Imphal, Sep 12 (IANS) A powerful grenade was recovered Wednesday from inside the high-security zone of the Manipur secretariat, police said. The explosive, wrapped in a piece of cloth, was found inside a VIP garage in the south block of the secretariat, Imphal district police chief Konsam Jayanta Singh told IANS. Senior police and district administration officers rushed to the spot. A bomb disposal squad removed and defused the grenade. "We don't know how the grenade landed in the high-security-zone area and investigation is on," Singh said. Though, no group has claimed responsibility, but police strongly believed that it is the handiwork of certain rebel outfits. No arrests had been made so far, but a manhunt is on to nab the culprits, the police official said. The outlawed Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) had said that its armed wing - the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has planted bombs in strategic places to attack security forces in Manipur. PLA, the military wing of the The RPF is fighting for the last three decades for an independent homeland for the majority Metei community in Manipur. There are more than 20 rebel outfits in Manipur with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.

Imphal, Sep 9 (IANS) An Assam Rifles trooper was killed and 10 other personnel were injured Sunday in a blast in Manipur's Bishenpur district, police said. This is the third blast in Manipur over the weekend targeting security forces. Two separatist outfits - the United National Liberation Front and People's Liberation Army (PLA) - have claimed responsibility for the earlier bomb blasts. D.K. Rao of the Assam Rifles died on the spot after the rebels triggered the improvised explosive device (IED) blast at Kumbi area, district police chief Radheshyam Singh told IANS. Of the 10 troopers injured, three were critical and have been admitted at Leimakhong army base hospital near Imphal, he added. Preliminary investigation indicates that the rebels could have triggered the IED by remote control from a distance. No arrests had been made so far, but a manhunt is on to nab the rebels, the police chief added. On Saturday, two people, including a soldier, were injured in a bomb blast triggered by the PLA, the military wing of the outlawed Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), on Tiddim Road in the Manipur capital. RPF spokesman Taohangsu Heiremcha said PLA would continue to launch more attacks on the security forces in the state. The RPF is fighting over the past three decades for an independent homeland for the majority Metei community in Manipur. The PLA has planted bombs in strategic places to attack security forces, Heiremcha warned. There are more than 20 rebel outfits in Manipur with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.

Imphal, Sep 7 (IANS) Fear and panic have gripped people from outside the state who have taken up residence in Manipur, after separatist groups issued "quit notices" to all non-Manipuri people, asking them to leave the northeastern state by Dec 31 or face dire consequences. The statement was issued Wednesday to media houses by the Coordination Committee (CorCom) - an umbrella of seven major separatist outfits - fighting for an independent state for the majority Metei community in Manipur. The Manipur government, however, has assured protection to all genuine Indian citizens residing in the state. "Illegal migrants and the outsider population have reached alarming proportions and the Government of India is hiding the population figure of outsiders from the Census Report 2011. All outsiders must leave the state and return home for bringing a solution to the migrants' problem and its associated ills," CorCom said, in its statement. However, students, professionals and tourists who are entering the state for academic purposes, art and culture, sports, religion or business for a temporary period are exempted from the quit notices. The group also asked locals not to rent out houses or sell land to non-Manipuris or allow them to head business houses. CorCom cited the case of Tripura, where the indigenous population had been reduced to a minority in 100 years; in Assam, the statement said, migrants constitute 46 percent of the population. In Nagaland, despite the enforcement of the Inner Line Permit System (ILP), migrants constitute nearly a third of the population, while in Meghalaya, outsiders comprise 14 percent of the state's population. In Mizoram, outsiders are mostly Chakmas and Tongchangyas who entered from across the state's border with Bangladesh, the CorCom statement said. The statement claimed that in Manipur, the population of outsiders had crossed 30 percent as a result of the "silent population invasion" encouraged by the Indian government. Claiming the there was a danger of the indigenous population in Manipur being reduced to a minority, CorCom called upon the people to resist the entry of outsiders. There are no estimates about the number of non-Manipuris in the state of 2.7 million people. A large number of people from other Indian states are working in Manipur as daily wage earners, besides many are doing business and are employed in private companies and educational institutions. "We are worried after the threat and don't know how to react," said Harinder Singh, a petty businessman originally from Bihar. "There is a sense of all-pervading fear and panic among most of the non-Manipuri people like us," said Barun Yadav, a dealer in food products settled in Manipur for the past 12 years, but originally from Uttar Pradesh. However, Home Minister G. Gaikhangam, speaking to IANS, said the government will ensure security to all genuine Indian citizens. He reiterated, however, that no illegal immigrant will be allowed to settle in the state. Over 100 illegal Bangladeshi and Myanmarese immigrants were detained from several areas of the state after the Manipur police launched a crackdown against illegal foreign nationals. "The government is doing its work to detect illegal immigrants but these outlawed groups are issuing the quit notice to destablise the peaceful atmosphere in the state," Gaikhangam told IANS. "It is the duty of the government to protect Indian citizens and we will continue to do that," the home minister said, appealing to Indian citizens not to allow the CorCom diktat to disturb them. There are more than 20 rebel armies active in Manipur, a state bordering Myanmar, with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.

