A perpetual cycle of ethnic violence between the Kukis and the Meiteis has engulfed Manipur for the past five months, dividing the state into two factions on account of its people, bureaucracy, geography, and even politics.

Notwithstanding the 178 fatalities among men and women and the 50,000 forced to flee, certain incidents have undoubtedly exemplified the atrocities in Manipur. Five months subsequent to the initiation of the violence on May 3, HT tracked down the families of four of these victims. To their dismay, they discovered that justice was proceeding at a snail’s pace, and in one instance, a husband was attempting to persuade his despondent wife that she was not responsible for the rape.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating 27 first information reports (FIRs), of which three are associated with the four cases under investigation.

“We do not disclose details regarding the progress of investigations, including the identities of individuals whose statements have been obtained throughout the course of a case.” A few individuals were apprehended by the state police in Manipur-related cases (those that were transferred to us) prior to the CBI assuming responsibility for 27 cases. In addition, four individuals were recently apprehended in relation to the July disappearance and fatalities of two students from Imphal, according to RC Joshi, a spokesperson for the agency.

Furore triggers action

A video surfaced on July 20, two months subsequent to the initial outbreak of violence, depicting a mob parade two women nude on May 4 in the village of B Phainom. Gang rapes were purportedly committed against the women, and one of the women’s fathers and brothers were murdered. The Manipur Police responded to the commotion by apprehending seven individuals; on July 29, the case was subsequently transferred to the CBI.

The spouse of one of the two women informed HT that their statements were repeatedly recorded and they were informed that the agency would file charges shortly. However, he expressed his disappointment that only seven individuals have been arrested thus far. “Manipur Police initially apprehended all of these as well.” Numerous individuals were implicated in the offense; however, no further arrests have been made. He stated, “We are awaiting the CBI charge sheet.”

Former army officer and Kargil War veteran of 64 years, the individual stated that he was awaiting justice.

“Having fought for my country, I have faith in the Constitution and the government.” With the CBI’s inaction, however, my faith is devastated. To be clear, CBI has been accommodating, meeting with us frequently, and conversing with us. We, however, seek justice.”

He is concurrently engaged in a second conflict to preserve the will of his wife to live.

“My spouse attempted suicide on multiple occasions, but I was able to prevent her. I have been assuring her that I would always stand by her side and that what transpired that day was not her responsibility. “God will ultimately punish those criminals,” he declared.

As stated by the mother of the second woman in the video, who is 21 years old, her family continues to reside in Churachandpur, where their residences remain hazardous.

“CBI officers claim to have apprehended the suspects; although a large number of individuals were involved, only seven have been taken into custody.” How did this come to be? The CBI provided us with photographs of the suspects via video call. They were present at the location, as confirmed, but what became of the others? “Those animals must be arrested,” she declared.

The mother stated that the remains of her husband and son were still awaited. “The CBI video called me on October 4 and requested that I identify the bodies in the mortuary (located in Imphal).” Officers from the CBI stated that they will assist us in retrieving the carcasses. “I desire both justice and the administration of their last rites,” she declared.

However, at least two of these families have been in contact with investigators on multiple occasions.

The relatives of a 24-year-old woman and her 21-year-old companion, who were both victims of rape and murder at the hands of a throng near the car wash center in Imphal on May 4, claimed to have received only one phone call from the CBI over the past five months.

“About two weeks ago, an individual professing to be from CBI called me. The individual informed me that the contact originated from Imphal and inquired about my daughter and the events preceding her demise. “A team was supposed to visit us in Kangpokpi to record our statements, but I have not heard from them and am still waiting,” said the father of the 24-year-old.

According to the family, the 21-year-old has not even received a single phone call.

Both families were awarded 10 lakh rupees in compensation by the state and central administrations last month, but they claim that justice is priceless.

“I demand justice for the death of my daughter.” Due to his failure to ensure their safety, the proprietor of the car wash center where my daughter and her companion worked ought to be arrested and punished. “I desire a prompt investigation and exemplary punishment for those responsible,” said the mother of the 21-year-old.

According to the families of both girls, their remains remain in the morgue of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal without their delivery.

