Manipur Violence News LIVE Updates: AFSPA extended for 6 months from Oct 1 amid continued protests

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday expressed grief over the deaths of two youths in Manipur and demanded strict action against the culprits.

“The Congress party expresses condolences over the deaths of these two students. We want the culprits to be arrested as soon as possible. We want the government to take strong action against them,” he told ANI.

A Central Bureau of Investigation team, led by the agency’s Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar, reached Imphal in a special flight earlier today to investigate the alleged “kidnapping and killing” of two students, Sources said.

The two boys had reportedly gone missing in Manipur on July 6.

Upon their arrival at Imphal airport, the CBI team parried questions about the incident.

The police station areas where the Disturbed Areas Act has not been imposed are Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Sekmai, Lamsang, Pastol, Wangoi, Porompat, Heingagng, Lamlai, Iribung, Leimakhong, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Nambol, Moirang, Kakchin and Jirbam.

Hill areas of Manipur were again placed under the stringent Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act while 19 police stations mainly comprising areas in the valley have been kept out of its purview.

In an official notification issued on Wednesday, it was stated that “Governor of Manipur hereby accords approval to declare the entire state of Manipur excluding the areas falling under the jurisdiction of 19 police stations…as ‘Disturbed Area’ for a period of six months with effect from October 1, 2023.”

Congress national president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Manipur violence and urged him to sack Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) ‘incompetent Chief Minister’.

Kharge said that the beautiful state of Manipur has been turned into a ‘battlefield’.

“For 147 days, the people of Manipur have been suffering, but PM Modi does not have time to visit the state. The horrific images of students being targeted in this violence have once again shocked the entire nation. It is now apparent that violence against women and children was weaponized in this strife,” Kharge said in a post on X.

The Congress General Secretary in Charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Manipur violence, saying why he cannot find a day to visit Manipur is simply beyond any understanding.

“The Prime Minister is roaming around different states, leaving behind his trademark trail of lies, abuses, and insults. Why he cannot find a day to visit Manipur is simply beyond any understanding,” he said in a post on X.

The Manipur government on Tuesday reimposed the ban on internet services for the next five days, soon after police baton-charged students in Imphal during a demonstration against the alleged kidnapping and death of two youths.

The police action left 45 students, many of them girls, injured, officials said.

After photos of the deceased bodies of two missing Meitei teenagers appeared on social media platforms, Manipur CM N Biren Singh assured people here that both the state and central government are closely working together to nab the perpetrators.

Read more here

Protest rallies erupted in Imphal with thousands of students marching towards the centre of the city for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, protesting the kidnapping and killing of two youths. On the other hand, the women’s wing of Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), the apex Kuki body, staged a demonstration in Churachandpur against the delay in ordering a CBI inquiry into the killing and rape of tribals during the nearly five-month-long ethnic violence in Manipur. Manipur Police, CRPF and RAF personnel were seen deployed in strength throughout Imphal Valley in anticipation of possible violence.

Following his resignation from the JD(S), Syed Shafiulla Saheb accused the BJP of “maintaining silence over the situation in Manipur” which witnessed violence after clashes earlier this May.

A team of CBI officials, led by the agency’s Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar, will reach Imphal in a special flight on Wednesday to investigate the “kidnapping and killing” of two students who went missing in the northeastern state on July 6, sources said.

The decision was taken within hours of the case being handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Manipur government.

The team led by Bhatnagar, the second-in-command in the federal agency, will also have Joint Director Ghanshyam Upadhyay, who is camping in Imphal, sources said.

The women wing of Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), the apex Kuki body, staged a demonstration in Churachandpur against the delay of ordering CBI inquiry into the killing and rape of tribals during the nearly five-month-long ethnic violence in Manipur.

Manipur Police, CRPF and RAF personnel were seen deployed in strength throughout Imphal Valley in anticipation of possible protests and violence.

Protest rallies erupted in the streets of Imphal with thousands of students sloganeering against the kidnapping and killing of two youths for the second consecutive day on Wednesday.

On the other hand, the women wing of Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), the apex Kuki body, staged a demonstration in Churachandpur against the delay of ordering CBI inquiry into the killing and rape of tribals during the nearly five-month-long ethnic violence in Manipur.

“More shocking news from Manipur. Children are the most vulnerable victims of ethnic violence. It is our duty to do all we can to protect them. The horrific crimes being committed in Manipur are beyond words, yet they are being allowed to continue unabated,” Priyanka Gandhi said in a post on her social media account, X.

The curbs will remain effective in the state till 7.45 pm on 1 October 2023.

