
Ex-chief minister N Biren Singh leaves for Delhi amid escalating Manipur tensions
Former chief minister N Biren Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha lawmaker Leishemba Sanajaoba left for New Delhi on Monday to brief central leaders on the escalating tensions in the ethnic violence-hit Manipur.
An influential Meitei outfit member's arrest over the weekend triggered the fresh violence that left at least 11 people injured and prompted authorities to reimpose restrictions, and governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to conduct a security review.
Singh, who resigned as the chief minister in February after the Supreme Court directed a central forensics lab to examine leaked audio tapes allegedly featuring him purportedly saying the ethnic violence was instigated at his behest, declined to comment when asked whether Union home minister Amit Shah had summoned them.
Singh said they were headed to New Delhi to apprise the central leadership of the worsening situation, four months after the president's rule was imposed in Manipur in February following Singh's resignation. 'I appeal to the public, this is a very crucial stage. People should act cautiously and in unity, avoiding violence. Unity is our strength, and every step taken should move us toward peace.'
Protesters on Sunday defied prohibitory orders and blocked major roads in parts of the state capital, Imphal, by burning debris and tyres, a day after clashes rocked the city. A police post was torched, forcing police to use tear gas shells. A road was blocked to stop Border Security Force personnel from entering the city.
The arrest of Kanan Singh, a member of the Meitei body Arambai Tenggol, and the detention of four of his associates triggered the latest wave of violence. On Sunday, the Central Bureau of Investigation said that it had arrested Singh over his involvement in the violence in the state.
On Saturday, hundreds of protesters resorted to arson and threw stones at security forces as the news of Singh's arrest broke. The Arambai Tenggol demanded Singh's immediate release and announced a 10-day shutdown.
Singh was dismissed from the police force this year over his alleged involvement in smuggling weapons and looting armouries.
The authorities suspended broadband and mobile data services in Imphal East and West, Kakching, Thoubal, and Bishnupur, saying some 'anti-social elements might use social media' to incite the public. A curfew was reimposed in Bishnupur for the first time this year. The movement of people in the valley districts was restricted due to apprehension of a breach of peace.
The fresh unrest comes against the backdrop of a meeting between Union home ministry officials and representatives of Kuki-Zo militant groups who signed a Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact in 2008. It will be the first meeting between the two sides since the peace pact was put in abeyance last year.
The Union and the Manipur governments signed the pact with the militant groups. I was renewed annually until 2024, when the renewal was kept in abeyance following allegations that members of the groups were involved in the ethnic violence.
The protracted violence between Meiteis and Kukis was triggered in May 2023 and has left around 250 people dead and thousands displaced. Meiteis live largely in the plains of the Imphal valley, and the Kukis in the hills. They have withdrawn to their respective strongholds. The groups have since 2023 set up road blockades to restrict each other's and the movement of essential items between their strongholds.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Jain community is not a job seeker, but a job provider: Gadkari
Nagpur: In a fast-evolving world, quality education plays critical role in shaping the future, said Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari while addressing a packed audience at Sakal Jain Yuva Sangh's student felicitation programme on Sunday. "Our aim is that every student in Nagpur should have access to quality education," he said, outlining the ongoing efforts to transform the region into an educational and employment hub. Gadkari mentioned key educational initiatives, including the Symbiosis International University in Wathoda, which currently educates many underprivileged students, and a major KG to PG education facility near Bhandewadi. He also highlighted employment gains, noting that 90,000 youth from Vidarbha have secured jobs in MIHAN, and that global companies are investing in biotech and manufacturing in the region. Held at Indra Bhavan auditorium in Itwari, 180 outstanding students from Sakal Jain community who scored above 80% marks in their 10th and 12th board exams were felicitated. "Jain community is not a job seeker, but a job provider," Gadkari said, encouraging students to pursue entrepreneurship and leverage emerging opportunities, such as the upcoming commercial textile park on Empress Mill land on Subhash Road in the city. The event saw participation from prominent Jain leaders and dignitaries, including Santosh Jain Pendhari, Dilip Rakhe, Jagdish Gillarkar, Anand Maujilal Jain, and others, who lit the ceremonial lamp to inaugurate the program. Mangalacharan was performed by Asmita Dongaonkar and her team. Suraj Jain Pendhari and Sonu Singhai handled stage management, while Bahubali Palsapure, president of Sakal Jain Yuva Sangh, welcomed the guests. The vote of thanks was delivered by advocate Chaitanya Agrekar.


