Laishram Herojit, a low-level government worker, has appealed for the safe return of his family who went missing after an encounter between suspected Kuki insurgents and security forces in Manipur. Two women, including Herojit's wife, and an eight-year-old child are among the six people who went missing. Herojit has called for the release of his innocent family and has appealed to any group that may be holding them hostage to return them unharmed. He recalls getting a call from his wife during the violence, which later got disconnected, and a Bengali friend later informed him that they were taken away in a boat.
The Congress party has demanded Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation in light of the escalating violence in Manipur and has also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state before the Winter Session of Parliament begins. According to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, the double engine government in Manipur has completely failed and PM Modi should first hold a meeting with an all-party delegation from Manipur before calling an all-party meeting at the national level. The Congress also accused PM Modi of outsourcing Manipur to the Home Minister and highlighted the PM's lack of meetings and communication with the state's leadership. Additionally, both the BJP and Congress have requested a 7-day extension from the Election Commission to address poll code violations.
Amid ongoing tension in Manipur, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation into multiple cases of violence, including the burning of houses and killing of civilians by alleged militants. The NIA will also look into the abduction and killing of 6 people from a displaced village and the attack on a CRPF post that resulted in the death of 10 alleged militants. The Ministry of Home Affairs has urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with security forces.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's accusation that he was showing a blank copy of the Constitution at his rallies by saying that it is "blank for him because he has never read it in his life." Speaking at rallies in Nandurbar and Nanded, Gandhi also criticized Modi's policies, including the recent loan waivers for the rich but not for the poor and farmers. He also took a dig at the prime minister for not visiting strife-torn Manipur and defended the red cover of the Constitution, saying it's the contents that matter.
The political turmoil in Manipur continues as the National People's Party, the second-largest ally of the ruling BJP-led NDA state government, withdraws its support citing failure to restore normalcy. While the BJP still holds a comfortable majority in the Assembly, this pullout represents a setback for the administration and signals further erosion of support. Amidst this, the Opposition Congress has also ramped up pressure on the government, with some even offering to resign from their MLA positions for a new mandate. All eyes are now on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has cancelled political programmes in Maharashtra to monitor the security situation in Manipur and has instructed for steps to restore peace.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with top officials to review the security situation in Manipur and directed them to take all necessary measures to maintain peace in the state. The meeting was held soon after Shah's return from Maharashtra, where he cancelled his election rallies. The move comes amid the volatile situation in Manipur due to ongoing ethnic strife and protests over the recovery of bodies of women and children.
Furious citizens in Imphal Valley reacted to the devastating news of 6 bodies being found in Jiribam district by targeting the residences of Manipur's government officials, including the Chief Minister's ancestral home. This follows the earlier incident of 3 women and children being killed by militants, sparking widespread unrest and even the destruction of three BJP legislators and one Congress MLA's homes. Security forces have been deployed to contain the situation as curfew is instated to manage public outrage.
The city of Imphal was thrown into chaos on Saturday as a mob attempted to storm the private residence of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. The incident, which comes after the murder of three individuals in Jiribam district, sparked violent protests in the capital city and demand for justice. In response, the government has imposed a curfew in Imphal and suspended internet services in seven districts. The situation remains tense as the authorities continue their efforts to maintain order.
In an intense exchange of fire between police and suspected militants in Manipur, 10 people were killed, including a CRPF jawan, marking the highest number of fatalities in a single day this year. The incident occurred in the Jiribam district, close to the hills of the Hmar community, one of the tribes involved in the ongoing conflict in the state. The violence comes days after the killing of a woman from the Hmar community, with a group representing armed Hmars claiming that those killed in the exchange of fire were "village volunteers" retaliating against her death. The situation remains tense in the district, with indefinite prohibitory orders issued by the district administration.
In a fierce encounter between the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Kuki militants in Manipur, 11 suspected rebels were shot dead while two CRPF jawans were injured. The injured jawan has been airlifted to a hospital for treatment. The tense situation in the district has led to the imposition of an indefinite curfew by the district magistrate. There are concerns about missing civilians, with officials suspecting that they may have been abducted by the militants.