With photographs of the bodies of two Manipur students who had been missing going viral, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday alleged that horrific crimes are being allowed to continue unabated in the state and said that the Centre should be ashamed of its “inaction”.

Hours after the photos of the bodies of two students, who had been missing since July, went viral on social media, the Manipur government asked people to exercise restraint and allow authorities to investigate the “kidnapping and killing” of the duo. The two students were identified as Phijam Hemjit (20) and Hijam Linthoingambi (17).

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the CBI director along with a specialised team will arrive in Imphal on Wednesday to investigate the killing of two youths who had been missing since July 6.

Photos of the bodies of the two missing youths went viral on social media, leading to protests by students in the state.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing violence situation in Manipur. He demanded that BJP’s ‘incompetent’ chief minister should be sacked.

Read more here

In the strife-hit Manipur, hundreds of security forces have been airlifted in the past three days, according to a report by Hindustan Times, Livemint’s sister publication.

Read more here

‘Every morning, we used to put a plate of breakfast on his table and hoped that he would return home one day’, said the parents of a 17-year-old student who was allegedly killed by armed miscreants in violence-hit Manipur.

Read more here

“Security has been beefed up to prevent any untoward incident,” an official said.

A tense calm prevailed in Singjamei even though shops and business establishments were open and vehicles plied the roads.

The state government has relaxed curfew restrictions from 5 am to 9 pm in Imphal East and Imphal West district on Wednesday to facilitate the general public to purchase essential items including medicines and food, an official notification said.

A clash occurred on Tuesday night between RAF personnel and locals protesting the killing of two students, who had been missing since July 6, prompting the law enforcers to lob tear gas shells and fire rubber bullets at the agitators and baton-charge them, leaving 45 of the protesters, mostly students, injured.

Although the state government has declared a holiday for schools on Wednesday, students of some Imphal-based institutions vowed to congregate at their schools, sparking speculations of more protests later in the day.

“For 147 days, people of Manipur are suffering, but PM Modi does not have time to visit the state. The horrific images of students being targeted in this violence has once again shocked the entire nation,” Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said on X.

“It is now apparent that violence against women and children was weaponised in this strife. The beautiful state of Manipur has been turned into a battlefield, all because of the BJP,” he said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the situation in Manipur and demanded that he sack BJP’s “incompetent” chief minister as a first step to control the turmoil.

He also alleged that the violence against women and children has been weaponised and accused the BJP of turning Manipur into a battlefield.

A clash occurred in the Singjamei area of Imphal on Tuesday night between RAF personnel and locals protesting the killing of two students, who had been missing since July 6, prompting the law enforcers to lob tear gas shells and fire rubber bullets at the agitators and baton-charge them, leaving 45 of the protesters, mostly students, injured.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the situation in Manipur and demanded that he sack BJP’s “incompetent” chief minister as a first step to control the turmoil.

He also alleged that the violence against women and children has been weaponised and accused the BJP of turning Manipur into a battlefield.

The parents of a 17-year-old student who was allegedly killed by armed miscreants in violence-hit Manipur were distressed when they got to know about their kid’s demise, NDTV reported. 

The situation remained calm but tense in Singjamei area of Imphal on Wednesday morning after a clash between students and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel left 45 protesters injured the previous night.

Manipur Police, CRPF and RAF personnel were seen deployed in strength throughout Imphal Valley in anticipation of possible protests and violence.

The CRPF/RAF has refuted making casteist remarks while dealing with demonstrators protesting the killing of two students who had been missing since July 6, Manipur Police has said.

The clarification came after a video went viral where an RAF personnel was allegedly heard stating, “It’s not our community, do whatever you want (humara jaati nahi hain, kuch bhi karo,” made rounds on social media inviting widespread condemnation from social media users.

Altogether 45 students, many of them girls, were injured in Manipur’s Imphal Valley on Tuesday as the police fired tear gas shells and baton-charged protesters demonstrating against the killing of two youths who were allegedly kidnapped in July, officials said.

In view of the prevailing situation, the government reimposed suspension of internet services for five days and announced that all schools in the state will be closed till Friday.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the CBI director along with a specialised team will arrive in Imphal on Wednesday to investigate the killing of two youths who had been missing since July 6.

Photos of the bodies of the two missing youths went viral on social media, leading to protests by students in the state.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said efforts are on in Manipur by the state and the central governments to find a way by which a sense of normalcy returns and there is adequate law-and-order enforcement.

“…I think one part of the problem in Manipur has been the destabilising impact of migrants who have come,” he said Tuesday at the Council on Foreign Relations in response to a question on the situation in the northeastern state in India.

