N. Biren Singh about the conflict that had unfolded under his watch; some expressing concern at the unchallenged power enjoyed by an armed militia like the Arambai Tenggol formed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP L. Sanajaoba, and seen to be backed by Singh as the chief minister, have faced continuous threats and physical attacks – so much so that some such voices have to leave their home state, lest their houses would be burnt; their safety not guaranteed by Manipur Police. Till recently, Biren Singh was also the state's home minister. By now, it is well-known that noted Imphal-based human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam had to leave home for speaking up after he gave an interview to a Newsclick journalist in Imphal during the ethnic conflict in 2023. In the interview, Loitongbam had pointed fingers at Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun for the violence unleashed on the Kuki residents in the valley areas. After the interview, he was accused of bringing a bad name to the Meitei community; his house was vandalised and he was forced to issue an apology. Even after he had left Imphal, in September 2024, at least 50 people from Meitei Leepun had landed up at his office-cum-house and threatened his family. His ageing father was at the house then. It has been two years now that Loitongbam, an important civil society voice from Manipur who also was the force behind the Supreme Court taking note of 1,528 'fake' encounters in that north-eastern state, has to stay in self exile in Delhi and elsewhere. Those 'fake' encounters carried out by security forces in Manipur over a period of time under the cover of Armed Forces (Special Powers ) Act, were mostly on men from the Meitei community. It was an important intervention for the conflict-ridden state, and for the community in general which has been bearing the brunt of the enduring conflict in that state. And yet, Loitongbam has to stay away from his family at Imphal now because of the direct threats to him and his family by radical groups like Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun, with state police unable to give him protection. Yet another example of such a self-exile from the Meitei community during the ethnic conflict is 68-year-old Nabashyam Heigrujan, chairman of the Meitei World Council. The website of the Imphal-based Council describes itself as a 'movement' that 'envisages the re-awakening and rejuvenation of the Meetei people through conscious collective efforts for social advancement, the pursuit of happiness and reclaiming our instruments of humanity to achieve our cause for a dignified life.' The Council bats for granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community. Though Nabashyam, who also taught at the Imphal College, is now a civil society activist, in 2017, he had contested the state elections, unsuccessfully, as a candidate of the Trinamool Congress. After he moved to Delhi in mid-2024, Nabashyam, in an interview to The Wire, had categorically stated that the Biren Singh government 'could have controlled' the situation on May 3, 2023, but it didn't. Also Read: Manipur Tapes: CM's Brother, Arambai Tenggol Founder's Threats To 'Traitors' Who Leaked Tapes to 'Enemy' Contradict Biren's 'Doctored' Claim He had also said that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had wanted to restore order and peace in Manipur, he could have done it 'in 24 hours buts has failed to do so'. On asked why he had to leave Imphal for good last year, Nabashyam told this correspondent, 'My only mistake seemed to be that I took to social media platform X last year to say that the then chief minister Biren Singh was responsible for what is happening in Manipur. As the CM, it was his duty to maintain law and order in my state. I spoke up. And since that day, my life has not remained the same." "Twice, armed thugs came to my house in Imphal to threaten me. An FIR was also filed against me on false charges. I finally had to seek bail from the court. I realised I will have to self-exile myself. So, in July 2024, I shifted base to Delhi while my wife has remained in Imphal. Because of that tweet, I am separated from my family,' Nabashyam had added. Nabashyam said, 'Even in Delhi, the address was somehow found and three thugs were sent to threaten me so that I don't speak against Biren Singh.' 'It is only money power. In Manipur, if you give money today, it is not difficult to take one's life.' On reminding him that there is President's Rule in the state, he replied, 'There is no popular government in Manipur yet; the situation is still fluid. Singh may not be the chief minister anymore, but he is still very powerful. He has money power. It is not safe for me to return home as yet.' When armed group 'close to Singh' picked up veteran journalist This correspondent reached out to veteran journalist Laba Yambem who was picked up from his residence in Imphal by militants belonging to the United National Liberation Front (Pambei) just a day after Biren Singh had to step down as the chief minister this past February. His offence was, speaking up against a militant group from the Meitei community which had, in November 2023, signed a peace agreement with the Modi government, facilitated by Biren Singh. The group is seen 'close to Singh' in the state. Laba had stated on a local television channel in Imphal then the need for the government to control the outfit, which is overground with arms even after having signed the peace deal. Laba had to eventually upload a video, taking back his words as the price for his freedom. Considered a vocal critic of Biren Singh, the journalist who contributes to The Statesman, was also arrested in October 2024 in a case which he had categorically called 'fake'. Some months ago, he had also filed a petition on phone tapping with the National Human Rights Commission. Laba recounted, 'A lot of things have happened before that abduction in February. Just days after the ethnic conflict broke out, I had alleged that the victory of Biren Singh's second wife from the Chandel assembly seat in 2022 was done with help of Kuki militants. It was confirmed to