Imphal (Manipur), Feb 7 : Women in Imphal took to the streets here over reports of increasing violence against women and children.

The Conflict Widows Forum in collaboration with several non-governmental organizations organized the protest.

The protestors condemned the recent incidents of rape and murder of innocent women in the state.

They called for capital punishment for rapists and murderers.

Bimola Devi, the head of the Department of Political Science, Manipur University said, "These killings are very brutal and we strongly condemn them." (ANI)

Imphal, Jan 8 - The four-month shutdown of educational institutions in Manipur was called off Friday following a meeting between Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and the protesting groups.

Schools and colleges would resume classes from Saturday.

All educational institutions in Manipur have been closed since Sep 9 with the Apunba Lup, an apex civil society group representing more than 20 different organisations, demanding the resignation of the chief minister over the alleged extra judicial killing of a youth in July.

Imphal, Jan 6 :  A police commando was injured Wednesday in a grenade attack at the residence of former Manipur chief minister Radhabinod Koijam.

A police spokesperson said unidentified motorcycle-borne militants lobbed a grenade at Koijam's official residence in the capital Imphal.

"A police commando who was outside the house was injured in the attack," the official said.

Koijam, now a legislator and president of the Manipur unit of the Nationalist Congress Party, was inside the house when the grenade attack took place.

Imphal, Jan 1 : The situation in Manipur is continues to be disturbed following bomb attacks by militants.

Just a day after Christmas, a grenade exploded outside Inpha Dental Clinic near the R. I. M. S. Road in Imphal.

Four members of a family were caught in the explosion and seriously injured.

The family was traveling in an auto-rickshaw from the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital.

Imphal, Jan 2 : Theatre is an artistic medium, which is often used to take a look at the social situation.

A mime Theatre Repertory in Manipur is screening their new play “The Will of Soul” that deals with prevailing uncertainty in the state.

“Mirel Mashingkha” that means the will of Soul, is an experimental mime play presented by Kanglei Mime Theatre Repertory.

The play deals with the strong resolve of Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on fast since 2000, demanding an end to violence in the state.

Imphal, Jan 4 : The volatile security situation in Manipur is threatening the academic careers of thousands of students.

Since September 9, 2009 all schools and colleges in the state have been closed indefinitely by some of the rights organisations protesting against an alleged fake encounter.

A boycott of all schools and colleges under the banner of the Manipur Students Organisation has affected the future of thousands of students into risk.

Imphal, Jan 1 : Frequent extortion demands and abduction of telecom company staff by militants have severely affected the functioning of tele service providers in Manipur.

Recently, an Airtel Company Manager and company’s field sales executive were abducted for ransom.

On December 17, 2009 police rescued two Airtel mobile service employees, Kh Joychandra and Th Oken of Singjamei, from the clutches of militants.

Imphal, Dec 25 : The migration of people in search of better opportunities has been an age long tradition. But in Manipur migrants fear being targeted by militants.

Recently, three migrants were killed in separate incidents in the state.

Migrant labourers say they don’t feel safe in Manipur.

On December 16, assailants shot dead Gajinder Ram and Subhas Yadav in their house in Chingmeirong Kabui Khul on the outskirts of Imphal while they were asleep.

Imphal, Dec 25 : In recent days, many incidents have been reported in Manipur where militants have used grenades and bombs to speed fear among the people.

Using explosives is the latest modus operandi of militants for speeding terror and panic among Manipuris.

On December 13, unknown miscreants threw a grenade at the residence of a former employee of the Public Works Department, causing him serious injuries.

Imphal, Dec 25 : In a recent incident, villagers of Nongbrang in Manipur chased a group of militants suspected to belong to the Kuki National Front (President) and lynched two of them.

The militants reportedly came to extort money, first launched an attack on villagers, injuring three of them.

Twenty suspected Kuki militants swooped down on the village under Yairipok police station and fired at a group of villagers holding a meeting against extortion, assault and threats by suspected cadres of the group.

