Latest news with #Meiteis
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Manipur's new chief secretary assumes charge
Manipur Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel on Monday assumed charge at the secretariat here, officials said. Goel took charge from outgoing CS Prashant Kumar Singh at a brief function held at the Old Secretariat building, they said. 'The Manipur government marked a transition in administrative leadership with the official handover of charge from outgoing Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh to newly appointed CS Puneet Kumar Goel,' an official statement said. Senior officials and department heads expressed their gratitude to Singh for his dedicated service and visionary leadership during his tenure. 'Warm wishes were also extended to Goel as he assumed charge,' the statement said. Goel, the 1991 batch AGMUT cadre officer, arrived in Imphal on Sunday and was received by officials led by Commissioner (home) Ashok Kumar. He was appointed as the Manipur chief secretary by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on July 16. The appointment comes at a time when the northeastern state has been witnessing ethnic violence for more than two years. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. The Centre had on February 13 imposed the President's rule in Manipur after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned. The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Three militants among six held in Manipur
Security forces have arrested three militants belonging to two banned organisations from Manipur's Imphal East and Kakching districts, police said in a statement on Monday (July 21, 2025). Three others were also apprehended from the Imphal West district for allegedly being involved in the trading of ammunition, it said. A self-styled sergeant major of the banned Prepak was arrested from his residence at Kontha Ahallup in Imphal East district on Saturday (July 19, 2025), the police said, adding that he had received basic military training at Tanal in Myanmar and had recruited a cadre in October last year for the outfit. Two active members of the proscribed UPPK were apprehended from a market in Kakching on Sunday (July 20, 2025) for allegedly being involved in extortion activities in the district and adjoining areas, the police statement said. Security forces also arrested three persons from Thangmeib and Khuyathong Polem Leikai areas in Imphal West district on Sunday (July 20, 2025) for their alleged involvement in illegal sales of ammunition, it said. More than 100 ammunition items were recovered from their possession, the police said. Security forces have been conducting search operations in Manipur since ethnic violence broke out two years ago. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. The Centre had on February 13 imposed the President's rule in Manipur after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned. The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.
Deccan Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Handling the Arambai Tenggol tangle in Manipur
Emboldened by the imposition of President's rule in February this year, the Manipur Police, which had hitherto been cautious about taking any legal action against members of the radical outfit - the Arambai Tenggol (AT) - has now adopted a more assertive approach, actively rounding up those who took law in their own July 8, six AT members were arrested from two districts for assaulting Manipur police officials in Bishnupur on June 9. The Meiteis have been astir, demanding the release of the AT leader, Asem Kanan Singh, and even calling for a bandh on June Singh had been arrested by the CBI at Imphal airport over 'his involvement in various criminal activities related to Manipur violence in 2023'. Twelve others who had been detained for questioning have been released. Kanan Singh was a head constable with the Manipur police, but was sacked for his alleged involvement in smuggling of group's radical outfit, AT, raised in 2020 by Leishemba Sanajaoba, the scion of the erstwhile royal family of Manipur and presently a Rajya Sabha member, has been calling the shots in the state. One of the outfit's main objectives is for Meiteis to revert to the native religion of Sanamahism - nature worship - which had been slowly replaced by Vaishnavism that rooted itself in Manipur in the later half of 18th century. .An AT spokesman, announcing the withdrawal of the 10-day bandh call on June 10, said that the 'group was formed as an unarmed socio-cultural organisation to preserve and promote the culture and traditions of Manipur. Circumstances forced us to take up arms'. .But during the mayhem that gripped the state from May 3, 2023, the AT, in collusion with other miscreants, looted weapons and ammunition from the armouries of police training schools, India Reserve Battalions, and police stations. Of the 5,600 arms and over 6.5 lakh rounds of ammunition looted, only 1,500 weapons and 20,000 rounds had been recovered by the police as of October on