me by one of their top leaders. I had alleged that it was the reason why Biren Singh did not act against Kuki boys forming part of the May 3 2023 rally with M-16 rifles which eventually led to the violence." "The news was published in Sangai Express, which under the pressure of the chief minister, also carried an apology for that story. In September 2024, at around 3.30 am, my house in Imphal came under heavy gun fire just because I had issued a statement that day to the effect that Biren is not Manipur and that Manipur is not Biren and the choice is before the people of Manipur," said Laba. "Then, in November, 2024, at least 30 armed men barged into my residence and at gunpoint directed me to remove a Facebook post which I had uploaded that day. I had immediately informed the police but it took them one month to take up the investigation. The point is, the room for a free and fair discussion on any topic relating to the state and society no longer exists in Manipur,' Laba added. He then repeated what Nabashyam had told The Wire, 'Biren Singh is no longer in power but the disruption done to the body polity of the state remains.' Prior to joining politics, Biren Singh was a fellow journalist. In Imphal, a well-known story goes that once, Singh, as a journalist, was 'summoned' by the Meitei militant group, UNLF, along with some others, a practice long endured by many in that state. Singh was asked to stay back by the banned armed group while all others were allowed to leave. 'It was all thanks to Pradip Panjhoubham (then the editor of the Imphal Free Press) who insisted that since they came together, they should leave together. He was allowed to return but the newspaper he headed then was banned from publishing (by the militants),' Laba recalled. He also added, 'Finally, it was me who did the negotiations to ensure that the publication of that paper was resumed. I cooked lunch and invited everyone home to ensure that the compromise between UNLF, Biren Singh who was its editor, and the publisher David went through.' Inspite of such threats, Laba, though, has stayed put in Imphal. On asked about it, he quoted Shakespeare, 'I returned from Delhi in 1983 because it's my homeland, my country. I intend to stay here because as William Shakespeare had famously said in Macbeth, 'Come what may, time and hour runs through the roughest day.'' Yet another person who has chosen to continue staying in Imphal, even though she has been relentlessly threatened by armed militias allegedly close to powers be, is former decorated police officer Thonoujam Brinda. During the conflict, she came across as a powerful voice in the valley areas to have questioned the chief minister about his claim about drug peddling only by the Kuki community. That she particularly chose to speak up about Singh as the chief minister 'asking' her to not go after a drug 'king pin' from the Kuki community in 2020 even though he was caught with contraband by her team, made her a target for groups like Meitei Leepun. 'Singh is using brute force as a means to silence his critics' Though not all can endure the pressure from the near and dear ones to either remain quiet, or leave Manipur, for the fear of being harmed. Erendro Leichombam is one such name from the Meitei community. An alumni of Harvard University, Erendro had returned home around 2016 and co-formed a political party, People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance, with noted Manipuri anti-AFSPA activist Irom Sharmila. They contested assembly elections in 2017, unsuccessfully. Sharmila, thereafter, left Manipur and Erendro continued in Imphal as a political activist. In 2018, he was charged under the National Security Act (NSA) for commenting on a video clip where some men from Bihar were seen threatening to eliminate Manipuris. State police asked him to remove the video with the comments from Facebook which he refused; called it a hate video and said that 'while the state cyber crime branch had arrested a person in no time for threatening to kill the son of the chief minister N. Biren Singh, those threatening to kill Manipuris were not being arrested by the police.' Alongside Erendro, an Imphal-based young journalist Wangkhem Kishorechandra was also arrested under the NSA. That was Kishore's third arrest in the Biren era. All those arrests were triggered by his scathing criticism of the chief minister, PM Modi and the BJP-RSS. He continues to reside in Imphal. Just recently, Erendro was granted political asylum by the United States, and has since left the country. This June 19, he wrote a long post on Facebook about his self exile. 'I did not choose exile. It arrived like a severance – swift, political, intimate…I was an outspoken political activist. I spoke my mind, loudly and clearly – and for that, I was imprisoned. More than once, Eventually, I was forced to leave not because I was wrong, but because I would not stop. I left Manipur in 2022," Erendro said. "In 2025, I was granted political asylum by the United States government. America has gracefully given me political asylum. It was a moment of profound relief – and sorrow. Relief, because I was safe. Sorrow because exile is never a celebration. It is a confirmation that something deeply unjust has taken root in one's homeland,' Erendro added in the post. Yet another civil rights activist from Imphal, Binalakshmi Nepram, has also been in the United States in political asylum after facing threats to her life for supporting a family whose son was allegedly gunned down by Biren Singh's son in broad daylight in Imphal in 2017. 'While Bina has not come home, as per a Supreme Court order, her parents' house in Sagolband area of Imphal is still being guarded by a team of the Central Reserve Police Force,' related Laba. Even though threats to Bina took place during the first term of Biren Singh as the BJP chief minister, Laba said it was 'good and Manipur was poised to return to normalcy'. But what happened in the second term? 'If you ask me, Singh has no experience in handling crisis of such magnitude, and therefore, began using brute force as a means to silence his critics, both in politics, civil society and media.'
