Manipur Police has made its first arrest in the case registered in connection with the video of the incident in May this year in which two women being paraded naked in Manipur, chief minister N Biren Singh said on Thursday.
“Last night at around 1.30 am, we arrested the main culprit,” the Manipur chief minister told ANI. A video of the two-month-old incident had gone viral evoking sharp reactions from various political parties and triggering outrage.
Speaking to ANI, the Manipur chief minister said, “This is an inhumane act…so we have condemned this immediately…we instructed police to immediately act and arrest the culprits.”
“Every man every human being will condemn this act,” Singh said adding that they will seek for the perpetrators to get punishment “to the maximum possible extent.”
“Really shocked when I saw the video and after seeing it I inquired about the incident it happened on 4 May…but this video leaked after 40 days. I asked for mass combing ops…and last night itself we have arrested one man involved,” the Manipur chief minister said.
According to a senior police official the incident took place on May 4 in Manipur’s Thoubal district and a case of abduction, gangrape and murder has been registered in the matter.
Superintendent of Police (SP), K Meghachandra Singh in a statement on July 19 said “As regards the video of 2 (two) women paraded naked by unknown armed miscreants on 4th May 2023, a case of abduction, gangrape and murder was registered at Nongpok Sekmai Police Station (Thoubal district) against unknown armed miscreants.”
Earlier in a tweet Manipur chief minister N Biren Das said that strict action will be taken against all the curprits, including considering the possibility of capital punishment.
“After taking a Suo-motu cognisance of the incident immediately after the video surfaced, the Manipur Police swung to action and made the first arrest this morning. A thorough investigation is currently underway and we will ensure strict action is taken against all the perpetrators, including considering the possibility of capital punishment,” the Manipur chief minister tweeted.
“Let it be known, there is absolutely no place for such heinous acts in our society,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi this morning spoke said he is pained over the incident and said the incident is “shameful for any civil society.”
“No accused will spared, we will never forgive those who are behind this,” the Prime Minister said.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Monsoon session of the Parliament today, PM Modi said, “This a shameful incident for any society..who did this and who is responsible is another issue but this has put our nation to shame. I appeal to all chief ministers to tighten law and order. Whether it is Rajasthan, Chattisgarh or Manipur…the issue of a woman’s honour is above all politics.
Manipur has been witnessing violence since May 3, following the protests by the Kuki and Naga communities against the High Court’s order asking the state government to consider the inclusion of Meitei community in the category of Scheduled Tribes (ST). Only STs can buy lands in hilly areas.
The majority Meitei community, which occupy the Imphal valley and nearby areas, sought the ST status keeping in view their increasing population and increased requirement of land, so that they could purchase lands in the hilly areas.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
At least five people were killed and multiple are reported to be trapped under the debris after a landslide hit Irshalgad Wadi in Khalapur, a tribal hamlet in the Raigad district of Maharashtra late on the night of 19 July. The place is close to Irshalgad Fort which is a popular trekking destination.
The deceased include a 48-year-old rescuer from the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation fire brigade named Shivaji Dhumane. The area has been battered by nonstop rain over the last 24 hours. Seventy-five persons have already been saved during search operations.
#UPDATE | Maharashtra | Till now five bodies have been recovered from the debris in Irshalwadi village of Khalapur tehsil of Raigad district. Till now 75 people have been rescued: Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis
A significant landslide occurred in the community at around 10:30 p.m. while most residents were asleep and it was storming heavily outside. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also rushed to the spot early on 20 July.
#WATCH | Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde arrives at the site of the landslide in Irshalwadi village of Khalapur tehsil of Raigad district.
According to the Raigad police, four people have died and three others have been injured. Rescue operation is underway. pic.twitter.com/nu087axCrz
Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, “Talked to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. 4 teams of NDRF have reached the spot and the rescue operation is going on war level along with local administration. Our priority is to evacuate people from the scene and treat the injured immediately.”
महाराष्ट्रातील रायगड येथे अतिवृष्टीमुळे झालेल्या भूस्खलनाबाबत मुख्यमंत्री श्री @mieknathshinde यांच्याशी बोलणं केलं आहे. NDRF च्या 4 टीम घटनास्थळी पोहोचल्या आहेत आणि स्थानिक प्रशासनासह बचाव कार्यात युद्ध पातळीवर सुरू आहे. लोकांना घटनास्थळावरून बाहेर काढणे आणि जखमींवर तातडीने…
The chief minister provided Rs 5 lakh in relief for the surviving family members of the victims. He mentioned that the affected community was not listed as one of the state’s landside-prone neighbourhoods.
He stated, “I received a call from Home Minister Amit Shah assuring all possible help from the centre including deployment of helicopters for the rescue attempt. However, due to the weather conditions, it is difficult to use helicopters as of now. Because of the location of the disaster site, we are facing problems in deploying heavy machinery to facilitate the search and rescue operations and everything is being done manually.”