Arambai Tenggol intensifies in the imposition of President's rule, members of AT and other radical outfits surrendered hundreds of weapons. Simultaneous joint operations, carried out by the Central Armed Police Forces, Army, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police, in mid-June yielded 328 weapons, including SLRs, LMGs and carbines. On July 15, 86 more weapons, including AK Rifles, carbines and pistols, were recovered along with 974 live rounds. Still a large haul of arms and ammunition continue to be in the wrong around 60,000 men on their rolls, armed cadres of the Arambai Tenggol, meaning 'dart-wielding cavalry', move around the valley sporting black T-shirts with AT insignia, threatening locals. The extent to which the AT has spread terror in the state can be gauged from the fact that on a call given by the outfit to all legislators, 37 MLAs and two MPs attended a rally in January last year in Kangla fort, in the heart of MLAs were directed to submit their six demands to the Centre, which included expediting the NRC with 1951 as the cut-off date, abrogation of Suspension of Operations, better known as SoO, with the Kuki-Zo, withdrawal of Assam Rifles as they felt the para military forces was biased, removal of names of illegal migrants from the Schedule Tribe list, complete fencing of Indo-Myanmar border and shifting of Myanmar refugees to neighbouring these, the Centre has accepted the demand for fencing of the Manipur-Myanmar border, work for which has already begun. But there has been stiff opposition to the fencing by both Nagaland and Mizoram governments as they aver that the kin of people residing close to the border are related to those residing across the border, so much so that children from across the border attend schools in their part of the country and return home after school is, therefore, no surprise that a large number of refugees from Myanmar have sought shelter in Mizoram due to the conflict raging between the ethnic groups and Myanmar's Junta government. The Myanmar Air Force has even resorted to strafing hostile villages. These internecine clashes have, therefore, led to mass influx of Myanmarese to neighbouring the SoO tripartite agreement among the Centre, the Manipur government and the Kuki National Organisation, a conglomerate of 17 Kuki outfits, and the United People's Front with eight other Kuki outfits under its umbrella, signed in 2008, has been periodically extended. .The SoO agreement with the Centre and the State which was being extended till 2023 is in a state of limbo since the Manipur government wanted the agreement to be terminated as there were allegations of their active participation in the ethnic conflict during the last two years, though the Kuki-Zo representatives assert that the former militants were all confined to their talks between the Centre and the representatives of Kuki-Zo tribals that took place in New Delhi on June 9 and 16, has also hit a dead end. The Kuki-Zo representatives have been demanding Union Territory status with a legislature for the Kuki-Zo dominated districts. This is, however, being vehemently opposed by the Meiteis, who are resisting any bifurcation of the is time the concerned parties negotiate for peace in the north eastern state that has been periodically rocked by conflicts, impacting its development..(The writer is a retired Inspector General of Police, CRPF)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kuki-Zo seeks Centre's help to improve disputed German-Tiger Road
Guwahati: Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the apex body of Kuki-Zo tribals in Manipur, appealed to the Centre on Sunday to improve the German-Tiger Road — earlier an inter-village path connecting Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts. The community-led initiative for the road, funded through public donations, has sparked disputes, drawing opposition from the Naga community and escalating ethnic tensions. The Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) announced an indefinite bandh on Friday midnight banning the movement of Kukis in the foothills of Naga-inhabited areas, objecting to the road's development through ancestral territories of Nagas without prior consultation. This situation has created tension between Kuki-Zo people and Nagas, while conflicts persist between Kuki-Zos and Meiteis since the ethnic unrest began in Manipur in May 2023. While on Sunday, KZC cautioned that attempts to obstruct Kuki-Zo community connectivity reflect an intention to isolate them. However, Meiteis remain the primary focus of Kuki-Zo people's grievances, rather than the Nagas though the latter have been largely neutral in the tribal Kuki-Zo and non-tribal Meitei conflict in Manipur over the last two years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Update: The Strategy Uses By Successful Intraday Trader TradeWise Learn More Undo "Kuki-Zo Council strongly condemns the baseless and malicious accusations being circulated by certain Meitei groups branding the German-Tiger Road and Singheu Road as 