Hindustan Times
19-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Kuki AI-171 hostess's body to be handed over via Nagaland
The body of Air India cabin crew member Lamnunthiem Singson, 25, will be handed over to her family on Thursday, people aware of the matter said on Wednesday, after her body was identified through DNA profiling. Members of the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), Kangpokpi (Manipur), said that Singson's body will be taken to the conflict-torn state via Dimapur airport at 1.30 pm. 'For reasons of safety, the family wished that the mortal remains should not be received in Imphal and brought via Meitei areas to Kangpokpi (hill district). Instead, mortal remains will be received at the Dimapur (Nagaland) airport and then be brought via road to Kangpokpi. Relatives and KSO representatives will start for Dimapur early morning and be there to receive the mortal remains,' said K Shongreng, general secretary of Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), Kangpokpi unit. To be sure, top police officers and government authorities had on Monday and Tuesday met the family and offered a security convoy from Imphal Valley to Kangpokpi, where they are based, if they wish to receive the body at the Imphal airport. Singson's family used to live in Imphal's New Lambulane area, but fled to the hill district of Kangpopki after the conflict broke out in May 2023. Meities too fled the hill districts and retreated to the valley. These enclaves are now protected by local militia with central security forces only acting as a buffer. Meanwhile, the family of another cabin crew from Manipur, Nganthoi K Sharma, said they are yet to get a positive report from the Ahmedabad civil hospital about a positive DNA match. 'We request the authorities to expedite the process. Our families are also waiting back home,' Nganthoi's sister, Geetanjali said. Nganthoi K Sharma, was a Meitei. Lamnunthiem Singson, was a Kuki-Zo. As of Wednesday evening, the mortal remains of at least 170 victims have been handed over to their families, said Dr Rakesh Joshi, superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. He said that the authorities have contacted 202 relatives of the deceased so far.
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Breakthrough likely in the fresh row brewing in Manipur after Centre meets key outfit
The row over covering of the word 'Manipur' on a state transport bus a few days ago, which has led to a fresh round of protests in the state, reached Delhi on Tuesday. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), which is spearheading the protests in Imphal and has been demanding resignation of senior officers over the issue, met senior Union Home Ministry officials. On Monday, the protests had forced Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla, who was returning from Delhi after a meeting, to take a chopper to his residence from the Imphal airport. Congress state president K Meghachandra Singh said the incident showed the failure of President's Rule in the state. The seven-member COCOMI delegation, led by its convenor Khuraijam Athouba, met the Home Ministry's North East Advisor A K Mishra and Intelligence Bureau Joint Director Rajesh Kamble. Athouba told The Indian Express: 'We had a good talk. We spoke about various issues, including our engagement with the government over the Manipur situation, our opposition to giving legitimacy to SoO groups (the groups with which the government has reached suspension of operations agreements) and the problem of narco-terrorism in the state. We also told them about the sentiment in the Valley over the current row. They said they would convey the same to the government. We hope the government will take action.' While the COCOMI has been seeking resignations of the DGP, Chief Secretary and Advisor to the Manipur government, sources said the Centre may not cede more than a statement of regret over the issue. Sources within the Meitei civil society also indicated that an apology could bring the anger in the Valley down. The row stems from a May 20 incident when security forces allegedly stopped a state-run bus, which was carrying journalists to cover the Shirui Lily festival in Ukhrul district, near the Gwaltabi checkpost and forced Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) staffers to cover the state's name written on the windshield with a white paper. In the Valley, this was seen as an insult to the state. The festival itself was a big moment for the administration in Manipur, run by the Home Ministry under President's Rule, as it was the first time it was being held since the start of the conflict in the state in May 2023. Transport of participants from the Valley to the neutral Naga territory where the festival was held required passing through three Kuki settlements. It was to be the first major movement of the Meities to the area in two years. Home Ministry sources told The Indian Express Tuesday that the row was unfortunate and that, contrary to what is being alleged, the security forces had not asked for covering the 'Manipur' word on the bus. 