Imphal, February 21 (IANS): Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam on Tuesday escaped an attack on his life by a tribal militant outfit in Tamenglong district.
The ambush was reported at 10.30 a.m. at Namkalong in Tamenglong district when Gaikhangam was going there to address an election meeting. The police commandos were going as advance party to clear the mountain road of militants.
Police said a militant group opened fire at the Minister's cavalcade at two places.
In the firing one police commando identified as Y. Dinesh of Thangmeiband in Imphal, the state capital, was hit in the right thigh.
Police said after the attacks the cavalcade of Gaikhangam, also the state Home Minister, was stranded for several minutes. However, the Minister and his entourage proceeded towards the meeting venue once reinforcements arrived there.
With elaborate security arrangements, Gaikhangam addressed an election meeting at Khoupum within his constituency. Police said that some cadres of a militant group had warned the villagers on Monday night against attending the election meeting.
Some years back Gaikhangam was one of the elected tribal representatives who were allegedly arms-twisted to sign a memorandum demanding Naga unification. Gaikhangam later said that he had to sign it "under duress".
He has been a vociferous opponent of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland(NSCN-IM) all these years. Some months back Gaikhangam was one of the Ministers attacked by armed militants in Ukhrul district. The Ministerial team led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had gone there to inaugurate a power sub-station.
In a separate incident, Karam Shyam, an MLA in Manipur, told reporters on Tuesday that his security guards had opened fire in the air to scare away the supporters of Okram Joy, a BJP candidate in the upcoming elections.
He said that Joy has been threatening the people to vote for him in the Langthabal constituency. He also disclosed that he had sent a detailed report on the incident to the Election Commission of India.
Cong promises to strive for removal of AFSPA if voted back
IMPHAL, February 21 (PTI): Congress on Monday said it would urge the Centre to provide constitutional safeguards for the territorial integrity of state and strive for removal of AFSPA from remaining part of the state, if voted back to power.
The manifesto, having a 19-point agenda for development, was released by Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Congress General Secretary in charge of Manipur C P Joshi.
"The Congress party will urge the Centre to provide constitutional safeguards for the territorial integrity of Manipur," the manifesto stated.
The party also underscored further improvement of law and order situation will be a priority plank.
"With the law and order situation having significantly improved, the Congress government will strive for removal of AFSPA from the remaining parts of the state as had been done in case of seven assembly segments," it stated.
Ready for tripartite talks with UNC: Manipur CM
Imphal, February 21 (PTI): Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said today that he was ready for tripartite talks with the United Naga Council (UNC) to end the crippling three-month-long economic blockade.
He also accused the BJP of having a "tacit understanding with the UNC" and said the saffron party's "gameplan" will fail in the March elections.
The land-locked state is witnessing an indefinite economic blockade by UNC since November 1, 2016 against the state government's decision to create seven new districts by bifurcating the existing ones and upgradation of Sadar Hills to a full-fledged district.
Asked whether the state government is ready for tripartite talks with the UNC to resolve the ongoing crisis, Singh told PTI, "Yes, we are ready."
Asked as to why the matter was not discussed with the UNC before bifurcating the districts, Singh said, "We tried to discuss, but they were not listening. We had to sit together but they did not respond when we invited them (for talks)".
The chief minister refuted Home Minister Rajnath Singh's charge that the blockade was a result of a "political conspiracy" hatched by the Congress government to divert attention from its "failures".
On the Home Minister's statement that Congress government did not use central forces, Ibobi Singh said, "If you go there you will see that womenfolk threatened by the NSCN (IM) are sitting on the highway. We cannot fire left and right to lift the blockade. The Centre needs to take steps," he said.
The Centre wanted to create such a situation, he charged and added that, "If something goes wrong and if someone dies, they (Centre and BJP) will blame us and say that law and order has broken down in the state. They would take advantage of that situation".
Supply of essential commodities including fuel in Manipur has been severely hit leading to exorbitant price hike of essential commodities after UNC declared indefinite economic blockade on NH2 (via Dimapur) and NH 37 (via Jiribam) -- the two lifelines of the state. .
