Manipur

On the other hand, the Zomi Council Steering Committee (ZCSC), an organisation advocating the cause of nine Kuki-Zomi tribes of Manipur, on Tuesday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a permanent solution of the ethnic crisis of Manipur and demanded imposition of President's Rule in the state.

Manipur Home Commissioner T. Ranjit Singh, in an order, said that the state government has made considered decision to lift suspension in case of broadband service (Internet Lease Line and Fibre to the Home) conditionally in a liberalised manner subject to fulfilment of 10 conditions, including that connection has to be only through static IP.

Officials in Imphal said that on the plea of the investigation officer of the case, the judicial magistrate first class in Thoubal sent the four to police custody till July 31. The accused were produced before the court through video conferencing. Meanwhile, an irate mob on Friday set ablaze the house of absconding suspect L. Kabichandra, 20, at Wangjing area in Thoubal.

"Four main accused arrested in the Viral Video Case : 03 (three) more main accused of the heinous crime of abduction and gangrape under Nongpok Sekmai PS, Thoubal District have been arrested today. So total 04 (four) persons have been arrested till now.

The COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity) claimed in a statement that the victim, while talking to the media, has said that no gang-rape took place on that fateful day (May 4). It was widely reported in certain sections of the media that one of the two victims was gang-raped after being paraded naked.

Talking to media persons ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament,PM Modi said: "My heart is filled with pain and anger, and the guilty will not be spared." The incident is shameful for the civil society, the Prime Minister said and assured the nation that what happened with daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven. 

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) claimed that the two women were also gang-raped in a paddy field after being paraded naked on May 4, and demanded stern actions against the perpetrators.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in response to queries on European Parliament discussing developments in ethnic strife-battered Manipur, said: "We have seen that the European Parliament held a discussion on developments in Manipur and adopted a so-called Urgency Resolution. Such interference in India's internal affairs is unacceptable, and reflects a colonial mindset."

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said this when asked to comment on Garcetti's comments on Manipur on Thursday.Bagchi said he had not seen Garcetti's comments. However, if he has made them, then the ministry will see.

Gen Malik (retd), refferring to a tweet by Lt Gen L. Nishikanta Singh (retd), tweeted: "An extraordinarily sad call from a retired Lt Gen from Manipur. Law & order situation in Manipur needs urgent attention at the highest level."Gen Malik, who served as the 19th Chief of Army Staff from September 30, 1997 to September 30.