The chief minister’s office posted, “Heavy rains and difficult roads are hampering rescue operations, but helicopters will be called in soon after the weather improves. All the systems have been involved in the rescue operation. Rescue operations are underway by NDRF teams. Though there is no road, the relief work is going on and now the Union Home Minister Amit Shah has taken information about the incident.”
खालापूर (जि. रायगड) येथील इरशाळगडाच्या पायथ्याशी असलेल्या वस्तीवर दरड कोसळली आहे. या घटनेची माहिती मिळताच मुख्यमंत्री @mieknathshinde हे तातडीने घटनास्थळी दाखल झाले असून मदत व बचावकार्याचा आढावा घेत आहेत.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis wrote, “The incident of landslide occurred at Irshalgad near Khalapur in Raigad district last night. Some people died in this incident, we share the grief of their families. I pay my heartfelt tribute to him.”
He further continued, “I have been in touch with the local administration since last night after learning about this incident. 2 teams of NDRF have reached the spot immediately and two more teams are reaching soon. Heavy rains and darkness initially hampered the relief effort, but it is now picking up speed. According to preliminary information, a total of 48 families are here. Around 75 people have been evacuated and 5 people have died so far.”
He announced, “Arrangements have been made for immediate treatment of the injured. The state government will provide all possible help to the heirs of the deceased and the entire cost of treatment of the injured will be borne by the state government. We are constantly monitoring the situation and rescue operations.”
रायगड जिल्ह्यातील खालापूरनजिक इर्शाळगड येथे दरड कोसळण्याची घटना काल मध्यरात्री घडली. या घटनेत काही लोकांचा मृत्यू झाला, त्यांच्या कुटुंबियांच्या दुःखात आम्ही सहभागी आहोत. मी त्यांना भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली अर्पण करतो.
ही घटना कळताच काल मध्यरात्रीपासूनच मी स्थानिक प्रशासनाच्या…
“Total of 17 houses with a collective population of around 50 are suspected to have been affected. The inaccessible Irshalgad Wadi is located under the Irshalgad Fort. Rescue and relief operations are underway,” informed Khalapur police inspector, Bala Kumbha.
The bodies are being identified, according to assistant police inspector Haresh Kalsekar of Raigad Control. “However, the deceased fireman from NMMC, Dhumane was first hit by the landslide and then died of suspected cardiac arrest,” he added.
The government intends to remove and rehabilitate the tribe members somewhere secure. In addition to the equipment, the disaster management personnel for the Raigad district have been dispatched. Rescue workers have also arrived at the scene of the tragic occurrence. Locals contributed to the rescue effort as well.
In accordance with the NDRF, the landslide’s aftermath left 15-20 buildings trapped under the rubble. SB Singh, Commandant of the fifth battalion of the National Disaster Response Force revealed, “Of the total 40 houses in the village, 17 have been affected. We have deployed four teams to conduct the rescue operations. The debris at some of the places is 10 to 29 feet deep.”
He mentioned, “It is difficult to bring heavy machinery to this place. It is a 2.8 km trek to reach the spot and we have to remove the debris manually which is likely to take a lot of time. While we are facing difficulties, we will continue our operations till we retrieve the last person.”
Rescue teams had to travel more than an hour from the closest accessible road to the village, which has made operations challenging due to the remote location of the village and regular downpours.
Following prolonged downpours, the district had been placed on orange alert for the previous two days and more rain had been anticipated. Due to forecasts of heavy to torrential rainfall, the State Disaster Management Authority declared a holiday for students in the Raigad area on 20 July.
In a significant revelation, the Union Bank of India has informed a Haryana police special investigation team (SIT) that crucial financial transaction records for the years 2008 and 2012 of the companies run by Robert Vadra were destroyed due to “water flooding the basement of the branch.”
The ongoing investigation by the SIT focuses on an FIR registered against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law, Robert Vadra, and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The case is related to an alleged corruption-riddled real estate deal that garnered attention during the 2014 parliamentary elections and was emblematic of corruption accusations against the Congress-led UPA government at the time.
According to a report by Times of India, the SIT approached the Union Bank of India on 26th May 2023, asking for information regarding fund inflow in the accounts of Skylight Hospitality and Skylight Realty, both companies where Vadra held directorial positions. The bank, in its response, revealed that the records for 2008 and 2012 had been irreparably damaged due to flooding in the basement of its branch.
Following this disclosure, the SIT took further action by issuing notices to UBI to ascertain if records of other firms have also been lost. On 20th June 2023, a notice was dispatched to the bank’s New Friends Colony branch in New Delhi to investigate the circumstances surrounding the destruction of relevant records belonging to Skylight Hospitality and Skylight Realty.
The bank has not yet responded to this. The investigation into the case commenced on 1st September 2018, after the BJP-led government in Haryana filed an FIR naming Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Robert Vadra, real estate giant DLF, Onkareshwar Properties, and Skylight Hospitality as the accused parties in connection with a land deal.
