Category Archives: Northeast

Northeast, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

Cyclonic storm in the southern Bengal may cause light to heavy rainfall in the north from 27 to 28 May

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KalimNews, Kalimpong, 25 May 2024  Depression over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal (Pre-Cyclone Watch for West Bengal Coast)

The Depression over central Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 16 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centered at 1130 hrs IST of today, the 24th May, 2024 over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 15.8°N and longitude 88.9°E, about 700 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), about 660 km south-southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and 710 km south of Canning (West Bengal). 
It is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards and intensify into a Cyclonic Storm over eastcentral Bay of Bengal by 25th May morning. 
Subsequently, it would move nearly northwards, intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm by 25th night. Continuing to move nearly northwards, it is very likely to cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara around 26th May midnight as a Severe Cyclonic Storm.

Forecast: (South Bengal)
Light to moderate rainfall very likely at many places over the districts on 25th and moderate rainfall at most places over the districts during 26th to 27th May 2024.

Warning: South Bengal

Rainfall Warning
25-05-2024: (Yellow warning: be updated)
1. Heavy rain (07–11 cm) is likely to occur at one or two places over North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts.

26-05-2024: 1. (Red warning: take action)
Heavy (07–11 cm) to very heavy rain (12 – 20 cm) at a few places with extremely heavy rain (> 20 cm) at one or two places is very likely over North and South 24 Parganas districts. 

2. (Orange warning: be prepared)
Heavy (07–11 cm) to very heavy rain (12 – 20 cm) is likely at one or two places over Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia and East Midnapore districts. 

3. (Yellow warning: be updated)
Heavy rain (7-11 cm) at one or two places is likely over West Midnapore and East Bardhaman districts.

27-05-2024: 1. (Orange warning: be prepared)
Heavy (07–11 cm) to very heavy rain (12 – 20 cm) is likely at one or two places over North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, Nadia, Hooghly, Howrah and Murshidabad districts. 
2. (Yellow warning: be updated)
Heavy rain (7-11 cm) is likely at one or two places over East and West Bardhaman, Birbhum, East and West Midnapore districts.

Wind Warning
25-05-2024:
Thunderstorm with gusty wind speed reaching 40 to 50 kmph likely over North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts and reaching 30 to 40 kmph likely over rest of the districts.

26-05-2024 to 27-05-2024:
Thunderstorm with wind speed reaching 100 to 110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph likely over South 24 Parganas; reaching 90 to 100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph likely over North 24 Parganas; reaching 80 to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph likely over Kolkata, Howrah, Nadia, East Midnapore; reaching 60 to 70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph likely over Hooghly, East Bardhaman; reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph likely over rest of the districts.


Forecast: (North Bengal)
Light to moderate rainfall very likely at most places over the districts during 27th to 28th May 2024.

Warning:
North Bengal

Rainfall Warning
27-05-2024: 
1. (Orange warning: be prepared)
Heavy (07–11 cm) to very heavy rain (12 – 20 cm) is likely at one or two places over Malda and South Dinajpur districts. 

2. (Yellow warning: be updated)
Heavy rain (7-11 cm) is likely at one or two places over North Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts.

28-05-2024: 
1. (Orange warning: be prepared)
Heavy (07–11 cm) to very heavy rain (12 – 20 cm) is likely at one or two places over Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts. 

2. (Yellow warning: be updated)
Heavy rain (7-11 cm) is likely at one or two places over Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.

Wind Warning for Sea:
 Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely to prevail over central and adjoining South Bay of Bengal on 24th May. It would become 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over central Bay of Bengal on 24th May evening.
 It would extend to adjoining areas of North Bay of Bengal with gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from 25th May morning. It would further increase becoming 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph over North Bay of Bengal from morning and 110-120 kmph gusting to 120 kmph from evening of 26th May. Gale wind speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph is likely over adjoining central Bay of Bengal from 26th morning for subsequent 24 hours.
Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely along & off Bangladesh, West Bengal and adjoining North Odisha coasts from 25th May evening It is likely to increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from morning of 26th May and 100-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph along & off Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts from evening of 26th evening for subsequent 12 hours.
Sea condition:
 Rough to very rough sea condition is likely over central and adjoining south Bay of Bengal on 24th May. It would become high over central Bay of Bengal on 25th May & 26th May and High to Very High over North Bay of Bengal from 25th evening till 27th May morning.
 Rough to very rough sea condition is likely along & off Bangladesh, West Bengal and adjoining North Odisha coasts from 25th May evening and high to very high along & off Bangladesh and West Bengal coasts from 26th morning onwards till 27th May morning.
Storm surge:
Storm surge of about 1.0 meter above astronomical tide likely to inundate low lying areas of coastal West Bengal at the time of landfall.
Fishermen Warning (RED WARNING: TAKE ACTION)
Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea from 24th May till 27th May.
Port Warning: –
Hoist Distant Cautionary Signal No. 1 at Hooghly ports along with Sectional Signal No. III at Sagar Island Port.
Damage Expected over Coastal and adjoining districts of South Bengal:
 Major damage to thatched houses/ huts. Possibilities of damage to vulnerable structure.
 Unattached metal sheets may fly.
 Breaking of tree branches, uprooting of trees. Major damage to banana and papaya trees. Dead limbs may blow off from trees.
 Damage to power and communication lines due to breaking of branches and uprooting of trees.
 Damage to Kutcha and minor damage to Pucca roads due to heavy rain.
 Damage to paddy crops, horticultural crops and orchards.
 Inundation of low lying areas and localized flooding
 Occasional reduction in visibility due to heavy rainfall.
 Disruption of traffic due to water logging and squally winds
Action Suggested for South Bengal:
 Total suspension of fishing operations.
 Surface transport and shipping operations need to be regulated
 Onshore & Offshore operation need to be regulated as per guidelines
 Coastal hutment dwellers to be in safer places.
 People in affected areas to remain indoors.
 Avoid going to areas that face the water logging problems often.
 Avoid staying in vulnerable structure.
 Use Mausam/Damini app for real time weather alert.
Damage Expected over North Bengal:
Possible Impact
1. Damage to loose/unsecured structure.
2. Water lodging in low-lying areas.
3. Communication / Traffic disruption in urban areas.
4. Damage to standing crops and horticulture, Reduction of visibility.
Action suggested:
1. Take shelter in safe place.
2. Movement of traffic may be regulated judiciously.
3. Avoid taking shelter under tree/electric pole and avoid contact with water bodies.
4. Use Mausam/Damini app for real time weather alert.

