[🇧🇩] Insurgency in India's North-East---Why does India blame Bangladesh?

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BJP govt has pitted communities against each other in Manipur, which led to riots: Mamata Banerjee

The BJP government has pitted the indigenous communities against each other in Manipur, which has led to the riots.West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed that

en.prothomalo.com

BJP govt has pitted communities against each other in Manipur, which led to riots: Mamata Banerjee
ANIKolkata, West Bengal
Published: 04 Jul 2023, 10: 40

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses an election rally in support of TMC candidates ahead of the State Panchayat elections, in Jalpaiguri on 28 June, 2023ANI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed that the BJP government in Manipur has pitted the indigenous communities against each other in the violence-hit state, which has led to the riots.

"We are witnessing violence in Manipur, where people are not being able to come out of their homes. The BJP government has pitted the communities in Manipur against each other, which has led to these riots," she said.

She said this while virtually addressing party workers in Birbhum on Monday.

She further said that the BJP is also trying to wedge a divide between Kamatapuri and Rajbangshi tribes in West Bengal.

She further alleged, "Here (Bengal) too, they are trying to wedge a divide between Kamatapuri and Rajbangshis. Meanwhile, the Bengal government has set up Kamatapuri Academy, Rajbangshi Academy, and Panchanan Barma University. We recognise all great men from their respective communities and give holidays on their anniversaries."

Ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur nearly two months ago on 3 May after clashes erupted during a rally organised by the All Tribal Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of Meiteis in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday chaired a meeting of the Combined Headquarters (CHQ) to discuss important security matters related to the prevailing situation in the state."

Chaired a meeting of the Combined Headquarters (CHQ) in my office today to discuss important security matters related to the prevailing situation in Manipur. Certain key decisions have been taken to ensure that the violence is stopped immediately in the state, especially at the foothills along the valley," Manipur CM tweeted.

The meeting was attended by senior officers of the state government, the Indian Army and the Para Military forces.​

 

[Saif]

Indefinite shutdown of businesses begins in Nagaland in protest against extortion

The CNCI said harassment of the business community over extortion cannot be tolerated any further.

indianexpress.com

Indefinite shutdown of businesses begins in Nagaland in protest against extortion
The CNCI said harassment of the business community over extortion cannot be tolerated any further.
By: PTI
Kohima | April 27, 2024 13:19 IST

The shutdown was first observed in the state's commercial capital Dimapur on Friday. (Representative Photo/File)

Markets were shut and private offices were closed as an indefinite shutdown of business establishments began in Nagaland on Saturday to protest against extortion by underground groups.

The shutdown was first observed in the state's commercial capital Dimapur on Friday, following which the other districts joined on a call given by the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce & Industries (CNCCI).

The CNCI said harassment of the business community over extortion cannot be tolerated any further.

It urged the government to take immediate steps to stop the "unabated" extortions, intimidations and summons by the underground groups.

The CNCI said that banks, educational institutions, government offices and hospitals have been kept outside the purview of the shutdown.

State Home Commissioner Vikeyie Kenya said that it has "come to the notice" of the government that "rampant collection of taxes" from businesses, particularly in Dimapur, by various groups, most of which have signed ceasefire agreements with the government, has created an unbearable situation.

"Such activities reflect adversely on the law enforcing agency as well as on the state government," he said, directing the police to take stringent measures.

He instructed the district administrations and the police to report any violation of the ceasefire ground rules to the Ceasefire Monitoring Group for appropriate action.

Police should continue arresting "underground cadres" found extorting under the National Security Act (NSA), Kenya said.

The Dimapur police commissioner was asked to increase patrolling in market areas, and also deploy IRBn personnel to instill confidence among the people, he said.

The government also directed that a special cell be formed by the police commissioner to exclusively deal with incidents of extortion, he added.

The Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) said directions of such nature were issued by the state government in the past as well.

"However, considering the government's continued insincerity, it does not seem to hold any water," it said.

The shutdown will continue as long as the government does not take any satisfactory steps, it added.​

 

[Saif]

In Pictures: A 70-km march against AFSPA in India’s Nagaland

AFSPA gives the military sweeping powers to search, seize and even shoot suspects on sight without fear of prosecution.

www.aljazeera.com

Hundreds protest in India's Nagaland against controversial law

AFSPA gives the military sweeping powers to search, seize and even shoot suspects on sight without fear of prosecution.