Imphal, Dec 24 : Security personnel gunned down nine militants in two separate encounters in Manipur on Thursday.

Some heavily armed suspected militants of People''s Republic of Kangleipak (Prepak) attacked a patrolling team of Assam Rifles in Luiboldung village in Chandel district.

In retaliation, the security forces opened fire and a brief encounter followed where six militants were killed.

Imphal, Dec 24 : Three separatist guerrillas were killed Thursday in a gun fight with security forces in Manipur, officials said.

A police spokesperson said a group of heavily armed militants of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) attacked a patrol of the paramilitary Assam Rifles near Waithou village, 18 km south of Manipur capital Imphal.

Imphal, Dec 17 - Two migrant workers were killed by unidentified gunmen in India's restive northeastern state of Manipur in the second such incident in the past two days, officials said Thursday.

A police spokesperson said bullet riddled bodies of the two daily wage earners were recovered from the Chingmaerong area on the outskirts of the capital Imphal early Thursday.

"Probably the incident took place before dawn with the two non-local workers shot dead with automatic weapons," the official said.

Police are yet to identify the two bodies, but claimed both were migrant workers, probably from West Bengal or Bihar.

Imphal, Dec 14 : The Manipur government would offer government jobs to 109 sportspersons who have won gold medals in different national sports events.

"To encourage sportspersons and youth in the state, the Manipur government took this decision at a cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister  Saturday," a government spokesman told reporters here Monday.

Initially the government has short-listed 109 men and women, who have earned gold medals in different national level sports events.

Imphal Dec 11 : In a shocking incident, Ngangom Kuber of Chingmeirong , an elderly farmer, of Khongnang Karak was mercilessly beaten to death in, Imphal East District’s Nungpakthabi area for not meeting an extortion demand of rupees three lakh.

Locals in Chigmerirong protested against this practice of ransom for life demand. They said the culprits must be brought to justice.

The assailants claimed to be from Kangleipak Communist Party- Military Council (KCP-MC), which is led by Sangai Rajan.

Imphal, Dec 11  : A boycott of all schools and colleges under the banner of the Manipur Students Organisation has affected the future of thousands of students into risk.

Ten -year-old Nand Kumar is busy playing these days. The reason: His school, the Regular English High School at Kwakeithel Kongeingbam Leikai in Imphal West has been closed since September 9.

Though Kumar is unaware of what it means, his parents are extremely worried that their child may lose an academic year. They are against the forcible closure of schools and want studies to resume.

Imphal, Dec 11: A two day musical extravaganza was held in Manipur recently where different tribal communities from all over India showcased their folk dances and spread the message of peace and harmony.

A festival that showcases folk dances of various tribes of the state, was organsied by the Manipur State Department of Arts and Culture in collaboration with Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre of Kolkata.

The event was aimed at preserving and promote tribal folk dance forms.

Imphal, Dec 10 : A ten-day fair was recently held in Manipur which was aimed at promoting rural handicrafts and handlooms of the state in domestic as well as international market.

‘Saras Fair- 2009’ held at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen in Imphal brought together craftsmen and buyers on one platform, and objective of the event was to showcase the rural handicrafts and handlooms to potential buyers.

Imphal, Dec 9 - All educational institutions in India's restive northeastern state of Manipur have been shut for the past three months. There have been no classes and students are on the brink of losing a vital academic session.

The indefinite closure of all schools and colleges that began exactly three months ago on Sep 9 was called by the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh to protest against the alleged extra judicial killing of a youth in July.

Three months down the line, the Manipur government has failed miserably to break the impasse and the AMSU has adopted a belligerent posture.

But, caught in between are thousands of students, who are at their wits' end.

Imphal. Dec 5 : Imphal recently reverberated to rhythmic drumbeats and assorted musical instruments on the occasion of tribal Folk Dance Festival.

This colourful cultural extravaganza was jointly hosted by the state government''s Department of Art and Culture and the central government''s Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre .

Organisers of the fest noted that such festivals are ideal to propagate and promote most of the tribal dance forms, which in the modern era lack patronage.