Northeast, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

IMD issues yellow alert for thunderstorms with lightning in all districts

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MP, 19 May 2024, Kolkata: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms with lightning in almost all districts of Bengal from Sunday to May 22. However, a heatwave alert was issued for West Midnapore and West Burdwan on Sunday. 

Orange alert for rain, thunderstorm, lightning with gusty wind of 40 to 50 kilometre per hour was issued for Nadia, Murshidabad, Birbhum and East Burdwan on Monday. 
“A cyclonic circulation lies over Gangetic West Bengal and neighbourhood at 3.1 kilometre above mean sea level. 
Under favourable synoptic conditions and strong moisture incursion from Bay of Bengal, thunderstorms with lightning along with gusty wind speed and thunder squall activity are very likely to occur over the districts of West Bengal from May 19 to May 22,” Indian Meteorological Department stated. 
Kolkata on Sunday recorded a maximum temperature of 37 degree Celsius and minimum temperature of 28 degree Celsius. 
While in other parts of Southern Bengal, the maximum temperature in Kalaikunda was 42.2 degree Celsius, Asansol and Panagarh recorded 41.5 degree Celsius while Purulia and Barrackpore recorded 40 degree Celsius. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/imd-issues-yellow-alert-for-thunderstorms-with-lightning-in-all-districts-564461?infinitescroll=1
Crime, Northeast

Manipur: Man shot dead in Imphal West

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 A man was killed, and two others were injured after unidentified assailants shot at them in the Naoremthong area in Manipur’s Imphal West district.

PTI, Imphal, May 19, 2024 : One person was killed and two others were injured after unidentified assailants shot them at Naoremthong area in Manipur’s Imphal West district, police said.

    
The incident took place around 8 pm on Saturday outside their rented accommodation, a police officer said.

The deceased has been identified as Shree Ram Hangsada (41) from Jharkhand, he said.

The injured are undergoing treatment at RIMS Hospital in Imphal.

Police have registered a case and started an investigation to ascertain the reason behind the shooting and the identity of the assailants.

The injured were identified as Bittu Murmu (22) and Mitalal Soran (50). 

According to the police, all three people worked as labourers with a private Infratech company. 
Crime, Northeast, Politics

Four militants of the banned outfit Kangleipak Communist Party arrested in Manipur

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PTI, IMPHAL, MAY 18, 2024 : Four militants of the banned outfit Kangleipak Communist Party (People War Group) were arrested by a combined team of Manipur Police and Assam Rifles in Thoubal district, an officer said on Friday.

“Acting on intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, a coordinated operation was launched at Yairipok Bazaar area during which the militants were arrested on Thursday,” the police officer said. 
The officer said five mobile handsets, two 9mm pistols with 15 live rounds, five demand letters, twenty 5.56 mm ammunition, four 7.62mm ammunition were seized from the possession of arrested militants. 
Police also apprehended one active member of the proscribed outfit KCP (Taibanganba) organization from Imphal West district on Thursday.
The arrested militant was involved in extortion of money from shops located at Paona and Thangal bazar in the Imphal area, police said, adding one .32 pistol along with four live round ammunition were seized from his possession.
National, Northeast, Regional

Assam Rifles organises mega ex-servicemen rally in Kalimpong

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Photo Courtesy : Hamro Varta Television

EOI, KOLKATA, MAY 18, 2024  :  A mega Assam Rifles Ex- servicemen Rally for ex- servicemen of West Bengal and adjoining States was conducted under the aegis of Headquarters Directorate General Assam Rifles at Kalimpong, on Saturday. 


The rally elicited participation by more than 500 Ex-servicemen from all the districts of the state including Gallantry awardees, Veer Naris, widows and their dependents. 

The aim of the rally, organised under the theme “Serving Those Who Served Us”, was to connect with the veterans, strengthen bonds with them and also acknowledge their contribution made for the country during the prime of their lives. 
Photo Courtesy : Hamro Varta Television

The occasion was graced by Lt Gen P C Nair, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, PhD, DG Assam Rifles as the Chief Guest. Speaking on the occasion, the Director General Assam Riles lauded the contribution of the veterans and the serving soldiers who have contributed immensely to ensure the security and prosperity of the North– East and the country. 

The veterans were informed about various beneficiary schemes including the recruitment rallies, sports quota for recruitment in Assam Rifles, reservation in various educational institutes/hostels, Ayushman Bharat and extension of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to Assam Rifles veterans. 

The Director General also highlighted the concept of an Ex-servicemen (ESM) Cell at every Unit level, adoption of Veer Naris and disabled veterans and outreach programme as part of which the Assam Rifles is reaching out to Veer Naris and veterans pan India. 

As part of the event, a felicitation ceremony was organised in which the Director General Assam Rifles felicitated Veer Naris, Gallantry awardees and other Ex-Servicemen. The representatives of Headquarters Directorate General Assam Rifles Shillong also provided a platform for registration of grievances and redressal. 

Selected veterans were provided wheel chairs and other assistance devices at the venue. An ex- servicemen grievance cell, eye camp and help desk of SBI was also established as a part of the Ex-servicemen rally to facilitate the veterans. 

The event was followed by lunch for all participants. The Ex-servicemen expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Director General Assam Rifles for organising the event.
Crime, National, Northeast, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

Can’t prosecute person under SC/ST Act unless casteist remarks made in ‘public view’: Supreme Court

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The bench passed the verdict while setting aside a Delhi HC judgment that had taken a contrary view and directed the registration of an FIR against Priti Agarwalla and five others besides the station house officer of Fatehpur Beri police station

R. Balaji, TT, New Delhi, 18.05.24 : The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that a person cannot be prosecuted for alleged offences under the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act unless casteist remarks were made in “public view” with an intention to humiliate.