Human rights groups have called the act draconian and pleaded for its repeal for decades. [Yirmiyan Arthur/AP Photo]

Hundreds of people have walked 70km (43 miles) in India's northeast to demand the repeal of a controversial act that grants special powers to Indian troops, following a deadly incident last month when soldiers killed over a dozen civilians.

They began their protest in Dimapur, a city in Nagaland state, and walked to Kohima, the state's capital, raising slogans against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

The act gives the military sweeping powers to search, arrest and even shoot suspects with little fear of prosecution. Human rights groups have long accused security forces of abusing the law.

Many joined for stretches along the route, wearing traditional attire and holding placards.

The road from Dimapur to Kohima is winding and strenuous, and often dusty in stretches.

"It has been a tiring walk but I participated because we want AFSPA removed," said 55-year-old Khamba Konyak on Tuesday. Khamba is Konyak, a Naga tribe whose 14 young men were killed in December by the Indian Army.

Since the deaths, candlelight vigils and solidarity marches have called for the revocation of AFSPA, which has loomed over the region since 1958 and gives many areas the feel of occupied territory.

"We are members of a helpless public and we have no other way to raise our voice against AFSPA. We can only contribute with our toil and sweat," said 35-year-old Mopa Konyak.

Under the act, local authorities need federal approval to prosecute army or paramilitary soldiers in civilian courts.

Scrutiny of the act has grown in the wake of last month's deadly attack, with the state's Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio announcing that his government wanted to do away with it.

On December 20, Nagaland's assembly unanimously passed a resolution demanding the repeal of AFSPA, but the federal government 10 days later extended the act for six months.

Even as people in Nagaland marched, AFSPA was extended for one more year on Tuesday in neighbouring Manipur state.

"I walked this entire stretch because I am concerned about the future of our children. AFSPA must be removed," said 53-year-old Dauyan Lakban.

Kevitho Kera, one of the organisers, added: "We are Nagas, a warrior race. But today we leave our machetes on the ground and walk peacefully to fight our oppressors with non-violence. How will India respond to our non-violence? Isn't the world's largest democracy ashamed of this draconian law?"

Nagas hold placards and participate in a 70km (43 miles) walk demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Kohima, in northeastern Nagaland state in India. [Yirmiyan Arthur/AP Photo]

"We want peace. We do not want violence. AFSPA must be repealed because we are a peace-loving people," said Manpong Konyak, 23. [Yirmiyan Arthur/AP Photo]

Two Naga Woman at the protest demanding the repeal of AFSPA in Nagaland state, India

Shongmeth Lily Konyak, 25, (left), and Mennyu Konyak, 26, wearing traditional necklaces, stand for a photograph during a protest demanding the repeal of the AFSPA in Kohima. "We want justice for our brothers and we want AFSPA removed from our region," Shongmeth said. [Yirmiyan Arthur/AP Photo]

A Naga Woman at the protest with a mask

"I am here because I want to fight for my brothers who lost their lives and also to repeal AFSPA so we can live peacefully," said Minnyu Konyak, 16. [Yirmiyan Arthur/AP Photo]

Colourful bag of a Naga at the protest demanding the repeal of AFSPA in Nagaland state, India

On December 20, Nagaland's assembly unanimously passed a resolution demanding the repeal of AFSPA, but the federal government 10 days later extended the act for six months. [Yirmiyan Arthur/AP Photo]

Nagas at the protest - one man holds a placard with word: "Human!"

Nagas listen to a speaker after participating in a 70-km (43-mile) walk demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Kohima. [Yirmiyan Arthur/AP Photo]

demanding the repeal of AFSPA in Nagaland state, India

Langam Konyak, 20, wearing a traditional necklace, says: "Innocent people were killed. We are marching for the good of the Nagas. We want AFSPA removed." [Yirmiyan Arthur/AP Photo]​

 

[Saif]

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/08/india/india-manipur-violence-ethnic-explainer-hntl-hnk/index.html

Why has a state in India's northeast exploded in ethnic unrest?
Rhea Mogul
By Rhea Mogul, CNN

In this picture taken on May 4, 2023, smoke billows from a vehicle during clashes between two ethnic communities, in Imphal the capital of India's Manipur state. Stringer/AFP/Getty Images

Violence has gripped the northeast Indian state of Manipur, as unrest between ethnic groups saw buildings set ablaze and charred vehicles strewn across roads, leaving at least 58 dead and tens of thousands more homeless.