Manipur has been witnessing violence since May 3, following the protests by the Kuki and Meitei communities against the High Court’s order asking the state government to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the category of Scheduled Tribes (ST).

The Congress General Secretary in Charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Manipur violence, saying why he cannot find a day to visit Manipur is simply beyond any understanding.

“The Prime Minister is roaming around different states, leaving behind his trademark trail of lies, abuses, and insults. Why he cannot find a day to visit Manipur is simply beyond any understanding,” he said in a post on X.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday (local time) reiterated that efforts are underway to find a way by which a sense of normalcy returns in Manipur and said that one aspect of the problem has been the “destabilising impact” of migrants, combined with some other tensions which have a long history.

A team of CBI officials, led by the agency’s Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar, will reach Imphal in a special flight on Wednesday to investigate the “kidnapping and killing” of two students who went missing in the northeastern state on July 6, sources said.

The decision was taken within hours of the case being handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Manipur government.

Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday urged Chief Minister N Biren Singh to seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon and include all the five Congress MLAs from the state in the list of those who will be present at the meeting.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress Bhavan, party spokesperson N Bhupendra Singh said, “Manipur Chief Minister must take an initiative and seek an appointment with the PM as early as possible. He should include the names of the five Congress MLAs who will call on the PM if appointment is given.”

After photos of the deceased bodies of two missing Meitei teenagers appeared on social media platforms, Manipur CM N Biren Singh assured people here that both the state and central government are closely working together to nab the perpetrators.

Read more here

With photographs of the bodies of two Manipur students who had been missing going viral, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday alleged that horrific crimes are being allowed to continue unabated in the state and said that the Centre should be ashamed of its “inaction”.

Hours after the photos of the bodies of two students, who had been missing since July, went viral on social media, the Manipur government asked people to exercise restraint and allow authorities to investigate the “kidnapping and killing” of the duo. The two students were identified as Phijam Hemjit (20) and Hijam Linthoingambi (17).

“In light of the distressing news that emerged yesterday regarding the tragic demise of the missing students, I want to assure the people of the State that both the state and central government are closely working together to nab the perpetrators.”

“To further expedite this crucial investigation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director, along with a specialized team, will be arriving in Imphal tomorrow morning in a special flight. Their presence underscores the commitment of our authorities to swiftly resolve this matter. I have been constantly in touch with Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShahji to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” the chief minister wrote on X. 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said efforts are on in Manipur by the state and the central governments to find a way by which a sense of normalcy returns and there is adequate law-and-order enforcement.

“…I think one part of the problem in Manipur has been the destabilising impact of migrants who have come,” he said Tuesday at the Council on Foreign Relations in response to a question on the situation in the northeastern state in India.

Hours after photos of the bodies of two students, who had been missing since July, went viral on social media, the Manipur government has asked people to exercise restraint and allow authorities to investigate the “kidnapping and killing” of the duo.

In a statement issued by the secretariat of Chief Minister N Biren Singh late on Monday night, the state government said the case has already been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Photos of two students, previously reported missing since July 2023, emerged on social media platforms. Identified as Hijam Linthoingambi, 17, and Phijam Hemjit, 20, the pictures display the duo in what appears to be a makeshift jungle camp.

Read more here

Altogether 45 students, many of them girls, were injured in Manipur’s Imphal Valley on Tuesday as the police fired tear gas shells and baton-charged protesters demonstrating against the killing of two youths who were allegedly kidnapped in July, officials said.

In view of the prevailing situation, the government reimposed suspension of internet services for five days and announced that all schools in the state will be closed till Friday.

Mobile internet services were suspended for five days in Manipur, PTI quoted the Home Department of Manipur government order on 26 September.

Read more here

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday targeted the BJP-led central government over its inaction on the Manipur violence, saying the horrific crimes are allowed to continue unabated.

“More shocking news from Manipur. Children are the most vulnerable victims of ethnic violence. It is our duty to do all we can to protect them. The horrific crimes being committed in Manipur are beyond words, yet they are being allowed to continue unabated,” she said in a post on her social media account, X.

The Manipur government Tuesday said all the government, aided and private unaided schools will be closed till Friday in view of the prevailing law and order situation in the state.

Read more here

The Congress General Secretary in Charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Manipur violence, saying why he cannot find a day to visit Manipur is simply beyond any understanding.

“The Prime Minister is roaming around different states, leaving behind his trademark trail of lies, abuses, and insults. Why he cannot find a day to visit Manipur is simply beyond any understanding,” he said in a post on X.

CBI Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar will reach Manipur on Wednesday in a special flight along with other officials to investigate the murder of two students by suspected armed men, official sources said.