The bench of Justices M.M Sundresh and S.V.N. Bhatti passed the verdict while setting aside a Delhi High Court judgment that had taken a contrary view and directed the registration of an FIR against Priti Agarwalla and five others besides the station house officer of Fatehpur Beri police station.
The appellants were represented by senior advocate Sidharth Luthra while complainant Praveen Kumar aka Prashant was represented by Kapil Nath Modi. Besides being an advocate, Modi is the administrator of the Olympic Riding and Equestrian Academy, Eastern Jaunapur, New Delhi (OREA).

Praveen and most of the appellants used to train at the OREA where skirmishes reportedly broke out, resulting in the filing of complaints and counter-complaints.

Modi submitted that the appellants often hurled casteist slurs at Praveen, saying equestrian sports were meant for the rich and not a “Chamar” like him.

However, Luthra said the allegations were fabricated. He maintained that the offence alleged against the appellants was stated under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. To constitute an offence under Section 3(1)(r), the complaint must aver that the commission or omission had been made in public view, he said.

He added that the complaint did not satisfy the required ingredients of an offence under the Act.

Agreeing with the arguments, Justice Bhatti said Section 3(1)(r) of the SC, ST Act identifies as an offence an intentional insult or intimidation intended to humiliate a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe in public view.

“The cumulative effect of the structured application to a given situation is that the intentional insult or abuse coupled with the humiliation is made in any place within public view. The expression ‘in any place within public view’ has an important role to play in deciding whether the allegation attracts the ingredients of an offence or not,” Justice Bhatti observed.

“The accusation of intentionally abusing and humiliating Respondent No. 2 (Praveen) spans over a period of two years between 2016 and 2018. The allegation prima facie appears to be an omnibus and ambiguous allegation.”

The bench said the specific allegation in the complaint on Appellant No. 2 is that Appellant No. 2 had called Respondent No. 2 “Chuda” and “Chamar”, among other things.

“The allegation does not refer to the place nor the public view before whom it was made. An important test for ‘in any place within public view’ is within the view of persons other than the complainant,” the apex court noted.

“In this case, we are not examining whether OREA is a private or public place, but to appreciate the alleged offence. We juxtapose the allegation(s) with the requirement of insulting or intimidating in any place within public view is satisfied or not.”
National, Northeast, Politics, Regional

Naga body rejects government appeal, remains firm to boycott urban local bodies’ poll

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Lokmat Times, Kohima, May 17, 2024 : The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) on Friday rejected the Nagaland government’s appeal and remained firm on abstaining from participating in the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections, scheduled on June 26.


ENPO Secretary W. Manwang Konyak said that they did not receive any written appeal and only saw in the media that the state government has made an appeal not to boycott the ULB polls.

“We have to go by the decision of our grassroots level people and organisation. We would abstain from participating in the ULB polls,” Konyak told IANS.

After a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, the Nagaland government on Thursday urged the ENPO not to boycott the vital ULB polls.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister K.G. Kenye, who is the Spokesman of the state government said that the government has appealed to ENPO and its constituent bodies to participate in the ULB elections, which are being conducted on the directions of the Supreme Court.

The ULB election is for empowering local self-governance and facilitating development and uplift of the citizens at the grassroots, he said.

Kenye said that after a prolonged battle involving the women’s reservation in the ULBs, the state would be holding the ULB election in the larger interest of the public and their welfare.

He said that ULB elections should not be seen as a means for ENPO to register resentment and protest for their demands on Frontier Nagaland Territory.

Since 2010, the ENPO has been demanding a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory’ or a separate state comprising the six eastern Nagaland districts — Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator, and Tuensang and it also boycotted the election to the lone Nagaland Lok Sabha seat on April 19 in support of its demand.

The ENPO Secretary said that they have already informed the State Election Commission (SEC) that the people of the six districts would abstain from voting in the ULB polls, covering three Municipal Councils and 36 Town Councils.

Konyak said that the ENPO had, on March 19, adopted a unanimous resolution that the people of the region would not participate in any central and state elections due to the delay in creating the ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT)’ as offered and assured by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on December 7, 2023.

“Through many letters to MHA and mass rallies, we tried to persuade the Central government to resolve our demand but it turned a deaf ear,” the Naga leader said.

However, the ENPO has clarified that this stance should not be misconstrued as opposition to the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023 with 33 per cent reservation for women.

Nagaland Chief Minister earlier said that the state government has proposed the constitution of an autonomous body for the development of eastern Nagaland and its people.

The ENPO has been demanding a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory’ comprising six eastern districts inhabited by seven backward tribes — Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam, and Yimkhiung.

The ENPO and its allies had given a call to boycott the Assembly elections held in February last year but withdrew it later following an assurance from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Crime, National, Northeast

Inter-state prostitution racket busted in Arunachal, five govt officers including a DSP and a Dy director of health among 21 held

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Police said that with this, so far five minors have been rescued and 21 accused arrested in the inter-state prostitution racket involving human traffickers from the state and neighbouring Assam.

PTI, Itanagar, 16 May 2024  : The Arunachal Pradesh Police have arrested 21 people, including government officers, for their alleged involvement in an inter-state prostitution racket, and rescued five minors in the age group of 10-15 years, officials said on Wednesday.
The arrested government officers include a deputy superintendent of police and a deputy director of health services, they said.
The minors were being trafficked to the state from Dhemaji in neighbouring Assam by two women (sisters) who run a beauty parlour in Itanagar, Capital Superintendent of Police (SP) Rohit Rajbir Singh said.
Based on inputs that a prostitution ring involving minor girls is active at Chimpu, near here, the capital police team conducted a raid at the alleged brothel cum residence of two women on May 4 and rescued two minor girls.
The minor girls revealed that they had been brought to Itanagar from Dhemaji, by two sisters, the SP said.
After being trafficked to Itanagar they were forced into prostitution by the sisters along with the two other ladies, the SP said.
The child welfare committee (CWC) was informed and based-on the complaint of the minor girls, a case was registered at the Itanagar women police station and an investigation was initiated.
Consequently, it was learned that two more minor girls trafficked from Dhemaji were in the custody of a woman and were later rescued.
All the women were arrested and they are currently in police custody, while the rescued minor girls are at shelter homes where they are receiving further medical and mental health care, he said.
Police during investigation, arrested six more accused persons, including three pimps and three sexual assailants and recovered one more minor girl from a lodge at Zoo Road at Chimpu, near here on May 11 last, the SP said.
The police team also learned that the accused persons have also trafficked one more minor girl, and the said girl is also a victim child sex trafficking ring. Accordingly, a raid was conducted at a hotel following which the accused persons were arrested.
  