The SIT has been probing the allegations related to the deal. Notably, the investigative team has been bolstered by the inclusion of IAS officer Mukul Kumar, former chief town planner and RERA Panchkula member Dilbag Singh, and a legal advisor, showcasing the government of CM Manohar Lal Khattar’s commitment to pursuing the case seriously.
Gurugram land scam case
A resident of Gurugram named Surendra Sharma of the Rathiwas village had filed an FIR against Robert Vadra, Bhupinder Hooda, and others in September 2018, alleging that Vadra’s firm Skylight Hospitality had bought 3.5 acres of land in Shikohpur village (Now Sector 83) in Gurugram from one Omkareswar Properties for 7.5 crores in 2008. The FIR had alleged that massive irregularities had happened in the deal and Hooda had favored Vadra costing the exchequer huge losses.
In 2018, the Central Bureau of Investigation filed a charge sheet against former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in connection with a major land acquisition scam. The charge sheet was filed in the special CBI court located in Panchkula, Haryana. The same year, the Haryana government gave a go-ahead to the Haryana police to probe the 1500 crore Manesar land deal case. Vadra is also facing a probe in land grab cases in Rajasthan.
One of the central accusations in the case revolves around Skylight Hospitality, a company associated with Robert Vadra, purchasing 3.5 acres of land in Shikohpur, Gurgaon, from Onkareshwar Properties in February 2008 for Rs 7.5 crore. Subsequently, after obtaining a commercial license, the same property was allegedly sold by Skylight Hospitality to DLF for Rs 58 crore. According to the allegations, the Hooda government facilitated this land deal by allocating 350 acres in Wazirabad, Gurgaon, to DLF.
However, the tehsildar of Manesar provided a contrasting account, stating that Skylight Hospitality did indeed sell the 3.5 acres to DLF Universal Limited on 18th September 2012, and the transaction was reported to have complied with all regulations and rules.
PM Modi on 20th July spoke briefly ahead of the beginning of the monsoon session of the Parliament. In his speech, he asserted that the Parliament will gather to perform its democratic duties during the sacred month of ‘Shravan’. He appealed to all the members of Parliament to perform their parliamentary duties and utilize the session to discuss, debate, and address important issues for the benefit of the people.
Towards the end of the 8-minute speech, PM Modi addressed the shocking viral video that emerged from Manipur, where it was seen that some women were stripped naked, paraded and allegedly gang raped by an armed mob.
“My heart is full of pain and anger while I stand here addressing you near this temple of democracy. The incident that has happened in Manipur is shameful for any civil society. No matter who the criminals are, and where they are, the incident has shamed and pained every single Indian, the whole country has been shamed and hurt. I appeal to all the Chief Ministers in Indian states to tighten the law and order situation in their areas and ensure strong steps for the safety of women. Regardless of the location of such incidents, be it in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, or Manipur, the system of law and order, and safety of women is above politics. I want to assure my fellow citizens that not a single criminal will be spared. The law will work in all its might and the perpetrators will be brought to justice”, PM Modi said.
On Wednesday, 19th July 2023, the Noida police in Gautam Buddh Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh, enforced Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), imposing restrictions on public assembly and religious activities including namaz and puja in public places and roads across Noida and Greater Noida.
According to the order issued by Additional DCP (law and order) Hirdesh Katheriya, the restrictions would be effective from 20th July 2023 and remain in force till 3rd August 2023, spanning a period of 15 days. During this time, no unpermitted religious activities, including namaz, puja, or processions, would be allowed in public places without prior permission from the commissioner of police, additional commissioner of police, or the deputy commissioners of police in the concerned zones of the district.
The decision to impose these restrictions comes in light of several events scheduled during this period, including the upcoming Muharram, a sports event involving foreign participants, a farmers’ protest, and competitive examinations in the district.
As stated in the order, assembling in public places or roads with more than five people is strictly prohibited without proper authorization from the designated police authorities. Exceptions could be made for government-approved programs.
Additionally, flying drones within a one-kilometre radius of government offices is completely banned, and using unmanned aerial vehicles for photography or video recording at other locations will also require police permission.
The order explicitly prohibits any form of religious activity, such as namaz, puja, or processions, at public places and roads without prior permission from the relevant police authorities. Moreover, religious activities are not allowed at contentious places where there is no tradition of offering prayers and disrespectful behaviour towards the religious texts of other faiths is strictly forbidden. The display of religious posters, banners, and flags on the walls of religious places is also prohibited.
The order adds, “Nobody would take pigs, dogs or any stray animals near religious places or on routes of permitted processions during religious gatherings to prevent hurting sentiments of any community nor would anyone encourage others to do so.”
During the period of the CrPC section 144 restrictions, the police stated that legal action would be taken against individuals misbehaving with or assaulting any police official, civic authority worker, sanitation worker, or health department official.
