CRPF: A Phone Call Changed the Route of 200 Armored Vehicles, Vehicles Going from Jammu-Kashmir to Manipur Reached Bengal The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) reportedly altered the route of 200 bulletproof armored vehicles originally destined for Manipur, redirecting them to West Bengal amid preparations for the state’s legislative assembly elections. The shift, attributed to a direct phone call from Delhi, has raised questions about the logistics and security protocols involved in moving such a large convoy. The vehicles, part of the CRPF’s Marksmen armored units, were initially scheduled to travel from Jammu-Kashmir to Manipur but were rerouted to Bengal to ensure voter safety during the polls. The decision to change the route came after a controversial statement by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who claimed during a rally that 200 CRPF armored vehicles were being sent to Bengal to “attack” the state. Banerjee’s remarks, which were widely criticized by BJP leaders, prompted an urgent reassessment of the convoy’s destination. According to sources, a high-ranking Delhi official contacted CRPF authorities to redirect the vehicles to Bengal, bypassing the standard operational procedures typically required for such movements. The CRPF’s standard operating procedures (SOP) for deploying armored vehicles involve meticulous planning, including determining the number of vehicles, assigning drivers, specifying command structures, and outlining stoppages along the route. However, in this case, the rerouting was reportedly executed swiftly without formal documentation, highlighting the urgency of the situation. The vehicles were then deployed to various parts of West Bengal, with instructions to position them in Siliguri to support election security efforts.#mamata_banerjee #west_bengal #manipur #jammu_kashmir #crpf
Manipur unrest: Two children killed in bomb attack; 4 injured as angry mob storms security camp in Bishnupur Two children were killed and their mother injured in a bomb attack in Manipur’s Bishnupur district on April 7, 2026, sparking widespread protests and violence. The incident occurred at around 1 a.m. when suspected militants hurled a bomb at a house in Moirang Tronglaobi, a region that has seen frequent gunfighting during the ethnic conflict between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups in 2023 and 2024. The blast killed a 5-year-old boy and a six-month-old girl, while their mother sustained injuries. The attack triggered a violent response from locals, who stormed a security forces camp located approximately 200 meters from Tronglaobi. Protesters vandalized the camp, set vehicles on fire, and engaged in a gunfight with security personnel, resulting in at least four injuries. The violence escalated as crowds torched oil tankers, trucks, and tyres near petrol pumps, with protests spreading to Imphal. Demonstrators blocked roads in Imphal East and West districts, halting vehicle movement and burning tyres in front of police stations. Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh condemned the attack as a “barbaric act” and an “outright assault on humanity,” vowing to identify and prosecute those responsible. He visited a private hospital in Imphal to check on the injured mother of the victims, emphasizing the government’s commitment to protecting citizens and maintaining peace. “Such acts of terror will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” he stated, urging unity against those seeking to disrupt societal harmony. The incident followed a police bomb squad defusing a locally made mortar shell in Bishnupur. Authorities also recovered an explosive device in a nearby area of Tronglaobi. Local NPP MLA Th.#manipur #bishnupur #meiteis #kuki_zo #y_khemchand_singh
Caught in a time warp: Northeast India’s legacy of Yandaboo Treaty February 24 marked the 200th anniversary of the Treaty of Yandaboo, a pivotal moment in the history of Northeast India. This treaty, signed between the British and the Burmese after the first Anglo-Burmese War, formally ended the occupation of the region by Ava (Burma) under King Bagyidaw. The agreement not only concluded a period of brutal control over the Ahom (Assam) and Manipur kingdoms but also initiated the British takeover of the region and later, Burma itself. The treaty’s terms required Burma to cede Assam and Manipur, territories it had occupied for over seven years, a period remembered as the "Chahi Taret Khuntakpa" in Manipur and the "Manar Upadrab" in Assam. Following the treaty, Assam was annexed and integrated into the British Bengal province, while Manipur and other principalities like Tripura remained as protectorate princely states. Burma’s annexation by Britain occurred in three phases: Arakan and Tenasserim were absorbed after the treaty, Lower Burma including Rangoon was annexed in 1852, and the entire country was taken over in 1885. Scholars note that only the first annexation was a genuine war, while the latter two were strategic moves to expand British control. The Treaty of Yandaboo’s legacy persists in the administrative and socio-economic structures of Northeast India. The British introduced a system that divided the region into two distinct zones: the directly administered revenue plains and the "wild" mountains, which were left unadministered except for occasional punitive actions. This led to the creation of the "Inner Line" in Assam under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873, a boundary that separated "administered" areas from "unadministered" or "excluded" regions.#assam #manipur #british #burmese #treaty_of_yandaboo
Bank Branches Closed Today in Multiple Indian States Bank branches across several Indian states will remain closed on March 19 due to local festivals such as Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, Telugu New Year, and Sajibu Nongmapanba. These holidays, which mark cultural and traditional celebrations, will result in the closure of financial institutions in states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir. The observance of these festivals reflects the diverse heritage of India, with each region honoring its unique customs. While banks in the listed states will be unavailable for transactions, branches in other parts of the country will operate as usual. Customers are advised to confirm their local holiday schedules in advance to avoid inconvenience, such as missed payments or unnecessary trips to closed branches. This precaution ensures smoother financial planning during the festive period.#karnataka #maharashtra #india #telangana #manipur
Civilians held captive, fresh tension in Manipur’s Ukhrul Fresh tension erupted in Manipur’s Ukhrul district after an alleged Kuki group reportedly detained 18 Nagas, including women and children, on March 11, 2026. The incident occurred when the hostages were traveling in three vehicles—two private cars and a commercial carrier—along National Highway 202, also known as the Ukhrul-Imphal Road. Their vehicles were stopped at Thawai Kuki village in the Shangkai area. The captives, some of whom were en route to a wedding, were reportedly stripped of their mobile phones, leaving their families in distress. The Litan police station, which oversees the village, has faced prior violence and arson in February after a Kuki group assaulted a Naga man during an alleged drunken brawl. The conflict followed an anti-poppy cultivation drive by Naga men, who reportedly detained a Kuki poppy cultivator, sparking retaliation. It remains unclear whether the Kuki man was released. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh expressed “profound concern” over the situation and directed senior police and administrative officials to secure the release of the civilians while maintaining control in the district. He urged civil society organizations to help restore calm, appealing to those responsible for the incident to “uphold the highest traditions of humanity” and ensure the safe and unconditional release of all captives. The government assured families and the public that the matter was being treated seriously and that steps would be taken to prosecute the culprits. The Tangkhul Naga Long, the dominant Naga organization in the district, condemned the incident as a grave violation of human rights and a breakdown of law and order.#manipur #ukhrul_district #kuki_group #tangkhul_naga_long #shangkai_village_authority