As many as 10 people involved in the prostitution racket have been arrested, while 11 customers, including five government officers, were arrested, Mr Singh added.


Mid Day, Itanagar, 16 May, 2024: As inter-state prostitution racket continues to haunt Arunachal Pradesh, six more accused, including a state police official and three pimps, have been arrested and one more minor girl rescued from the clutches of the traffickers, police said on Wednesday. Police said that with this, so far five minors have been rescued and 21 accused arrested in the inter-state prostitution racket involving human traffickers from the state and neighbouring Assam.

A police official said that after interrogating the earlier 15 detainees, six more persons, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Bulang Marik, posted with the first battalion of Arunachal Armed Police, a police constable, three pimps, and one more were arrested on Tuesday. The fifth minor girl (15 years old) was rescued from a lodge at Zoo Road in Chimpu.

As part of the ongoing probe, the police identified a couple — Dulal Basumatary, 52, and Dipali Basumatary, 44 — who run the City Hotel at Zoo Road in Itanagar, along with its manager Deepak Parajuli, 24, who had pushed minor girls into the flesh trade. The Basumatarys are residents of Udalguri and Parajuli hails from Assam’s Narayanpur.

Police, on May 1, busted the inter-state prostitution and human trafficking racket, rescued four minors, and arrested 15 persons, including six government servants, in connection with the case. According to police, the minor girls, aged 10 to 15 years, were trafficked into Arunachal Pradesh from Dhemaji in neighbouring Assam by two sisters, who allegedly ran a brothel in Itanagar.

The rescued girls told the police that they were brought to Itanagar from Dhemaji by the sisters, identified as Pushpanjali and Purnima Mili. Subsequently, two more minor girls trafficked from Dhemaji were rescued from the clutches of Pushpanjali Mili. The girls were forced into prostitution by the sisters along with two other women. The police also identified two hotels and a beauty parlour involved in the crime.

Arunachal Pradesh Women Commission Chairperson Kenjum Pakam urged the state government to take stern action against those involved in the child trafficking and sexual exploitation racket. The Commission, in a statement, said that it was deeply shocked and anguished by the heinous crime of sex trafficking of minor girls from the neighbouring state. It is also shameful to know that women and learned persons are involved in the case, it said.

It urged the police to keep vigil on hotels, parlours, or any other suspicious places in and around the Itanagar Capital Region so that no immoral activities take place. The Apatani Women Association Ziro (AWAZ) in the Lower Subansiri district has strongly condemned the racket, while the Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society (APWWS) has demanded the cancellation of the licence of hotels and beauty parlours involved in the case.

In a petition to Itanagar Capital Region Deputy Commissioner Shweta Nagarkoti Mehta, it said that the gravity of the situation necessitates immediate and decisive action to address the root causes and prevent further exploitation of vulnerable girls from poor families. APWWS President Kani Nada Maling said: “The fast action would serve as a deterrent and indicate the zero-tolerance policy of the state government towards such reprehensible practices.” The NGO said that as part of the stringent measures, all the guests must produce valid ID cards, and a daily guest list must be submitted to the local administration and the police for thorough scrutiny and verification. 
Health, National, Northeast, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

Neonatal mortality rates worsen in multiple states in India, account for nearly 50 per cent of deaths in children

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Findings published in medical journal JAMA Network Open, underline an ‘immediate need’ for health authorities to focus on strategies to improve quality aspects of institutional deliveries
The neonatal intensive care unit of Rural Development Trust Hospital in Bathalapalli, Andhra Pradesh: File picture

G.S. Mudur, TT, New Delhi, 16.05.24 : Neonatal mortality rates have stagnated or worsened in multiple states in India in recent years and account for nearly 50 per cent of deaths in children under five years of age, researchers have said in a study.

Their study has found that nearly 50 per cent of deaths in children under five in India occurred within seven days after the child’s birth, both in 2016 and in 2021, alongside improvements in overall child mortality rates.
The findings, published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open, underline an “immediate need” for health authorities to focus on strategies to improve quality aspects of institutional deliveries, the researchers have said.

India’s proportion of institutional deliveries — births in healthcare facilities — has more than doubled from around 40 per cent in 2005-06 to 83 per cent in 2019-21.

The new study led by S.V. Subramanian, professor of population health at Harvard University, has suggested that reductions in neonatal mortality have not kept pace with the rise in institutional deliveries.

Subramanian and his colleagues used three decades of datasets from the Union health ministry’s National Family Health Surveys — the latest in 2019-21 — to analyse child mortality patterns after seven days, 30 days, a year, and five years of birth.

They classified deaths within seven days as early neonatal mortality, deaths between 8 and 28 days as late neonatal mortality, and deaths between a month and a year as post-neonatal mortality.

India’s overall under-five child mortality has decreased to 42 per 1,000 live births in 2019-21 from 50 per 1,000 in 2015-16 and 75 per 1,000 in 2005-06. And most states have seen decreases in mortality rates across all the child age groups.

But between 2016 and 2021, early neonatal mortality increased in nine states or Union territories, late neonatal mortality either remained stagnant or increased in 13 states, and post neonatal mortality increased in 12 states, their study found.

Early neonatal mortality rose in Haryana, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar and Daman and Diu, late neonatal mortality rose or didn’t improve in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Telangana and Andaman and Nicobar. Post-neonatal mortality rose in Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Telangana, Tripura, Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar and Chandigarh.

“While India has made substantial progress over the years in reducing the risk of mortality among young children, age-specific interventions may be needed to address mortality in different age groups,” Subramanian told The Telegraph. Early neonatal mortality may require improvements in quality of care in healthcare institutions while post-neonatal mortality would need a focus on ensuring vaccination and food.