Two months after the outbreak of hostilities, on July 4, Irengbam Chingkheinganba, age 24, and his friend Sagolshem Ngaleiba, age 31, fled their home in Sekmaijin Khunou.

The following day, a video surfaced depicting the torture and execution of the two Meitei men, purportedly at the hands of Kuki assailants. Their whereabouts remain unknown, and the CBI has not been provided with their case information. “Like other cases, we requested that the CBI be involved in ours; however, this has not yet occurred. “No one has been arrested, and the local police have not informed us,” Priyobrata, the younger sibling of Irengbam, stated.

The two men were allegedly abducted from Kanglatongbi, which is located approximately four kilometers north of Sekmai police station, and transported to the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district, where they perished, according to Manipur Police officials. “However, similar to the majority of other cases, the investigation has been impeded due to ethnic divisions on the ground,” a police official said while requesting anonymity.

Families await justice

The fourth family awaiting justice consists of Joshua Hangsing and his 55-year-old mother, who currently reside in a dilapidated rented dwelling in Kangpokpi. Tonsing, the youngest member of the family, was seven years old at the time. On June 4, he was traveling from an Assam Rifles camp in Kangchup Chingkhong village, Kangpokpi district, to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal with his mother Meena and a family acquaintance Lydia Lourembam. Tonsing, their progeny, had incurred a pellet-induced cranial injury.

ALSO READ : US businessman gave NewsClick ₹28.29 crore: Delhi Police

A mob, however, dragged the ambulance’s driver and male nurse, both Meiteis, from the vehicle and set it on fire, along with the two women and the infant, despite the presence of police security. Hours following the occurrence, the authorities discovered only bones within. The household reported receiving a single telephone call from the CBI. “About twenty days ago, CBI in Imphal contacted me. A person inquired about the case for thirty minutes while speaking with me. “Since then, there has been no communication, and we have no updates regarding the case’s development,” he explained.

Similar to others, Joshua’s sole desire is justice.

The post Four terrible wartime cases Justice is delayed in Manipur. appeared first on Republic Aeon.

Text messages and a phone call allegedly informed Raut that he will be shot with an AK-47 rifle if he is discovered in New Delhi. In this regard, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader had lodged a complaint.

“I informed the authorities about the threatening phone call, but I do not believe any action will be taken. I was contacted last night. When I inform the government and home minister of such threats, they ridicule me, claiming that it is a hoax. Raut told reporters that the government is sponsoring unrest, hooliganism, and terrorism.

ALSO READ : Finland Will Soon Become A Member, According To NATO Chief

A police officer confirmed the development by stating, “Sanjay Raut has received death threats stating that he will suffer the same fate as Sidhu Moosa Wala.” He was threatened by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The message stated that if you met in Delhi, the recipient would execute you with an AK-47. He penned a letter to the police expressing his displeasure with the situation.”

Earlier, Salman Khan allegedly received a threatening phone call from the Bishnoi gang, which stated that he would “end up like Sidhu Moosa Wala.” The perpetrator, a resident of Luni in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan named Dhakad Ram, was apprehended and turned over to the Mumbai Police.

The post Sanjay Raut receives death threat after Salman Khan. appeared first on Republic Aeon.

Rabri Devi’s statement will be recorded, and it is not an investigation or search, according to CBI sources, who added that an appointment had been made.

The interrogation comes one day after eight opposition parties sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing the BJP of misusing central agencies for political purposes. Among the signatories was Tejashash Yadav, the son of Rabri Devi and the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar. The letter mentioned Lalu Yadav, former chief minister of Bihar and patriarch of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), as one of the opposition leaders targeted by central agencies. It stated that the actions of central agencies “often sparked suspicion that they were operating as an extension of the ruling regime.”

Among others, Mr. Yadav, Rabri Devi, and their daughters Misa and Hema are named in the CBI’s land-for-jobs case. An FIR filed in May 2022 accuses Mr. Yadav and members of his family of purchasing land at rock-bottom prices in exchange for jobs distributed during his tenure as Union Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009.