Officials' repeated pleas for calm have appeared futile, prompting the Indian army to deploy troops in a bid to restore law and order, and authorities blocking internet access for the state's approximately 3 million population.

Residents of Manipur say there has been a breakdown of law and order. The state's government, led by India's Hindu-nationalist ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), last week issued "shoot-at-sight" orders for "extreme" cases, while the army said Sunday it has "significantly enhanced" its surveillance in the state.

Authorities say they are bringing the situation under control, but as the unrest enters its second week, the situation remains hostile in a complex, ethnically diverse and disparate region, that has for decades grappled with insurgencies, violence and marginalization.

Here's what you need to know.

People are evacuated by the Indian army to a temporary shelter as they flee ethnic violence that has hit the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, near Imphal on May 7, 2023. Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images

Where is Manipur?

Manipur, a lush, hilly state which borders Myanmar, has long history of civil conflict since modern India's creation. The state is home to an ethnically diverse group of Sino-Tibetan communities, each with their own unique language, culture and religion.

Like Kashmir in the north, it was once a princely state under British rule, and only incorporated into India in 1949 – two years after the country gained independence from its former colonizers.

Many within the state disagreed with that move, feeling it was hurried and completed without a proper consensus. The region has grappled with violent insurgencies as well as ethnic conflict ever since, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries over the decades.

The current outbreak of violence is some of the worst in recent decades.

What prompted the clashes?

Skirmishes broke out in the state capital Imphal on May 3 after thousands of people from the Naga and Kuki tribes took part in a rally against the majority Meitei ethnic group being afforded special status under India's "Scheduled Tribe" grouping.

The Meitei community, a largely Hindu ethnic group who account for about 50% of the state's population, have for years campaigned to be recognized as a scheduled tribe, which would give them access to wider benefits including health, education and government jobs.

A scooterist rides past a damaged water tanker that was set afire during a protest by tribal and non-tribal groups in the northeastern state of Manipur, India, May 4, 2023. Stringer/Reuters

Scheduled tribes have been among the most socio-economically disadvantaged groups in India and have historically been denied access to education and job opportunities, prompting the government to officially recognize certain groups in a bid correct years of injustice.

If the Meitei community are given scheduled tribe status, other ethnic groups – many of whom are Christian – say they fear they will not have a fair chance for jobs and other benefits.

The clashes turned violent, with video and photos showing angry mobs setting properties on fire. Eyewitnesses told CNN that homes and churches have been burnt, as frightened families desperately try to flee affected areas.

One youth tribal leader in Imphal who spoke to CNN on the condition of anonymity said his house was ransacked and vandalized, forcing him to stay in an army camp.

In this picture taken on May 4, 2023, security personnel fire tear gas whilst the Meitei community tribals protest to demand inclusion under the Scheduled Tribe category, in Imphal the capital of India's Manipur state. Stringer/AFP/Getty Images

"What we are witnessing here unfortunately is there seems to be a very systematic, well-planned series of attacks. The execution is almost clinical and they know exactly the houses where people from tribal communities reside," said the leader.

"I barely escaped… the mob was already in the house. I climbed the fence over to the neighbors' house. I just came with my laptop bag to this camp. I don't have anything."

What is at the center of the clashes?

The divide between the Meiteis and the other ethnic groups is cut sharply across political and geographic lines.

While last week's protests appear to have sparked the recent violence, tensions between the two groups have been simmering for years over a complex range of issues, including land rights and a crackdown on minority groups.

The Meteis dominate positions within the state government, and have been privy to more economic and infrastructural advancement than the other ethnic groups.

They mostly live in the more developed but geographically smaller Imphal Valley, while the Naga and Kuki groups live predominantly in agriculturally rich and geographically larger protected hill districts.