The researchers’ call for urgent measures to address neonatal mortality comes against a backdrop of long-standing concerns among paediatricians and public health experts about neonatal deaths hampering progress towards infant mortality targets.

India’s National Neonatology Forum had in 2003 highlighted the need for intensified efforts to protect babies during the first four weeks of life as part of efforts to reduce infant mortality rates.

The health ministry has helped establish a network of newborn care facilities, including newborn intensive care units, sick newborn care units, and newborn stabilisation units in public health facilities across the country.
National, Northeast, Politics

Migrants threatening survival of indigenous people of Manipur: Biren Singh

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 Manipur CM says steps being taken to deport illegal immigrants

IANS, 

Imphal, May 9, 2024 :  Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that immigrants from across the border threatened the survival of indigenous people in the state and the government would not allow it to continue.

Singh in his series of social media posts without naming Myanmar said that till May 7, a total of 5,457 illegal immigrants have been detected and biometric data of 5,173 of them have been collected while the deportation process is underway.

“In this crucial juncture, we have noticed certain homegrown groups, based out of Western countries, criticising the steps taken up against illegal immigration by giving a communal tone and propagating it as violations of religious freedom,” the Chief Minister said.

“Ironically, this lobby is quiet about Western countries’ stance against illegal immigration but raises objections to the actions taken in Manipur, India. This selective outrage raises concerns about the agendas and propaganda pursued by these groups with secessionist tendencies.”

Singh, who also holds the home portfolio, during the past few days has been posting on various social media about aspects of illegal migrants in Manipur from neighbouring Myanmar.

Manipur shares around 400 km of international border with Myanmar. Works for fencing of the 20 km of the mountainous borders are now underway.

The Chief Minister had said that the influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar led to the emergence of 996 new villages in the state in the past 18 years.

“The unnatural growth of 996 new villages since 2006 and illegal immigration from Myanmar is a threat to the indigenous people and national security. The immigrants have set up settlements by encroaching upon forest lands, leading to deforestation and environmental degradation,” a Manipur government report said.

It added that the immigrants have engaged in illicit activities such as poppy cultivation, further exacerbating the socio-economic and ecological challenges faced by the region.

In response to these challenges, the Manipur government has initiated several measures aimed at addressing the issue of illegal immigration and its associated impacts.

The report, accessed by IANS, said the state government following the advice of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been collecting biometric data of the illegal immigrants and geotagging their settlements.

According to the report, the state government has taken various measures to curb the illegal influx from across the border.

The measures include enhancing security along around 400 km India-Myanmar border in Manipur, engagement of indigenous communities, empowering them to safeguard their rights and interests against encroachment and exploitation and urged the Central government to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar.

The FMR allowed citizens residing close to both sides of the border to move 16 km into each other’s territory without a passport or a visa.

The Manipur Chief Minister had said that 877 square km of forest cover in the northeastern state were destroyed in 34 years (1987-2021), primarily for the illegal cultivation of poppy, which has been used to manufacture various drugs.

Singh, who also holds the Home portfolio, said that forest cover in Manipur was 17,475 sq km in 1987 and in 2021, it was destroyed to 16,598 sq km, primarily for the cultivation of poppy.

The eviction of unauthorised encroachers carried out ever since the BJP government led by him came to power in Manipur in 2017 and 291 encroachers were evicted from the Reserve Forest and Protected Forest throughout the state, the Chief Minister had said.

It was never targeted towards any particular community, Singh pointed out.
National, Northeast, Regional, Sikkim, Techno/ Science, West Bengal

Delhi High Court asks Google, Microsoft to seek Delhi High Court asks Google, Microsoft to seek review of ruling on removal of non-consensual intimate images

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They said the search engines do not ‘host’ any content, and once an objectionable content has been removed from the site hosting it, it will not appear in search results as well

PTI, New Delhi, 09.05.24 : The Delhi High Court on Monday asked Microsoft, which owns ‘Bing’, and Google to seek a review of an order by a single judge directing them to identify and de-index non-consensual intimate images without requesting for their specific URLs, after the search engine giants filed an appeal against the ruling.

The senior counsel for the appellants said unlike in cases of child sexual abuse material, non-consensual intimate images cannot be detected by their current technology and therefore it was not possible for them to comply with the order passed by the single judge in April 2023.
Their senior lawyers assured the court a new technology is being developed but it has not yet reached a stage where it can detect such non-consensual content on its own.

They said the search engines do not “host” any content, and once an objectionable content has been removed from the site hosting it, it will not appear in search results as well.

Stating that “no one can ask you to do the impossible”, a bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan asked them to approach the single judge to reconsider his directions.

“Keeping view of the aforesaid, it would be appropriate if the appellants file a review and bring the aforesaid facts to the notice of the single judge. In the event the appellants are aggrieved by order of the single judge in the review petition, the appellants shall be at liberty to revive the present appeals,” the bench, also comprising Justice Manmeet PS Arora, said.

As the senior counsel for Google sought sought an assurance that no coercive action would be taken against them for non-compliance with the single judge’s directions, the court observed no such action has been taken till now.

In an order passed on April 26, 2023, the single judge had said it was the responsibility of the search engines to immediately cease access to any offending content and the victim cannot be made to face humiliation or harassment by having to approach the authorities again seeking the same relief.

The ruling came on a petition by a woman who sought blocking of certain sites exhibiting her intimate images.

The single judge had stated “Non-Consensual Intimate Images (NCII) abuse” , which includes “revenge porn”, violates the right to privacy and causes psychological damage to the victim.

The single judge had asserted that search engines were obligated to observe due diligence while discharging their duties under Rule 3 of the IT Rules, including making reasonable efforts to prevent hosting, displaying, uploading or sharing of any information that is invasive of another person’s privacy and violates any law for the time being in force, or they will lose the protection from liability accorded to them under Section 79 of the IT Act.

“If information is relating to content which is prima facie in the nature of any (NCII) material.., the search engine is required to take all reasonable and practicable measures to remove or disable access to such content which is hosted, stored, published or transmitted by it,” the single judge had said.