On Thursday, July 20, two people were killed after a gunman opened fire at a construction site on Lower Queen Street in Auckland city of New Zealand at around 7:22 am. The attack came just hours before the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the city. According to the New Zealand police, the shooter was also killed.
Police have contained a serious incident that unfolded at a construction site in Auckland’s CBD this morning.
Multiple injuries have been reported and at this stage we can confirm two people have died. The male offender is also deceased. pic.twitter.com/bC0EWR7Tzr
Three people were critically wounded according to the city’s ambulance service, while three others suffered minor injuries. The shooting took place near a hotel where the FIFA teams of Norway and other countries are staying. Following the incident, the police force was deployed and the area was cordoned off.
This incident unfolded after reports of a person discharging a firearm inside the site on lower Queen Street at around 7.22am.
A significant number of Police responded and cordoned off the area. The Police Eagle helicopter was also deployed and provided oversight.
New Zealand police informed that the shooter, who was armed with a pump-action shotgun, went through the construction site and, after reaching the upper levels “contained himself within the elevator shaft.”
The offender has moved through the building site and continued to discharge his firearm.
Upon reaching the upper levels of the building, the male has contained himself within the elevator shaft and our staff have attempted to engage with him.
“Further shots were fired from the male, and he was located deceased a short time later. Details about what has exactly occurred are still emerging and police will continue to provide updates around injuries and the circumstances, the police added.
Further shots were fired from the male and he was located deceased a short time later.
Details around what has exactly occurred are still emerging and Police will continue to provide updates around injuries and the circumstances.
Meanwhile, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown termed the shooting as an isolated incident and unrelated to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“What we know is that this is an isolated incident. This appears to be the act of one individual, this was not a threat to national security, nor was it in any way related to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Event,” Mayor Brown said as he offered condolences to the family of deceased victims.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the football tournament would go ahead as planned, adding that the shooting seemed to be the actions of one person and that police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
“Clearly with the FIFA World Cup kicking off this evening, there are a lot of eyes on Auckland. The government has spoken to FIFA organizers this morning and the tournament will proceed as planned. There was no identified political or ideological motivation for the shooting and therefore no national security risk, I want to reiterate that there is no wider national security threat. This appears to be the action of one individual,” Hipkins said.
WATCH: New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins provides a statement on the shooting that happened in Auckland’s Commercial Bay this morning. Two people are dead and six injured, including police officers. The gunmen is also dead. pic.twitter.com/ZqJuohwNnV
During the police operation, Norway captain Maren Mjelde told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang, “Everything appears to be calm, and we are preparing as usual for the match tonight.”
Norway is set to face New Zealand at Eden Park today at the opening match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
FIFA issued a statement saying its president, Gianni Infantino, and general-secretary, Fatma Samoura, were in constant contact with local authorities and participating teams in the vicinity.
And our thoughts and prayers remain with those who have been injured in this tragic incident.
Immediately following the incident, President Gianni Infantino and FIFA Secretary-General Fatma Samoura were in communication with the New Zealand authorities… (2/4)
FIFA said in its statement that it “has been informed that this is an isolated incident that was not related to football operations and that the opening match will proceed as planned.”
On July 19 horrifying visuals of two women being stripped naked and paraded naked surfaced from Manipur. As per reports, the incident is from May 4, a day after the violence in the North Eastern state started.
The visuals show two women being paraded naked while a group of men around them heckled them on, and then being dragged into a paddy field. It has been reported that the two victims were then gang-raped.
The indigenous tribal leader’s forum has condemned the incident and has stated that the victims were from the Kuki community while the assailants were from the Meitei community.
Incident from May 4, complaint filed on June 21
As per reports, a complaint regarding the incident was filed at the Saikul Police Station by one Thangboi Vaiphei, the chief of B. Phainom village, on June 21, more than a month after the incident. The complaint mentions that the mob also gang-raped a third woman. A case has been registered under Section 153A/398/427/436/448/302/354/364/326/376/34 of Indian Penal Code and 25(1C) of Arms Act regarding the incident.
FIR of the incident Complaint filed regarding the incident by village chief of B Phainom village, dated June 21, 2023
‘Large mob of hundreds of armed men, mostly Meitei groups, entered village’, says complaint
As per the village chief’s complaint, a large group of men, mostly from the Meitei community, carrying ‘sophisticated weapons’ had attacked the B Phainom village on May 4. They had looted the village homes and snatched all valuables and gadgets from the villagers. The mob had burned down the houses in the village and had carried out rampant vandalization. 5 villagers, fearing the loss of life, had reportedly fled into the forest. They were later rescued by the Nonpok Sekmai police team and were being taken to the police station when a mob attacked again and snatched those individuals away from the police.