People wait at a temporary shelter in a military camp, after being evacuated by the Indian army, as they flee ethnic violence that has hit the northeastern Indian state of Manipur on May 7, 2023. Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images

The Naga and Kuki groups fear the change in status could result in their steady removal from a protected area they have occupied for decades and leave them vulnerable to exploitation.

Moreover, tensions in Manipur have increased since the bloody 2021 coup in neighboring Myanmar, after thousands of ethnically Chin people fled the violent crackdown by the Burmese military.

The Kukis, who are from the same ethnic group as the Chins, say the government has unfairly cracked down the group since their arrival, leading to feelings of persecution and abandonment.

What have the authorities said?

Manipur's chief minister N.Biren Singh has said he is "constantly in touch" with India's Home Minister Amit Shah to monitor the situation, adding the situation "continues to improve and normalcy returns."

Shah on Monday told Indian news outlet India Today that the situation was under control. "There is no need for any person or group to be fearful," he said.

Modi, who is in the southern Indian state of Karnataka to campaign for state elections, is yet to speak publicly about the unrest, sparking widespread anger among Manipur's residents.

Authorities in northeast India give 'shoot-at-sight' orders after violent skirmishes over tribal rights

Opposition politicians have accused Modi and his BJP of poor governance.

"As the Manipur violence persists, all right-thinking Indians must ask themselves what happened to the much-vaunted good governance we had been promised," Shashi Tharoor, a lawmaker from the opposition Congress party, wrote on Twitter.

CNN has reached out to the state and federal governments but is yet to receive a response.

What's the situation now?

Many people have fled into neighboring states, including Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland. Governments from other Indian states have been arranging special flights for their residents to be airlifted to safety.

The Indian military said that about 23,000 civilians have fled the fighting, with displaced people being housed on military bases and garrisons in the state. In a statement on May 7, it said that there was a "ray of hope" and a lull in the fighting due to the rescue work carried out by the 120-125 Army and Assam Rifles, which had been "working tirelessly… to rescue civilians across all communities, curb violence and restore normalcy."

While levels of violence are not as widespread as last week, pockets of skirmishes continue to break out in some parts of the state.

In this picture taken on May 4, 2023, smoke billows from a vehicle allegedly burned by the Meitei community tribals protesting to demand inclusion under the Scheduled Tribe category, in Imphal the capital of India's Manipur state.

Over 50 dead, hundreds hospitalized and 23,000 displaced by ethnic violence in India's Manipur

Photos and video shared with CNN show some Kuki settlements barricading themselves from attacks, using wooden poles as a makeshift gate. Malls are up in flames, while reports of looting and arson have emerged.

And thousands of people remain in makeshift camps, not knowing when they will be able to return home.

Fears are swirling over their wellbeing. Video posted to social media shows many packed inside a building, with women, men and children sleeping huddled next to one another. CNN had not independently verified the video.

Tensions remain high and the situation remains volatile. It is unclear when or how the unrest will end, but residents of the state and their loved ones outside or overseas have urged for calm and a restoration of law and order.

CNN's Vedika Sud, Sania Farooqui and Kunal Sehgal contributed reporting.​

 

[Saif]

সেভেন সিস্টার্স নিয়ে দুশ্চিতায় ভারত!

 

[Saif]

ভারতে কুকি-চীনরা কোনঠাসা

 

[Saif]

বিচ্ছিন্নতাবাদীদের হামলায় আবারও উত্তপ্ত ভারতের মণিপুর

 

[Saif]

Schools closed in India's Manipur state after rocket attacks

The conflict has simmered since then, splitting previously cohabitating communities along ethnic lines.

www.thedailystar.net

Schools closed in India's Manipur state after rocket attacks

Police personnel and locals stand near the remains of a missile after it struck in Moirang, Manipur, India, September 6, 2024. REUTERS

Schools were ordered to shut in India's northeastern state of Manipur starting today following a rocket attack by suspected Kuki militants in the restive northeastern state.

The attack, which occurred in Bishnupur district yesterday killed a man and injured five others, further escalating tensions in the conflict-ridden Imphal Valley region.

The attacks claimed the life of a 72-year-old man and wounded five others, including a 13-year-old girl, our New Delhi correspondent reports quoting police.