“The time-frame as stipulated under Rule 3 of the IT Rules must be strictly followed without any exceptions, and if there is even minor deviation from the said time-frame, then the protection from liability accorded to a search engine under Section 79 of the IT Rules cannot be invoked by the search engine,” the single judge bench had stated.
Crime, Northeast, Politics

Banned outfit’s cadre held in Manipur

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PTI, Imphal, May 8, 2024 :  A 33-year-old cadre of the banned National Revolutionary Front of Manipur was arrested from Imphal, police said on Wednesday.


Heisnam James Singh, an active member of the proscribed outfit, was involved in extortion and apprehended from the vicinity of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences here on Tuesday, a police statement said.

A two-wheeler was seized from his possession, it said.

Search operations and area domination by security forces continued in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts in ethnic strife-torn Manipur, police said.

More than 219 people were killed and thousands displaced from homes after ethnic clashes broke out on May 3 last year in Manipur, when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals – Nagas and Kukis – constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts. 
Education, National, Northeast, Regional, West Bengal

Two fake circulars announcing date and time of the ICSE and ISC results cause panic

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Anxious ICSE, ISC students check websites

Jhinuk Mazumdar,  TT, Calcutta, 05.05.24 : 

Two fake circulars announcing the date and time of the ICSE and ISC results and a fake link to a page with the name of the council on social media caused anxiety for thousands of students on Saturday.

ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) examinees kept calling their teachers and checking the website in anticipation of their results.

“The circulars were fake,” Sangeeta Bhatia, deputy secretary of Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), told The Telegraph from Delhi.

One of the circulars said the results would be published on May 4 at 1pm while the other one said they would be out on May 7 at 10am.

“The council will take up this matter with police and is waiting for advisers to say what to do,” said a council official in Delhi. Asked if the council would lodge any complaint, the official said: “Yes, we will be doing that.”

A senior officer of Kolkata Police’s detective department said they had not received any complaint till Saturday evening. “We have not received any complaint so far.”

The ICSE and ISC results are usually published by the middle of May and the council makes an announcement before publishing the results.

Last year, the results were published on May 14.

Some of the teachers issued their own clarification to anxious students.

“I sent out a message to parents and children saying that one should check the official website of the council and not believe in any other link,” said Souvic Jati, ICSE coordinator of The Heritage School.

The ICSE exam ended on March 28 and ISC on April 4.

“This is a serious harassment of students. Some will be appearing for the Neet (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) on Sunday and they are getting unnecessarily stressed. There should be action against those who are spreading such rumours,” said Rodney Borneo, principal, St Augustine’s Day School Shyamnagar.
Education, Misc, National, Northeast

I wanna hold your hand…NGO revives a long shut school in Manipur

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What can a Calcutta-based NGO, a social worker from Manipur’s hills and some long-shut government primary schools have in common?
Knock, Knock: A primary school in Oklong Khunou village : Photo, courtesy Prasanta Roy

Sudipta Bhattacharjee, TT, 05.05.24 : From the air, Manipur looks like a bowl, a verdant valley girdled by green hills. There appears no hint of the unprecedented turbulence that has rocked this northeastern state over the past year.

But there is certainly a sense of eerie isolation and foreboding on the route from Imphal to the hill districts surrounding the valley. Leaving the Manipur capital behind, it takes three hours along National Highway 2 to reach Senapati town. Provisions are procured from here because the villages in the hills are scantily stocked.

While the majority Meiteis live in the valley, the Naga and Kuki-Zo communities inhabit the five hill districts of Senapati, Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Chandel and Ukhrul. From Senapati town, it takes over 90 minutes to reach the villages of Oklong and Oklong Khunou, comprising the Naga indigenous population, along roads in various states of disrepair, gradient and sudden turns.

In the village, one can find R.K. Paul Chawang, a native of Oklong Khunou. Paul is a social worker with a mission. His organisation, Amyaa, is striving to bring a semblance of progress to the otherwise stagnant villages in the vicinity that include Oklong, Oklong Maryram, Oklong Khunou, Makuilongdi and Maram Khunou. While working on a project in Arunachal Pradesh, he came across members of a Calcutta-based NGO, Prayasam, and urged them to come to trouble-torn Manipur and train the youth of Senapati hill district.

Recently, a group of Am-yaa members came to Calcutta to be trained at Prayasam’s Community Youth Hub. One of the members, Albert, who is also from Oklong Khunou village, found the skills training so helpful that, like Paul, he felt the youth back home would benefit greatly from this joint venture. Prayasam’s life-skills education module addresses vital parameters like self-knowledge, communication, relationship-building, decision-making, coping with emotions, living with disability and substance-use, among others.

In the hills of Senapati, Paul introduced the Prayasam team — founder Amlan Kusum Ganguly, Saptarshi Ray, Prasanta Roy and Manish Chowdhury — to several village elders, young adults, children and women to chalk out an action plan for the resurrection of defunct government primary schools that have no infrastructure or teachers.

According to 29-year-old Erangbe Hau, the school in-charge at Makuilongdi, “The government teachers never come to the schools, although they collect their salaries. We run the school as ‘proxy teachers’ at a salary of ₹6,000, arranged by the local church and village council.” Like him, 24-year-old Machunkam, a college student who lives in Oklong Khunou, says he and his friends are ready to spearhead the change.

Paul explains the demographic negligence of the hill districts. “During the long tenure of Congress chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, the Nagas were at the receiving end and had to take recourse to a 100-day economic blockade. Under the present BJP dispensation with N. Biren Singh as chief minister, it is the Kukis who are being deprived. But despite his apparently kind visage towards us Nagas, there is no development. Whatever little funds trickle down, after greasing palms in between, are grossly insufficient for any welfare scheme,” he adds. Like in Bengal and many other states, there is a thriving job racket, including that for the posts of schoolteachers.

Paul is now looking to Prayasam to train the youth, hand-hold the trainees till they are able to sustain the impact on society and bring in a semblance of progress to keep the youth from migrating to the mainland, where most end up frustrated with their efforts to eke out a decent living. Ganguly says they will replicate their successful training module in Senapati very soon.