A person was killed on the spot while three women were forced to strip naked by the mob. They were gang raped in broad daylight by some men in the mob, the complaint states, adding that the murdered person was the brother of one of the women who had tried to save his sister. The other male in the victim family, a 56-year-old man was murdered by the mob too.
The women later managed to escape from the spot, with the help of some locals.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, condemning the incident, has also added that the video was shared by the perpetrators, to expose the identities of the women victims and further prolong their humiliation after the heinous crime.
After the video went viral and caused widespread shock and outrage across the country, the Manipur police issued a statement saying that an all-out effort to nab the culprits has been initiated.
was registered at Nongpok Sekmai PS (Thoubal District) against unknown armed miscreants and the investigation has been started. The State Police is making all-out effort to arrest the culprits at the earliest.
Current situation is peaceful but tensed, curfew relaxed in 5 districts, says Manipur Police
Issuing a statement regarding the viral video and the ongoing violence in Manipur, the Manipur Police has released an update on the current situation in Manipur.
statement by Manipur police
The state police stated on 19th July that for the last 24 hours, the state has been peaceful, though tense with sporadic incidents of arson and gathering of crowds. Regarding the viral video, the police acknowledged the FIR being registered, but clarified that it is under investigation and no culprits have been nabbed so far. They added that massive search operations are being conducted to seize illegal arms and that the curfew relaxation has been curtailed in 5 valley districts and Churachandpur.
A total of 126 checkpoints have been installed in different districts and 452 persons have been arrested so far for violence. They made an appeal to the general public to help the police and provided the toll-free number 9233522822 to provide any information, seek help or report or deposit illegal arms, ammunition, and explosives.
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani has responded to the viral video, calling the incident inhuman.
The horrific video of sexual assault of 2 women emanating from Manipur is condemnable and downright inhuman. Spoke to CM @NBirenSingh ji who has informed me that investigation is currently underway & assured that no effort will be spared to bring perpetrators to justice.
The incident was reported in some media portals earlier but did not generate much attention till a video was released
It is notable here that a YouTube video describing the incident, and containing the victim’s response has been there since May. The video can be watched here.
YouTube video by channel zsfghq zogam
A report in Mid Day dated 26 June, days after the FIR was filed, also mentions the incident from the B. Phainom village. A report in News Click from June 1 also mentioned a woman from the victim family narrating the incident. However, the incident gathered national attention only on July 19, after the video of the brutalities on the women went viral.
As per the latest reports, the government has issued an order to Twitter and other social media platforms, instructing them not to share the viral video of the two Manipuri women being paraded nude. Social media platforms have been to adhere to Indian laws as the matter is currently under investigation. Under Indian law, publicizing the identity of the victims of sexual crimes is a punishable offense.
A detailed report of the Manipur violence, the conflict between the Kuki and Meitei communities can be read here.
First arrest made, tweets CM
My hearts go out to the two women who were subjected to a deeply disrespectful and inhumane act, as shown in the distressing video that surfaced yesterday. After taking a Suo-moto cognisance of the incident immediately after the video surfaced, the Manipur Police swung to action…
In the latest development, Manipur CM N Biren Singh has tweeted about the incident and has informed that the first arrest in the case has been made on the morning of 20th July. It is notable here that the first arrest has been made only after the video of the incident went viral on July 19th. The complaint regarding the incident was filed on 21 June.
“My hearts go out to the two women who were subjected to a deeply disrespectful and inhumane act, as shown in the distressing video that surfaced yesterday. After taking a Suo-moto cognisance of the incident immediately after the video surfaced, the Manipur Police swung to action and made the first arrest this morning. A thorough investigation is currently underway and we will ensure strict action is taken against all the perpetrators, including considering the possibility of capital punishment. Let it be known, there is absolutely no place for such heinous acts in our society”, the CM has tweeted.
On Thursday, 20th July 2023, a tragic accident occurred in Ahmedabad district, Gujarat, where a Jaguar car rammed into a group of people that had gathered to see a road accident, resulting in nine fatalities and thirteen injuries. The distressing event took place on the ISKCON flyover on the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar (SG) highway during the late hours of Wednesday night, around 1:15 AM.
The sequence of events began with two consecutive road accidents on the SG Highway. First, an SUV collided with a dumper from behind, causing several injuries. Many bystanders gathered around to witness the incident and offer help to the injured. Unfortunately, the situation took a devastating turn when a speeding Jaguar car abruptly entered the crowd, leaving 9 dead and several others injured.
Among the injured was the Jaguar car driver, Tathya Patel. The luxury vehicle had been passing through the Rajpath Club area when it veered into the gathering of onlookers, leaving them in shock and horror. Witnesses reported that some individuals were thrown nearly 20 to 25 feet away from the impact spot.
The police responded promptly to the accident and moved the injured to nearby hospitals for medical attention. However, the severity of the collision resulted in nine lives being lost even before they could receive medical aid. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Sola Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad for post-mortem examinations, while the injured were admitted to civil hospital in Asarwa.