Imphal, Sep 5 (IANS) Two security personnel were injured in a bomb blast triggered Wednesday by suspected militants in the Manipur capital, police said. A security alert has been sounded. The two Assam Rifles troopers were on routine patrolling when the blast hit them in the Keisampat area, a few kilometres from the Manipur Police headquarters. Their condition is stated to be stable, an Assam Rifles official said. A security alert has been sounded and Keisampat has been cordoned off, Imphal district police chief Konsam Jayanta Singh told IANS. He said preliminary reports suggested that the blast could have been triggered by an Improvised Explosive Device. "We have found the wreckage of a scooter from the blast site," he said. No arrests had been made so far, he added. Though no rebel group has claimed responsibility for the blasts, Manipur Police and intelligence officials said the blasts were carried out by rebels. On Monday, a youth was killed in a village of Manipur's Thoubal district after a bomb, suspected to have been planted by militants, went off at his house. There are more than 20 rebel outfits in Manipur with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.

Imphal, Sep 5 (IANS) Two Assam Rifles personnel were injured in a powerful blast by suspected militants in the Keisampat area here early Wednesday. Police suspect that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was used in the blast and said the bomb could have been planted on a scooter. Investigations are on in and around Imphal town after the blast. "We have found the wreckage of a scooter from the blast site," a police official said. The condition of the injured is stated to be stable now. On Monday, a youth was killed in Nongpok Keithelmanbi village of Manipur's Thoubal district after a bomb, suspected to have been planted by militants, went off at his house.

Imphal, Sep 4 (IANS) Three truckloads of banned red sanders wood worth Rs.3 crore have been seized from a former Manipur legislator's house, police said Tuesday. The logs from the forests of Andhra Pradesh were to be smuggled to Myanmar and then to China, they said. Acting on a tip-off, a Manipur Police team Monday raided the residence of Salam Joy, a former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator, in Samurou Awang Leika area in Imphal West district and seized the logs worth Rs.3 crore, a senior police officer said. Joy is on the run after the raid, district police chief Konsam Jayanta Singh told IANS. He said police were probing the politician's involvement in the illegal trade. He said one Md Arif Khan from Tamil Nadu was the prime accused in the timber smuggling. Red sanders or red sandalwood is prohibited for export and is listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora list. It is a rare flora species endemic to southern India, mainly Andhra Pradesh. The police officer said the red sanders wood was brought to Manipur from the jungles of Andhra Pradesh. The officer said that according to intelligence inputs, the red sanders logs were bound for China through Myanmar. Manipur shares a 400 km of border with Myanmar and part of it is porous, hilly and unfenced, and prone to infiltration and smuggling. Red sanders wood has a huge demand in China and Japan where it is used for making musical instruments, furniture, medicine and toys. It is also believed that because of the presence of radioactive elements such as thorium and uranium, red sanders might be used as a coolant in nuclear reactors.

Imphal, Sep 2 (IANS) Authorities in Manipur have pushed back into Assam 60 suspected Bangladeshis, an official said Sunday. Manipur Police have launched a crackdown in several parts of the state to flush out illegal Bangladeshi and Myanmarese immigrants. A total of 49 illegal Bangladeshi and Myanmarese immigrants have been arrested and booked under the Foreigners Act, the official said. Over 400 suspected illegal immigrants have been rounded up to verify their nationality. "We pushed back 60 suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants Saturday into Assam from Jiribam after they failed to produce any document to prove they are Indian citizens," a police official told IANS. Jiribam bordering Assam is one of three entry points to Manipur. Manipur shares a border with Nagaland to the north, with Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west and Myanmar to the east. "No person will be allowed to step into Manipur without producing valid documents and those who fail will be pushed back," the official said. Manipur Home Minister G. Gaikhangam said the crackdown to detect illegal Bangladeshi and Myanmarese nationals would continue. The minister said the government would take action against those who shelter illegal immigrants. "It is a sensitive issue (illegal immigrants) and the government will not allow any illegal immigrant to settle in Manipur," Gaikhangam said. Following pressure from civil society groups, the Manipur assembly July 13 adopted a resolution urging the central government to extend the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, to the state to check the influx of suspected Bangladeshi and Myanmarese nationals.

