Latest news with #Shiruifestival
The Print
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Protests in Manipur after security forces cover state's name on govt bus carrying journalists
The reason behind the act was not shared by the authorities till filing of the report. The media groups also said that because of the 'harassment' caused to journalists, they will observe a pen down strike on Wednesday and boycott all news and information related to the Manipur government and all state and central forces operating here. Imphal, May 20 (PTI) Major political parties and media organisations of Manipur on Tuesday criticised the security forces for allegedly stopping a government bus with journalists on board and covering the name of the state written on its windshield. The Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) has arranged a Manipur State Transport bus to take around 20 journalists from the state capital Imphal to Ukhrul district to cover the 5th state-level tourism festival of Shirui Lily. Security forces stopped the bus at Gwaltabi check post, some 25 km from here, and allegedly forced the DIPR staff to cover the state's name written on the top of the vehicle's windshield with a piece of white paper. Following this, the journalists returned to Imphal. They also took part in a rally from Manipur Press Club to Raj Bhavan, a distance of around two km, to protest the incident and submitted a memorandum to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, demanding an investigation into the incident. Manipur, which saw the deaths of at least 260 people in ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kukis since May 2023, is currently under the President's rule. The BJP, which was governing the state before it came under the President's rule in February, and the Congress criticised the security forces for the incident. 'We strongly condemn the incident. Manipur was written on the state transport bus not specially for the festival. It has been in practice for decades,' state BJP Manipur general secretary P Premananda told reporters. The party will not remain silent if the sentiments of the Manipuri people are offended, he said. The Congress also expressed concern over the incident. 'The bus was sent to cover Shirui festival by the DIPR of the state government. It was meant to give a positive dimension of the state,' the party's senior spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei said. The double engine did not succeed and now the President's rule, too, has failed to ensure free movement for all, he alleged. The Congress leader said, 'When a Manipur state transport bus can't move freely within its own state, how can an ordinary person feel safe to move freely?' Media organisations, in their memorandum to the governor, sought immediate action against those responsible for 'causing harassment' to the journalists who went to cover the Shirui Lily Festival during the day. 'The vehicle cleared at least three checkpoints after routine security checks. However, upon reaching Gwaltabi, personnel from the 4 Mahar Regiment instructed the team to hide the phrase 'Manipur State Transport' printed on the front of the bus. 'The instruction raised concern and confusion among the media professionals, who questioned the logic behind hiding a state government name while operating within the state,' the memorandum submitted by the All Manipur Working Journalists Union and Editors Guild Manipur read. In a joint emergency meeting, the two organisations decided to launch pen down strike on May 21. 'In the absence of an amicable solution, the pen-down strike may further be extended', the memorandum said, adding that the media houses will 'boycott all Manipur state government related news and information, including state and central forces operating in Manipur.' They also demanded an inquiry into the incident of harassment of media persons en route to Ukhrul for Shirui Lily Festival and fix responsibility. Meanwhile, more than 200 women of Khwairambam market, the largest market in the state, also staged a protest in the wake of the incident. The women protesters demanded action against the security forces personnel who stopped the bus. PTI COR NN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Manipur police registers case against threat messages to Meiteis planning to attend Shirui festival
Imphal, Manipur Police on Sunday said that a criminal case has been registered against threat messages to people of Meitei community planning to attend the state-level 5th Shirui Lily festival. The case has been registered at the Cyber Crime police station. In a post on X, Manipur Police said, "A criminal case has been registered at Cyber Crime PS in this regard and all out effort shall be made to arrest them. All precautionary security measures are in place to ensure security for the movement of people attending the Shirui Festival." It said, "Some unknown individual and organisation allegedly of Kuki community have issued threat messages to Meiteis, who are planning to visit Shirui festival in Ukhrul today, mostly on various social media platforms." The police said all precautionary security measures are in place to