“Central to Prayasam’s approach is the focus on youth empowerment through Ontrack life skills lessons,” he explains. “Tailored specifically to the needs and aspirations of young people, these sessions equip them with essential skills such as problem-solving and leadership. Through interactive workshops and hands-on activities, youth are empowered to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience. Moreover, they are trained to be community ambassadors, tasked with spearheading grassroots initiatives and mobilising their peers towards collective action for positive change.”

Elaborating, he says: “At the heart of Prayasam’s intervention strategy lies the concept of Multiple Activity Centres (MACs), envisioned as vibrant hubs of community engagement and empowerment. These centres serve as catalysts for change, offering a wide array of programmes and activities designed to uplift and empower the entire community.” In the villages of Senapati, the schools will be used as MACs — for children’s classes, youth activity as well as adult education programmes.

The MACs also serve as platforms for economic empowerment, particularly for women. In Naga society, women are not at the forefront of decision-making. To hone their skills, Prayasam will include income-generating activities, providing them with opportunities to achieve financial independence. Ganguly, an Ashoka and Ford fellow, says: “They will be trained in the marketing of forest resources, including local produce like kiwi and large cardamom, empowering the women to leverage their natural surroundings sustainably and generate income for their families.”

The Nagas of Senapati comprise the Zemi, Rongmei and Liangmai communities. All of them stand united in the quest for development. One village elder lamented that they have not seen their children and grandchildren in decades. There is no school, no health centre. Who would want to remain there, he asked.
Health, Misc, National, Northeast, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

Heat intensity reduces in east, southern peninsular India

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IMD, KalimNews,

 5 May 2024 : Indian Meteorological Department has forecast that heat wave conditions with reduced intensity are likely to continue in isolated pockets over East India till Sunday and some places over south Peninsular India till 6th May. Heat wave conditions are very likely in isolated pockets over Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema on Saturday and Sunday. Interior Karnataka will face heat wave conditions till the 7th of May whereas Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are likely to face heat wave till the 8th of May.

Yesterday, highest maximum temperature of 46.3 degree Celsius was reported at Nandyal in Rayalaseema. Heat wave conditions have been prevailing over Odisha since 15th April, Gangetic West Bengal since 17th April and Rayalaseema since 24th April. Rise in maximum temperatures by two to four degrees is very likely over many parts of Northwest India, except Uttar Pradesh, during next five days.

Meanwhile, Met department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall spell accompanied with thunderstorms and gusty winds over Northeast India in the next two days. Wet spell accompanied with thunderstorms and gusty winds is very likely over East India during 5th to 9th of this month with maximum intensity on 6th and 7th May.

PTI, New Delhi, May 4, 2024 : The intensity of the heat wave prevailing in east and parts of southern peninsular India came down slightly on Saturday, with the weather office predicting relief from the scorching conditions in these regions after two days.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heatwave to severe heatwave conditions prevailed in parts of Gangetic West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Telangana, with maximum temperatures settling 3-5 degrees Celsius above normal in these regions.

The mercury settled above 44 degrees Celsius in at least 10 places in these states.

According to IMD data, 13 places on Friday and 17 on Thursday recorded maximum temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius. Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh sizzled at 46 degrees Celsius and was the hottest place in the country for the third consecutive day on Saturday.

Maximum temperatures were recorded at 45.9 degrees Celsius in Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh), 45 degrees in Mahbubnagar (Telangana), 44 degrees in Odisha’s Boudh, 43.5 degrees in Karur Paramathi (Tamil Nadu), 44.6 degrees in Nizamabad (Telangana), 45.4 in Andhra Pradesh’s Cuddapah, and 43.5 degrees in West Bengal’s Kalaikunda.

The IMD said the ongoing heatwave spell in east and south peninsular India will continue until May 5-6 and abate thereafter.

Light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms are predicted in Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand from May 5 to 9.

Scattered light to moderate rainfall is expected in east Uttar Pradesh, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh during this period.

Scattered light to moderate rainfall is also very likely in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and Karnataka from May 6 to May 9.

The Met office on Wednesday said above-normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May and a significantly high number of heatwave days expected over the northern plains, central region and adjoining areas of peninsular India.

April witnessed record-smashing maximum temperatures in east, northeast and south peninsular India, prompting health warnings from government agencies and some states to suspend in-person classes in schools.

A number of stations also recorded their highest-ever April day temperatures. Five active western disturbances led to rainfall, thunderstorms and hail storms over north and central India at regular intervals in April, preventing heat waves.

The IMD data shows that heat waves this April were far worse than in 2023, the warmest year on record so far.

This trend is likely to continue in May, with around eight to 11 heatwave days predicted over the south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada and the Gujarat regions.

The remaining parts of Rajasthan, east Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, north interior Karnataka and Telangana may record five to seven heatwave days during the month.

Normally, the northern plains, central India and adjoin
Crime, Northeast

Bank robbed by armed men in Manipur’s Churachandpur

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PTI, Imphal, May 2, 2024 : A bank was robbed in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Thursday, officials said.


The incident happened at SBI’s Salbung branch in the Tuibong area around 2 pm, they said.

Preliminary information suggests that around Rs 20 lakh in cash was robbed by four armed men, who are yet to be identified, they added.

An investigation was underway, officials said.

Following the robbery, the armed men who were wearing masks and helmets fled towards Kangvai, eyewitnesses told the police.