Kripa Patel, a medical officer at Sola Civil Hospital said, “People started coming from around 1:30 AM. First 4 injured patients were brought and 3 bodies were brought. One patient died in half an hour. A total of 9 bodies were here. Post-mortem of all is being done.”
The impact was so severe that the flyover near the ISKCON temple had to be temporarily closed by the authorities. The police are conducting investigations to determine the circumstances that led to the second accident involving the Jaguar car.
The incident has left the community in mourning, raising concerns about road safety and the need for more stringent measures to prevent such tragic occurrences on busy highways like the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar route.
As the injured continue to receive medical treatment and families mourn the loss of their loved ones, the focus remains on understanding the factors that contributed to this horrific accident and ensuring that necessary precautions are taken to avoid such incidents in the future.
In a major milestone in the indigenisation of defence manufacturing, the production of the C-295 military transport aircraft is all set to start in India. India has ordered 56 C-295MW military transport aircraft from Airbus for the Indian Air Force, with the condition that 40 of them will be made in India, while the first batch of 16 aircraft is being purchased in flyway condition from Spain.
A consortium led by Tata Advanced Systems Limited in collaboration with Airbus is manufacturing the rest of 40 planes in India. The Main Constituent Assembly (MCA) in Hyderabad will produce several major sub-assemblies for the aircraft, and the production in this plant will start in the next week.
The sub-assemblies made at MCA will be shipped to the Final Assembly Line (FAL) at Vadodara, where the aircraft will take its final shape. Work on the FAL is going on at present and is estimated to be completed by mid-2024 and start production by November 2024.
Jorge Tamarit, head of the C-295 India programme of Airbus, said to a small group of visiting journalists from India, “The FAL in Vadodara will be ready by mid-2024 and start production by November 2024. Next week the Main Constituent Assembly [MCA] in Hyderabad is set to start production where several major sub-assemblies for the 40 aircraft to be assembled in India would be made, beginning with the rear-end fuselage.”
Tamarit added that work on domestic production is in full swing. He further added that the indigenous content in the planes is set to gradually increase, peaking with the 32nd aircraft onwards. Speaking on the timeline, the senior Airbus official said, “The 16 aircraft in flyaway condition will be delivered between September 2023 and August 2025, while the first Made in India C295 will roll out of the Vadodara facility in September 2026 and the remaining 39 by August 2031.”
Tamarit said the contract for the aircraft involving ‘Make-in-India’ and offset obligations is unprecedented. He said stating the ‘Make-in-India’ obligations incorporated in the deal is over and above the 30% offset obligations. Apart from the supply of the aircraft, the contract also includes a service support programme, spares, ground support and test equipment, tech publications, training, training devices, and a performance-based logistics contract.
The govt of India also signed a Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract in March this year, as per which the company will ensure a fleet availability rate of 85%. The company is also contracted to supply spare for 10 years at 10 operating bases.
Indigenous radar warning receiver and missile approach warning systems made by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and counter-measure dispensing system made by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) have been certified and installed on the first aircraft.
Tamarit further added that 14,000 detailed parts would be made in India and roughly around 3,500 parts will be industrialised every year. Some technologies like Chemical Milling will be transferred by Airbus to Tata under an Intellectual Property licence agreement.
While the first made-in-India C-295MW will roll out of the Final Assembly Line at Vadodara in September 2026, the first plane directly purchased from Spain will arrive in India in September this year. And the the Indian Air Force (IAF) has completed the process of training its personnel to operate the aircraft.
On the 18th of July, the first batch of Indian C295 pilots completed their training at Airbus’ Seville facility. Head of the C295 India programme, Jorge Tamarit said that six IAF pilots and 20 technicians have been trained at the Seville facility in Southern Spain. He added that another 18 pilots and 60 technicians will be trained at the Seville facility, next year.
First batch of Indian C295 pilots complete training in Seville, Spain. Meanwhile, groundbreaking ceremony of the C295 training facility in Agra happened recently. Will be ready by late next year. Detailed reports on the Made-in-India Tata/Airbus C295 program soon on @IndiaToday. pic.twitter.com/y7t3WYz9DA
It is important to note that Airbus Defence and Space’s facility in Seville is the final assembly line (FAL) for the C295 medium transport aircraft.
As per Senior Airbus officials, Indian Air Force (IAF) crews will carry out acceptance trials of India’s first C295 medium transport aircraft in early September at the Seville facility. Once accepted, the IAF will take delivery of the aircraft and fly it back to India.
With this, the IAF will receive India’s first C-295 transport aircraft around 45 days from now. As planned, a four-member crew will fly the first aircraft to India. It will include two IAF pilots who will be assisted by an Airbus pilot and a flight engineer.