Two rockets were fired, with one hitting Tronglaobi in Bishnupur, damaging two structures, and the second striking the compound of former chief minister Mairembam Koireng's residence in Moirang town, officials said

The rocket attacks came close on the heels of the use of drones to drop crude bombs on people at two nearby places in Imphal West district earlier this week.

This is the first time drones and rockets have been employed in the ongoing ethnic conflict that has left over 200 people dead and displaced nearly 50,000 since violence between the majority Meitei community and the Kuki-Zo tribes erupted in May last year.

The rockets were fired yesterday, the day when thousands of people across five districts of Metei-majority Imphal Valley formed human chains to protest the strikes by militants.

In response to the attacks, the Manipur government announced the closure of schools and heightened security measures, with forces being deployed to the peripheries of valley districts.

"Security forces are on high alert and moving towards the periphery of valley districts, notably on the side Bishnupur bordering Churachandpur, and Imphal West bordering Kangpokpi districts," a central security force official told PTI.

Officials said that the rocket missiles were locally improvised and fired from the Thangjing hill ranges in Churachandpur district.

Following the two attacks within a gap of around 10 hours, all markets and business establishments were shut down in Moirang town and the rest of Bishnupur district and border areas of nearby districts of the state.

Local lawmaker T Shanti and Minister L Sushinro Meitei visited the affected areas to assess the situation.

"The people are clueless now. This is a new form of warfare, for which no one is prepared," a local village volunteer said.

The use of drones as a weapon was first noticed in Manipur on September 1 at Koutruk village in Imphal West district, leaving two persons dead and nine injured.

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an apex body of valley-based civil groups, has declared a "public emergency" across five districts of the Imphal Valley, accusing the government of failing to protect its citizens.

Protests, including human chains involving students and women, were held in several districts condemning the recent attacks.​

 

[Saif]

Ethnic violence in India's Manipur escalates, six killed

Six people, including one civilian, were killed as fresh violence broke out between two warring ethnic communities in the northeast Indian state of Manipur on Saturday, authorities said. The majority Meitei community and the tribal Kukis have clashed sporadically since last year after a co

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Ethnic violence in India's Manipur escalates, six killed
REUTERS
Published :
Sep 07, 2024 20:19
Updated :
Sep 07, 2024 20:29

Internally displaced persons (IDPs), who are living in relief camps, react during a protest rally demanding their resettlement in their native places, in Imphal, Manipur, India, August 1, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

Six people, including one civilian, were killed as fresh violence broke out between two warring ethnic communities in the northeast Indian state of Manipur on Saturday, authorities said.

The majority Meitei community and the tribal Kukis have clashed sporadically since last year after a court ordered the state government to consider extending special economic benefits and quotas in government jobs and education enjoyed by the Kukis to the Meiteis as well.

More than 225 people have been killed and some 60,000 have been displaced.

Saturday's gunfire incident represents the most number of casualties for a single day in the latest spurt of violence that began a week ago. The attacks earlier this week have also seen the use of drones to drop explosive devices in what authorities have called a significant escalation.

Police say they suspect that the drones were used by Kuki militants - a claim denied by Kuki groups.

"Fighting has been going on between armed groups of both the communities since the morning," said Krishna Kumar, deputy commissioner of the state's Jiribam district where the clash occurred.

According to Indian media reports, the civilian was shot dead in his sleep. "He was fired upon in his room itself," Kumar told Reuters, adding that security forces had been deployed to control the situation.

Manipur has ordered all schools in the state to remain shut on Saturday.

A state of 3.2 million people, Manipur has been divided into two ethnic enclaves since the conflict began in May 2023 - a valley controlled by the Meiteis and the Kuki-dominated hills.

The areas are separated by a stretch of no-man's land monitored by federal paramilitary forces.

On Sept. 1, two people were killed and several injured in the valley district of Imphal West. Later in the week, a 78-year-old man was killed and six were injured when a "long-range rocket" was deployed by militants and fell on the house of a former chief minister in the valley's Bishnupur district, police said on Friday.​

 

[Saif]

র-ক্ত ঝরছে উত্তর-পূর্ব ভারতের মণিপুর রাজ্যে