ensure security for the movement of people attending the Shirui Festival. The police statement came in the wake of circulation of some purported videos on social media in which individuals allegedly from Kuki community openly threatened that "no Meiteis who come to attend Shirui Lily festival will leave alive." The Shirui Lily festival will be held in Ukhrul district from May 20 to May 24. The 80 km route from Imphal to Ukhrul passes through a few Kuki villages. Police said, "Any such threats are taken seriously and inquired into promptly. So far, these organisations are found to be non-existent. It may be mentioned that a number of credible Kuki organisations have also come out in the past dissociating themselves from such unknown organisations." The police also said that "regular security review is being taken and senior officers deployed to supervise the security arrangement. The public is requested to cooperate in this regard." Manipur Police on Saturday had filed an FIR against the president of Kuki Students' Organisation Delhi for threatening to stop Meiteis from attending the Shirui Lily festival in Ukhrul district. The Shirui festival is held in honour of the state flower Shirui Lily, which is found in the hills of the Tangkhul Naga-majority Ukhrul district. 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 President's rule in Manipur on February 13 after N Biren Singh resigned as chief minister. The assembly, which has tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Manipur Police files FIR against Kuki student leader for threatening Meiteis
Imphal, Manipur Police have filed an FIR against the president of Kuki Student Organisation Delhi for his threats to not allow Meiteis to cross buffer zones to attend the upcoming 5th state-level Shirui Lily festival in Manipur's Ukhrul district. In a post on X, Police on Saturday said, "As regards to one Paojakhup Guite, Prez KSO Delhi threats to the Meitei, to not allow to cross the buffer zone to attend the upcoming Shirui festival in Ukhrul, which is circulated in social media since yesterday, Churachandpur police has registered an FIR and all efforts, including raid, are being made in nearby districts for his immediate arrest." The police of neighbouring states of Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya, etc have been requested to arrest him as quickly as possible, the Manipur police said. It said all necessary security arrangements would be made to ensure the security of people attending the Shirui festival. Earlier, Guite in a video widely circulated in social media said, "They are going to hold Shirui festival to promote Meitei Tangkhul brotherhood, and urged the public that any Meitei, whether man or woman, who comes to Shirui festival should not be allowed to leave alive." Reacting to the statement, Indigenous Peoples Forum Manipur president and popular Naga activist Ashang Kasar said, "During President's rule in Manipur, why such activities allowed? Where is Governor? Where is Chief Secretary? Where is DGP?" The Shirui Festival is held in honour of the state flower Shirui Lily, which is found in the hills of Tangkhul Naga-dominated Ukhrul district. The festival is scheduled from May 20 to May 24. The nearly 80 km route from Imphal to the Ukhrul district headquarters passes through several Kuki villages. Meanwhile, the Kuki chiefs based along the Imphal Ukhrul road have assured Tangkhul Naga Long , an apex organisation of Tangkhul Naga tribe, of maintaining a peaceful environment during the festival and reaffirmed its earlier decision not to check or frisk passersby within the jurisdiction of the TNL. 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 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.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kuki group warns Meiteis not to enter their areas during upcoming festival
IMPHAL: A group in Manipur has warned Meiteis not to enter the Kuki-majority areas during a five-day festival to be held in Ukhrul district next week. Ethnic clashes between the two warring sides in the northeastern state have left at least 260 people dead and thousands homeless since May 2023. "We strongly advise all members of the Meitei community to refrain from entering or crossing our areas at any time. Any violation of this direction will be considered intentional, and individuals shall bear full responsibility for any consequences that may follow," the Kuki Zo Village Volunteer Eastern Zone said in a statement. People from various parts of the state visit Ukhrul during the Shirui festival, to be held between May 20 and 24. The route from Imphal, where Meiteis are in the majority, to Ukhrul passes through certain villages where Kukis are the dominant force. In Ukhrul district, however, the Naga tribal people are in majority. Manipur DGP Rajiv Singh recently visited Ukhrul district to review the preparations for the annual festival held to honour the state flower of Shirui Lily, found in abundance in the hills of Ukhrul district. Popular Tangkhul Naga social worker Asang Kashar condemned the warning. "This is directly a challenge to every citizen of Manipur and shows they (Kukis) are against peace," Kashar said.