'In fact, the security forces were not allowing the bus itself to go ahead since there are restrictions on plying of state transport buses through Kuki areas… The organisers of the trip suggested that the 'Manipur' marking on the bus be covered with white paper so that the bus could go ahead. When this was being done, the journalists sitting in the bus protested and a row erupted,' an official said. The official added: 'After the DIPR decided to take journalists to the Shirui Lily festival, it asked the Transport Department to hire a bus. Ideally, private transport should have been hired. But the state bus was sent.' Resumption of mobility between the Meitei and Kuki areas had been one of the promises made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, after the imposition of President's Rule, with a deadline of March 8 set for it. However, the very first day, a Manipur state transport bus passing through Kangpokpi, a Kuki-dominated district, had been attacked and even fired upon. Since then, Manipur State Transport buses have not been plying in Kuki areas. In a statement after its meeting with Home Ministry officials Tuesday, the COCOMI said: 'The delegation conveyed the strong sentiments and demands of the people regarding the Gwaltabi issue. The MHA officials assured that the matter has been noted for necessary governmental action.' Raising the latest row, Congress general secretary and communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh demanded Shah's resignation on Monday. 'President's Rule appears to have made no difference whatsoever in Manipur. Today the Governor had to take a helicopter from the airport in Imphal to Kangla Fort in order to reach his residence. Meanwhile, the PM is busy giving filmi dialogues in different parts of the country and politicising Operation Sindoor while continuing to ignore Manipur. The Union Home Minister has failed most miserably and should resign for his total failure to bring a semblance of normalcy in Manipur, which he has been managing,' Ramesh said in a statement. Meghachandra said: 'Who instructed the Manipur Governor to remove the word 'Manipur' from the Manipur State Transport Corporation bus? Double-Engine government (of the BJP) has already failed Manipur over the last more than two years. President's Rule, too, has failed Manipur.' PM Modi has 'repeatedly' failed Manipur, the Congress state chief said. 'Home Minister Amit Shah should resign. The Manipur Governor should be recalled.'
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Breakthrough likely in fresh row brewing in Manipur as Centre meets key outfit
The row over covering of the word 'Manipur' on a state transport bus a few days ago, which has led to a fresh round of protests in the state, reached Delhi on Tuesday. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), which is spearheading the protests in Imphal and has been demanding resignation of senior officers over the issue, met senior Union Home Ministry officials. On Monday, the protests had forced Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla, who was returning from Delhi after a meeting, to take a chopper to his residence from the Imphal airport. Congress state president K Meghachandra Singh said the incident showed the failure of President's Rule in the state. The seven-member COCOMI delegation, led by its convenor Khuraijam Athouba, met the Home Ministry's North East Advisor A K Mishra and Intelligence Bureau Joint Director Rajesh Kamble. Athouba told The Indian Express: 'We had a good talk. We spoke about various issues, including our engagement with the government over the Manipur situation, our opposition to giving legitimacy to SoO groups (the groups with which the government has reached suspension of operations agreements) and the problem of narco-terrorism in the state. We also told them about the sentiment in the Valley over the current row. They said they would convey the same to the government. We hope the government will take action.' While COCOMI has been seeking resignations of DGP, Chief Secretary and Advisor to the Manipur government, sources said Centre may not cede more than a statement of regret over the issue. Sources within the Meitei civil society also indicated that an apology could bring the anger in the Valley down. The row stems from a May 20 incident when security forces allegedly stopped a state-run bus, carrying journalists to cover the Shirui Lily festival in Ukhrul district, near the Gwaltabi checkpost and forced Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) staff to cover the state's name on the windshield with a white paper. In the Valley, this was seen as an insult to the state. The festival was a big moment for the administration in Manipur, run by the Home Ministry under President's Rule, as it was the first time it was being held since the start of the conflict in May 2023. Transport of participants from the Valley to the neutral Naga territory where the festival was held required passing through three Kuki settlements. It was to be the first major movement of Meities to the area in two years. Home Ministry sources said Tuesday that the row was unfortunate and that, contrary to what is being alleged, the security forces had not asked for covering the 'Manipur' word on the bus. 'In fact, the security forces were not allowing the bus to go ahead since there are restrictions on plying of state transport buses through Kuki areas… The organisers of the trip suggested that the 'Manipur' marking on the bus be covered with white paper so that the bus could go ahead. When this was being done, the journalists in the bus protested and a row erupted,' an official said. The official added: 'After the DIPR decided to take journalists to the Shirui Lily festival, it asked the Transport Department to hire a bus. Ideally, private transport should have been hired. But the state bus was sent.' Resumption of mobility between Meitei and Kuki areas had been one of the promises made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, after imposition of President's Rule, with a deadline of March 8 set for it. However, the very first day, a Manipur state transport bus passing through Kangpokpi, a Kuki-dominated district, was fired upon. Manipur State Transport buses have not been plying in Kuki areas since. In a statement after its meeting with Home Ministry officials Tuesday, COCOMI said: 'The delegation conveyed the strong sentiments and demands of the people regarding the Gwaltabi issue. MHA officials assured the matter has been noted for necessary governmental action.'