Imphal, Aug 31 (IANS) Manipur Police Friday arrested six more illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and rounded up over 400 suspected immigrants for verifying their nationalities, police said. With Friday's arrest, the number of arrested illegal immigrants in Manipur has gone up to 49. On Thursday, Manipur Police arrested 43 illegal immigrants - 19 Myanmerese and 24 Bangladeshi nationals - from Imphal and neighbouring Thoubal district. "This morning we conducted a crackdown in several areas of Imphal and rounded up 462 people, of whom 57 were taken into police custody for questioning," a police official said. Earlier, Manipur Home Minister G. Gaikhangam said the crackdown to detect illegal Bangladeshi and Myanmarese nationals would continue in the state. "Yesterday's (Thursday) crackdown against illegal immigrants in Manipur was the beginning. Manipur Police will continue the operation to detect illegal immigrants," Gaikhangam told IANS. Cautioning locals not to shelter foreign nationals, the home minister said the government will take action against those who shelter illegal immigrants. "It is a sensitive issue (illegal immigrants) and the government will not allow any illegal immigrant to settle in Manipur," Gaikhangam said. He said that all police stations, especially at the three entry points - Mao Gate (Manipur-Nagaland border), Jiribam (Manipur-Assam) and Moreh (India-Myanmar) - have been put on alert to detect illegal immigrants. Manipur shares its border with Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west and Myanmar o the east. Following pressure from civil society groups, the Manipur assembly July 13 adopted a resolution urging the central government to extend the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, to the state to check the influx of suspected Bangladeshi and Myanmarese nationals.

Imphal, Aug 31 (IANS) Manipur Home Minister G. Gaikhangam Friday said the crackdown to detect illegal Bangladeshi and Myanmarese nationals would continue in the state. On Thursday, Manipur police arrested 43 illegal immigrants - 19 Myanmerese and 24 Bangladeshi nationals - from Imphal and neighbouring Thoubal district. Over 300 other suspects are still being interrogated at camp of the 2nd Manipur Rifles, a police official said. "Yesterday's (Thursday) crackdown against the illegal immigrants in Manipur was the beginning and Manipur police would continue with the operation to detect illegal immigrants," Gaikhangam told IANS. Cautioning the people not to provide shelter to foreign nationals, the home minister said the government will also take action against those who are sheltering the illegal immigrants. "It is a sensitive issue (illegal immigrants) and the government will not allow any illegal immigrant to settle in Manipur," Gaikhangam said. Moreover, he said that all police stations, especially at the three entry points - Mao Gate (Manipur-Nagaland border), Jiribam (Manipur- Assam) and Moreh (India-Myanmar) has been put on alert to detect illegal immigrants. Manipur shares its border with Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west and Myanmar to the east. Following pressure from civil society groups, the Manipur assembly July 13 adopted a resolution urging the central government to extend the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, to the state to check the influx of suspected Bangladeshi and Myanmarese nationals. Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order-I) L. Kailun said the verification of other suspected illegal immigrants is on at camp of the 2nd Manipur Rifles. "The verification process is on and so with the crackdown to flush out illegal immigrants residing in certain parts of the state," Kailun said. He said the forty three illegal immigrants arrested Thursday have been booked under the Foreigners' Act.

Imphal, Aug 30 (IANS) Manipur Police Thursday detained 43 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants while over 300 other suspects were rounded up during a combing operation, police said. Police conducted a combing operation in Thoubal and Imphal East districts following intelligence inputs about movement of militants in the two districts. Three vehicles suspected to ferry the illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have been seized by the Manipur Police commandos. "Some of the 43 Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, have stayed in Manipur for a decade while some had just arrived in the past few weeks," a police official said. The verification process of the 300 others suspected illegal immigrants is on at camp of the 2nd Manipur Rifles, the official added. Police said the Bangladeshi nationals were residing in Muslim-dominated areas at Lilong and Hatta. Following pressure from civil society groups, the Manipur assembly July 13 adopted a resolution urging the central government to extend the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, to the state to check the influx of suspected Bangladeshi and Myanmarese nationals. However, the union home ministry declined to do so.