Earlier, in May 2023, the first C295 aircraft made for India completed its maiden flight. The second aircraft is currently in the final assembly line at Airbus’s Seville facility. It is expected that it will be delivered to IAF in May 2024.
It is notable that in September 2021, the defence ministry approved a Rs 21,935-crore contract with Airbus to acquire 56 C295MW aircraft. After the completion of the deal, IAF will become the world’s largest operator of the C295 aircraft. The aircraft acquisition was done so that C295s can replace the ageing fleet of IAF’s Avro-748 planes which began their services in the early 1960s.
As part of the contract, the first 16 C295s will be built in the Seville facility. They will be delivered to the IAF in the flyaway condition from Spain.
The officials highlighted that all 56 aircraft will be equipped with an indigenous electronic warfare suite, developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Limited. BEL has supplied the radar warning receiver and the missile approach warning system, while BDL has provided the countermeasure dispensing system.
As per the contract, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus are jointly executing the programme. This will mark a significant shift for the Make in India programme as it will be the first time that the private consortium will lead an aircraft manufacturing enterprise in the country. Till now, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) had a total monopoly on the manufacturing of military aircraft.
According to another senior Airbus official, Jorge Madrid, the main constituent assembly for the C295 in Hyderabad, established by Tata Advanced Systems, will manufacture and assemble the parts of the C-295 aircraft. These parts will then be sent to the Vadodara plant. And this final assembly line in Vadodara will be operational in November 2024. Its foundation stone was laid by PM Modi in October 2022 and it was set up by the consortium of Tata and Airbus. Similarly, a training centre for C295 crews will be ready in Agra next year.
The final assembly line in Vadodara, India will be the first one outside Spain. It will have a capacity of manufacturing 12 aircraft per year. As per Airbus officials, it will be operated by Tata with the same standards as the C295 final assembly line in its Seville facility.
As per specifications, the C295 aircraft can carry up to nine tonnes of payload or 71 personnel or 45 paratroopers. It has a maximum speed of 480 kmph. It can also operate from short or unprepared airstrips. It also has a rear ramp to para-drop troops and cargo.
Apart from the 56 planes already ordered, the C295 facility in Vadodara will have the capacity to fulfill the Indian military’s additional needs and handle export orders.
According to officials, the Airbus-Tata consortium is in talks with the defence ministry to meet the requirements of nine aircraft for the Navy and six aircraft for the coast guard.
The project will significantly enhance India’s aerospace ecosystem and create 15,000 highly skilled and 10,000 direct jobs. The Airbus-Tata partnership has already identified over 125 domestic MSME suppliers located in seven states.
Manipur’s Meitei community is planning to review the merger agreement with India after 74 years since its signing in 1949. A leader of Meitei FAMBEI, an assembly of the Meitei population reportedly said that the ongoing conflict is a fallout of the divide-and-rule policy which was adopted by the Indian government in Manipur years ago.
The leader of the Meiteri FAMBEI body, Ningthouja Lancha criticised the Central government’s failure to recognise Manipur’s political issues and framing them as mere law and order problems. This comes in the backdrop of the repeated requests by the community to seek ST status which has fallen on deaf ears.
Lancha said that Manipur’s challenges are not merely internal but are also rooted in geopolitical situations developing out of closeness with Myanmar and China. He said that there is an urgent need to bring back life to community living and politics to safeguard society and its future.
Lancha added that the decisions taken in this regard at the Leikai/Khul (locality in Manipuri) level will be considered at a higher level. He said that at an assembly of the adult Meitei Population, Meitei FAMBEI will review the merger agreement signed with the Union of India.
Meanwhile, a similar demand has been raised by the female traders in violence-hit Manipur. A protest was organised under the aegis of the Manipur Women Convention in Imphal’s Ima market demanding a review of the merger agreement.
Female traders from Manipur’s Meitei community stage protest (Source: India Times)
“Enforce the law of the land at Tengnoupal, Churachandpur, and Kangpokpi,” “Deploy state forces at Moreh,” “Stop using Indian security forces against the Meiteis,” and “Go back Assam Rifles” were the demands raised in the protest.
This comes two days after a march was conducted by Meitei women on 17th July who walked with torches and formed human chains taking to the streets of Imphal. The community has been questioning the government over its handling of the situation.
Manipur was hit by violence in May following a rally by tribal communities, particularly Kuki tribes against the demand and support for demand by Meiteis for Scheduled Tribe status.
The merger agreement
While most of India gained independence from the British on 15th August 1947, several states and regions joined the union later. Manipur was one of such states. During the British rule in India, Manipur was a British Protectorate. It became a Protectorate in 1824 after repeated Burmese invasions during the rule of King Gambhir Singh. After Gambhir Singh, several kings ruled Manipur, similar to how princely states were run by kings in various regions of India during the British Raj.
When the British left India in 1947, Manipur became an ‘independent’ state, ruled by Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh, however, this lasted for a short period. On 11 August 1947, the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession introduced by India, under which it became an independent state, except for matters related to defence, external affairs and communication which were handed over to the Union of India. The state had its own constitution.