The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Chief Minister to inaugurate Kusum-C project on June 11
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM KUSUM)–C project, which will provide farmers with reliable daytime electricity by installing solar units near agricultural electricity feeders will be officially launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on June 11 at Gauribidanur of Chikkaballapura district, said Energy Minister K.J. George. Speaking at a curtain raiser press conference on Monday, he said, 'Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and Consumer Affairs, Food and Ration Distribution Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Nayak, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Ministers Krishna Byre Gowda, M.C. Sudhakar, and others will be participated.' The KUSUM–C scheme aims to provide farmers with reliable daytime electricity by installing solar units near agricultural electricity feeders. These units will generate power locally, which will then be supplied to agricultural pump sets through the feeders. This localized generation ensures the delivery of high-quality power, the Minister noted. In Gauribidanur taluk's Thondebhavi Hobli, a 20 MW solar unit has been established across approximately 60 acres in the villages of Hanumenahalli and Charakamattenahalli. This is the largest solar installation under the KUSUM–C scheme in Karnataka to date, which is why Gauribidanur was chosen for the scheme's official launch. The land for the project has been leased from private owners for a period of 25 years, he added. Further the Minister stated that, the KUSUM–C scheme, introduced four to five years ago, was initially put on hold in the State. However, after our government came to power, we decided to implement the scheme and invited tenders. The central government provides a subsidy of ₹1.05 crore for generating 1 mw of solar power, which significantly reduces the cost of establishment of the Solar Power System for the RESCO developers. 'The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission has fixed a maximum rate of ₹3.17 per unit of electricity, ensuring affordable and reliable power supply for farmers. In the first phase of the scheme, we aim to generate 2,400 megawatts of solar electricity through the solarisation of agricultural feeders. This will provide quality daytime electricity to around 6,19,000 (6 lakh 19 thousand) agrarian pump sets, significantly reducing their energy costs and ensuring a reliable power supply,' he explained.


Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Amit Shah approves ₹25 crore compensation for 2,060 houses damaged in J&K by Pakistani shelling post Operation Sindoor
A month after the Operation Sindoor, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday facilitated an additional provision of ₹ 25 crore from the Ministry of Home Affairs for 2,060 houses damaged by Pakistani shelling in border districts. The announcement by Amit Shah comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised additional compensation for houses damaged by Pakistani shelling in the border districts of Jammu and Kashmir. PM Modi had announced an additional compensation of ₹ 2 lakh for each fully damaged house and ₹ 1 lakh for each partially damaged house. The Home Ministry ensured swift implementation of the decision and stated that similar compensation will also be provided in the border areas of Punjab. Earlier on 29–30 May 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch. During the visit, he handed over appointment letters on compassionate grounds to the family members of those who lost their lives due to cross-border firing. According to the norms. compensation for the damages caused by cross-border shelling was provided immediately. Following Operation Sindoor, several incidents of cross-border shelling were reported in border districts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Due to this, hundreds of families living on residential areas, schools, religious structures including Gurudwaras, temples, mosques and commercial properties suffered. The administration took proactive measures to anticipate possible events and ensure effective response. According to the government release, 3.25 lakh people were evacuated from the border districts, of whom about 15,000 were accommodated in about 397 shelter sheds/accommodation centres equipped with facilities like food, water, health care, electricity, etc. A total of 394 ambulances were deployed in all border districts to take patients to hospitals for treatment, out of which 62 ambulances were deployed in Poonch district alone.