'drug routes'. These claims are entirely unfounded and without any legitimate evidence," Ginza Vualzong, secretary, information & publicity at KZC, said on Sunday. Despite Naga objections and restrictions, KZC has sought central govt's support to develop both the routes. While Nagas worry about potential land losses, KZC argues that the roads are essential for the community during the ongoing conflict and blockades. The council stressed that the German-Tiger Road provides a safe travel alternative by bypassing Meitei-dominated regions. Sources said some camps of Kuki outfits that are under suspension of operation are in proximity to Naga villages, raising concerns that an upgraded German-Tiger Road would facilitate the groups' movements further. "Nagas fear potential encroachment into their territories by Kuki-Zo people," the source said. Through public contributions, work has commenced to develop basic roads (mostly kutccha), with vehicles already using both routes. According to KZC, improvement of the German-Tiger Road was necessary, as after ethnic violence, it was unsafe for Kuki-Zo people to travel through Meitei-dominated areas. The Singheu Road now connects Churachandpur, Chandel, and Tengnoupal in absence of viable infrastructure. "We call upon the central govts to reject these divisive and baseless allegations and, instead, take steps to improve German-Tiger Road and Singheu Road as essential inter-district lifelines," Ginza said. "We urge the Centre to reject divisive rhetoric and recognize these roads as lifelines—not criminal pathways," Ginza added. "Accusing the German-Tiger Road and Singheu Road of being a conduit for illicit activities without presenting credible evidence is nothing short of a deliberate attempt to criminalise the Kuki-Zo community and to isolate us further. This tactic may also reflect a broader political effort to shift discourse away from the unfolding Biren Audio Tape case," Ginza alleged.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Manipur: FNCC declares indefinite ban on Kuki movement in Naga foothills
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Guwahati: The Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) has declared an indefinite bandh on the movement of Kukis within the foothill regions of Naga-inhabited areas, effective from midnight of July FNCC stated that the bandh is a peaceful but firm protest against what it describes as threats to the ancestral land, identity, and security of the Naga people.B. Robin Kabui, Secretary of the FNCC, the first concern is the proposed construction of the German and Tiger roads through Naga ancestral territories without prior knowledge or consent of the Naga people. The committee termed it a blatant disregard for traditional ownership rights.A road constructed in the hill region called the 'German road' has raised concern in the wake of violence Manipur. The road built privately during the ethnic conflict connects Churachandpur to Kangpokpi. It is named after German H Kuki, leader of the Kuki National Front-Military Council (KNF-MC), a militant group based in Manipur. It is said that the road was constructed on the initiative of militant leader road was opened for people in 2024. There are several Kaccha roads linking Churachandpur to neighbouring Mizoram. There are roads between Churachandpur and Myanmar. Myanmar shares a border with the Manipur Naga Youth Organisation (MNYO) had expressed strong opposition to the proposed construction of the Tiger/German Road from Motbung in Kangpokpi district to Churachandpur, citing concerns over the road's organisation urged the Government of India and relevant authorities to reconsider the project and its implications. According to the organisation, the term 'Tiger/German Road' is associated with Kuki armed groups, which the organisation finds stated the second issue raised is the alleged continued presence of illegal Suspension of Operation (SoO) camps of Kuki militant groups in Naga areas, which the FNCC claims poses a serious threat to peace and security. 'Thirdly, the FNCC highlighted the unchecked cultivation of poppy plantations, which it claims not only harms the environment but also fuels drug addiction and criminal activity, thereby endangering the social fabric'.The organisation added, 'These encroachments and activities, if allowed to persist, will irreversibly harm the heritage, security, and future of the Naga people. It further called on Naga bodies and tribal councils to unite in defending their ancestral domain".Meiteis, belonging to the erstwhile ruling class, account for 53% of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal valley. Naga and Kuki tribes constitute 40% of the population and live in the hill than 260 people have been killed and around 70,000 people of different communities rendered homeless in the ethnic violence between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities since May has been under President's Rule since February 13, four days after the resignation of N. Biren Singh from the Chief Minister's post.