However, in 1949, the Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh signed a Merger Agreement with the Union of India on 21 September 1949, which became effective on 15 October that year. The agreement said, “His Highness the Maharajah of Manipur hereby cedes to the Dominion Government full and exclusive authority, jurisdiction and powers for and in relation to the governance of the State and agrees to transfer the administration of the State to the Dominion Government on the fifteenth day of October 1949.”
According to the agreement, Manipur merged with India as a Part C State, becoming a centrally ruled territory, and the assembly was resolved. It is alleged by some that Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh was coerced into signing the merger agreement.
Manipur was made a union territory in 1963, the assembly and council of ministers were established in 1963, and it got full statehood in 1972.
What does the World Meetei Council say on the issue?
World Meetei Council’s (WMC) Secretary General, Yambem Arun Meetei in an exclusive conversation with OpIndia said that the classification of Meitei community as General, OBC, SC as per the Hindu caste system is a serious mistake. “Our conversion to Hinduism in the 18th century made us Aryans is not true. Therefore all the Meetei should be included in ST list, not in General, not in OBC, not in Scheduled Caste.” he said.
When asked why he thinks Kukis are against giving ST status to Meiteis, the (WMC) Secretary General said, “Chin-Kuki-Zomi are immigrants in Manipur. And immigrants according to the law cannot be ST.” Yambem Arun Meetei said that the Kukis should be grateful to Manipur for giving them citizenship. “They should respect the law of the land. The fact is their homeland is Myanmar,” he said.
Sharing further details about the Chikumi tribes, Yambem said that the Chin-Kuki-Zomi tribes originally belonged to the neighbouring Burma/Myanmar’s Chin state and Sagaing division. “They first came to Manipur in the 18th century. According to the accounts recorded by the British and also by the Meetei king’s record, Cheitharol Kumpaba. Even today the majority of Chin-Kuki-Zomi live in Myanmar. In the last Myanmarese parliament there were two members of parliament from among them. Therefore it can be safely said that Meetei and Chin-Kuki-Zomi have been living together for the last three centuries but 70 percent of the present population of them have migrated to Manipur after 1950,” he said.
When asked if he thinks religion has a role to play in the conflict along with ethnicity, Yambem said religion doesn’t have much to do with it. He said, “It’s a clash between the Meetei people’s aspiration for a peaceful Manipur and the dream of a Kukiland planned by immigrant Chin-Kuki-Zomi people. They also claim to be Jewish descendants and some thousands have already migrated to Israel, records of which are available in the home ministry, government of India.”
He said that the Indian government can deliver justice by including the Meetei in the list of Scheduled Tribes first. “Meetei community is seriously urging the centre to do justice. In their own home state Meetei are not rightful citizens as Meetei are put in the general category because of our Hindu religion because our Hinduism do not allow us to be ST. The choice is between our survival and our Hindu religion. This is damaging. This Meetei cannot take it any more,” Yambem concluded.
The history of Meiteis
WMC Secretary General shared in great details the ancestry of the Meitei community of Manipur. He said, “Pakhangpa, the younger son of the Supreme God Sidapa Mapu and his wife Leimalen Sidapi, had seven sons named KHUMAN, MANGANG, LUWANG, ANGOM, KHAPA-NGANPA, MOILANG and SALANG-LEISHANGTHEM who became the progenitors of Meiteis – SALAI TARET that is, the Seven clans of Meetei people. Thus all Meiteis belong to the Seven Clans. In other words Meetei are the descendants of seven clans.
Meitei is a sports lover community of Manipur which contributes to India’s Sports. According to the Meitei mythology, there was a Supreme God known as Sidapa Mapu and his wife Leimalen Sidapi. They had two sons, Sanamahi and Pakhangpa. Between the two, Sanamahi was the elder. When the Supreme God Sidapa Mapu decided that the time has come to hand over his responsibility to one of his sons, he said he will give the responsibility to the one who can go around the world seven times first.
So, the elder son Sanamahi, who is stronger, had started to go around the world seven times. After he had completed the seven rounds, he returned to his father Sitapa Mapu but to his shock, found his younger brother Pakhangpa sitting on the throne to be the protector. A war was about to begin but Sidapa Mapu, the Supreme God, arrived in time and he told his elder son Sanamahi how he had to give the throne to his younger brother because their mother had told his younger brother, who was not as strong as the elder brother, that going around the throne of their father, the Supreme God, is equal to going around the earth.
Therefore their father, the Supreme God, had persuaded Sanamahi to accept what had happened. But he said to his elder son that from “today you will be the king for every home”, and Sanamahi agreed. Till today every Meitei Home worships Sanamahi as the God who takes care of every Meetei Home. Thus Pakhangpa, the second son, is the protector of the human world.