A search was underway to arrest the perpetrators, officials said.
Another bank looted in CCpur
Chronicle News Service, CCpur, May 02 2024: The State Bank of India (SBI) branch located in K Salbung, Churachandpur district, became the latest target in a string of bank robberies plaguing the hill areas of the state since the onset of the crisis on May 3 last year.
According to reports, a group of 4 or 5 armed individuals with faces concealed with masks and helmets, stormed into the SBI K Sal-bung branch on Thursday around 1.30 pm.
Brandishing small firearms, the assailants held both bank officials and customers at gunpoint as they ransacked the branch.
The intruders also fired shots both inside and outside the bank, before seizing approximately Rs 15 lakh in cash from the cash counter no 2 of the bank as well as the customers, who were inside the bank at the time of the heist.
The branch manager has lodged a complaint at Churachandpur police station, detailing the events.
Witnesses recounted the chaos and fear that ensued as the armed robbers made their way through the bank, rifling through drawers and demanding cash from both staff and customers.
In a show of violence, shots were fired towards the branch manager’s cabin, heightening tensions and leaving the customers in fear.
The robbers also proceeded to threaten employees at gunpoint, vandalising strategically placed CCTV cameras and damaging certain machines within the premises.
Eyewitnesses and law enforcement sources confirmed that the perpetrators swiftly fled the scene, escaping towards Kangvai road in Churachandpur district.
In response, a rapid and extensive manhunt was launched by police and central forces to apprehend the culprits and recover the stolen funds.
In the aftermath of the robbery, authorities discovered a live round left on the desk of cash counter no 3, which was promptly handed over to the police for further investigation.
This latest incident adds to a grim tally of bank robberies that have plagued the hill areas of the state since the crisis erupted last year.
On May 16 last year, armed miscreants looted Rs 11.7 lakh from the Manipur State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) branch in Churachandpur.
On July 10 last year, gunmen robbed Rs 3 crore from the Axis Bank branch in Churachandpur.
Just four days later, on July 14, armed assailants targeted the MSCB branch in Kangpokpi, looting cash and equipment worth nearly Rs 1 crore.
November 23 last year, witnessed a brazen heist at the Punjab National Bank (PNB) branch in Ukhrul, where gunmen decamped with nearly Rs 19 crore.
Mention may be made that all the Meetei residents of Churachandpur district have fled the district after armed Kuki mob targeted their properties and lives on May 3 last year.
In the aftermath, almost all of the standing properties in the Meetei localities have been flattened to the ground using bulldozers.
Even a Kuki youth was killed while trying to demolish a multi-storeyed building owned by a Meetei resident of Churachandpur.
Crime, National, Northeast, Politics

Manipur one year on: Meitei-Kuki couples forced to live apart, contemplate uncertain tomorrow

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If a mother gets to see her children maybe once a month, there is a father who hasn’t seen his daughter since she was born
Kuki woman meets her children once a month in Mizoram as Meiti husband lives with children in Imphal: PTI

PTI, Imphal, Churachandpur, 02.05.24 : Monthly dates in Mizoram or maybe Assam if at all, single parenting and the constant fear of abandonment. For Manipur’s Meitei-Kuki couples forced to live apart in ‘community’ enclaves, this is how life has been since ethnic clashes broke out in the state last May.

As crisis continues in the polarised state, where the Meitis are concentrated in Imphal Valley and the Kukis have moved to the hills around, inter-tribe couples are facing the cruel brunt of a conflict that has claimed more than 200 lives and displaced many thousands since May 3, 2023.

If a mother gets to see her children maybe once a month, there is a father who hasn’t seen his daughter since she was born. And then there is the constant fear of family bonds being strained perhaps to breaking point with a wife wondering if her husband will abandon her and a couple contemplating what lies ahead for them as a unit. The future stretches uncertain.

Irene Haokip, for instance, is a Kuki who moved to Imphal after she got married. One year on, the 42-year-old has moved to Churachandpur, a Kuki dominated area, to be with her family while her husband and their children, a five-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter, stay on in Imphal.

“My husband used to work as a construction contractor. I met him when a neighbour’s house in Bishnupur was getting constructed. We fell in love and he would come to the area to meet me often. We got married in 2018 and have two children,” Haokip told PTI.

Bishnupur is between Meitei dominated Imphal and Kuki dominated Churachandpur. It earlier housed people from both communities and is now considered a buffer zone.

“My husband sent me to my parents’ home last year fearing for my safety in the valley when clashes broke out. There has been no going back since. The children are with him because we fear that they might not be safe in Churachandpur since they are Meitei children,” Haokip added.

She meets her family once a month in neighbouring Mizoram, travelling 15 hours each way.

“He brings the children there too. Many other couples also do that. We meet once a month and come back to our respective houses. My children miss me but it feels like a choice between being alive and mothers’ love.” As Manipuris count their losses, many say that this was not always so. Meitei-Kuki marriages were not uncommon and never a source of societal trouble with the two communities mingling easily. It changed on May 3 when trouble broke out after after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

A month later, Laishram Singh, a Kuki, became a father.

He wanted to be the best father when he got to know about his wife’s pregnancy in 2022. They were expecting their first child in June and were shopping for clothes and toys.

But destiny had other plans.

Singh moved to the hills where Kukis live and his wife Achanba, a Meitei, stayed back. She had lost her parents five years ago and had to move to a relief camp in Imphal Valley in May last year where she gave birth to a girl in June.

Eleven months later, Singh hasn’t yet met his daughter.

Achanba worries the distance might just end her marriage.

“I have a husband but I am still forced to live life as a single mother… he calls me sometimes and I send him pictures but the communication is gradually dropping. I fear that if this goes on for long, his family might pressure him into marrying a Kuki girl and he will abandon me. This also causes us to fight.” “I am not a widow, I am not a divorcee…I don’t know what kind of separation is this,” Achanba added helplessly.

Nirmala, a Kuki, who ran a shop in all women market Ima Keithel till last year, now lives in the hills and has no stable means of livelihood. She also fears being abandoned.

Her husband, a Meitei, who lives with their son and his parents in Sugnu area in Meitei dominated Imphal, initially used to send her money but has stopped.

“We have been married for 15 years. My shop was a good contributor to our household income that has stopped now. Here I live with my brother and sister-in-law and take up odd jobs but there is no stable income. I feel like I am a burden on them..if this continues I will have to move to a relief camp,” 45-year-old Nirmala told PTI.

Others such as Pema Dimpu and her Kuki husband say they are constantly discussing whether they should move to another state. Dimpu, a Meitei, stays in Imphal Valley while her husband has gone to the hills.

“That seems to be the only way out now that we move somewhere else and start a new life. It has been a year and there is no peace in sight… no idea when we can coexist like before without the threat of life constantly looming over us,” Dimpu said.

The hill state has witnessed sporadic, sometime intense, ethnic clashes since May 3 last year between the majority Meitei community and the Kukis.