ALSO READ: TN BJP IT cell chief quits party, joins AIADMK

In addition to the veteran politician, his wife, and daughters, the FIR names 12 individuals who allegedly received employment in exchange for property. The CBI detained Mr. Yadav’s assistant and former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Bhola Yadav in July of last year.

Rabri Devi is being questioned one week before the Yadavs and the other accused in the case are scheduled to appear in court in Delhi.

Last year, the CBI lodged a chargesheet for the crimes of conspiracy and corruption. The FIR contends that some Patna residents were appointed as substitutes for Group-D positions in the Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Hajipur railway zones. In exchange, it is alleged that these individuals conveyed land ownership to Mr. Yadav’s family members and a company that was subsequently acquired by the family.

In some instances, land was allegedly transferred to the Yadavs for pennies on the dollar. According to the CBI case, the appointments were made in violation of the Railways’ regulations.

The leaders of the RJD have dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. Ms. Devi stated a week ago that the BJP is afraid of Mr. Yadav. “We will not flee. We have been confronting these allegations for thirty years. In Bihar, the BJP is afraid of Lalu Yadav.”

The post CBI Questioning Rabri Devi At Her Patna Residence In Land-For-Jobs Case appeared first on Republic Aeon.

Nonetheless, many locals assert that Sunday’s election will determine Maharashtra’s politics in the coming days. If the Congress candidate running with the support of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) wins both seats from the BJP, it will be the first significant victory since the formation of the grand alliance. The potential development can be viewed as a precursor to upcoming municipal elections in Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nashik, and Aurangabad, among others.

If the BJP is able to retain the two seats, the MVA will have difficulty remaining united. When municipal elections are imminent, it will be the BJP in coalition with Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena that will expand its base and be able to take on the MVA, which will have to address internal divisions.

The election is an opportunity for voters to assert themselves for a better destiny, as both of these constituencies have been dealing with long-standing issues.

Residents of Kasba Peth, which encompasses the majority of central Pune, including peth areas, desire the redevelopment of ancient wadas, the encroachment of roads and footpaths, the congestion of bylanes, and the lack of adequate water supply. Their counterparts in Chinchwad are affected by a lack of water supply, traffic congestion, and Metro rail delays.

Due to complex municipal regulations and tenants’ reluctance to vacate, the owners of ancient wadas are unable to redevelop the dilapidated buildings. On the final day of the campaign, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde pledged a town planning scheme for the central parts of Pune to address the issue of these structures.

Shinde, campaigning for BJP candidate Hemant Rasane, stated, “We intend to introduce a town planning scheme for Kasba Peth soon.”

In the meantime, the Congress has blamed the BJP for the constituency’s lack of development over the past three and a half decades. “Kasba Peth has elected BJP candidates since 1995, but the problems of the constituency have not changed.” In fact, the situation has deteriorated over time, with no solution found for wadas, traffic congestion, poor roads, and water shortage, according to Mohan Joshi of the Congress, whose party’s candidate Ravindra Dhangekar is running against Rasane.

Kasba Peth has a total electorate of 275,679, with 138,690 female voters and 16,984 male electors. The majority of the district has been commercialised over the past two decades. Laxmi Road, Tulsibaug, Ravivar Peth, and famous temples such as Sarasbaug, Kasba Ganpati, Dagadu Seth, and Tambdi Joshwari are part of the city’s seat. Since 1995, Kasba has been a stronghold of the BJP. Mukta Tilak, a lawmaker for the BJP, passed away, necessitating these elections.

Politically, this election is significant for both the BJP and the Congress, as the latter strives to reclaim the seat it held until the early 1990s. The cohesion of the MVA’s campaign, the participation of leaders such as Sharad Pawar, and the presence of a formidable candidate in Dhangekar gave the impression that the Congress was a serious contender. On the saffron side, the elections are more crucial to Chief Minister Shinde than to his deputy Devendra Fadnavis, as a favourable outcome could bolster Shinde’s position following the rebellion and lead to additional defections from Shiv Sena.

The post Sunday’s by-elections will determine tomorrow’s political course in Maharashtra. appeared first on Republic Aeon.