Govt holds talks with four Kuki militant outfits in Guwahati
Guwahati: The government on Thursday held a meeting with leaders of four Kuki militant outfits from Manipur, with whom it had earlier signed a Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement. The meeting took place at the Assam Police's Special Branch headquarters in Kahilipara, Guwahati, according to a senior official.
Details of the discussions were not disclosed, with all parties remaining tight-lipped about the outcome.
This development comes just two days after Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan visited Manipur, accompanied by Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Kumar Deka. During their two-day visit, they assessed the situation in the tribal-dominated districts of Kangpokpi and Churachandpur, as well as Imphal East.
On Monday, Mohan and Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla chaired a high-level meeting to review the ongoing fencing work along the 398-km India-Myanmar border and the state’s law and order situation. Officials from the civil administration, Army, paramilitary forces, and other security agencies participated in the meeting.
A Raj Bhavan official said the review included updates on border fencing, public order, and developmental initiatives. The Home Secretary also visited several relief camps and took stock of the conditions of those displaced by the ongoing violence.
Last month, several MLAs and leaders from the Kuki-Zo communities held a meeting in Guwahati, urging the Centre to resume talks with the Kuki outfits under the SoO pact.
The United Peoples’ Front and the Kuki National Organisation—two umbrella groups of 23 underground outfits—had signed the Suspension of Operation agreement with the Centre on 22 August 2008. Currently, 2,266 Kuki cadres are housed in various designated camps across Manipur. The agreement was signed when the Congress was in power in the state.
Since May 2023, ethnic clashes between the Imphal Valley-based Meitei community and the hill-based Kuki-Zo groups have claimed over 260 lives and displaced thousands.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Mangaluru: Man sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment in POCSO case
Mangaluru: A court in Mangaluru has sentenced a 44-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
According to Deccan Herald, the Additional District and Sessions Judge, FTSC-II (POCSO), Maanu K S, delivered the judgment.
The convict has been identified as Dayanand Moolya (44).
According to Special Public Prosecutor Sahana Devi Boloor, the incident occurred on November 16, 2025, when a seven-year-old girl was studying alone at home and the accused illegally entered the house and raped her. He threatened to kill her and throw her into a well if she revealed it to anyone.
The survivor later informed her mother, following which a complaint was registered at Mulki Police Station on November 22. Police Inspector Manjunath B S investigated the case and submitted the charge sheet to the court.
For the rape, under POCSO Section 6, along with Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act 65(2) and POCSO 4(2), the man has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 30,000. For illegal entry into the house, under BNS Section 332(B), the convict has been sentenced to three years of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000. For issuing death threats, under BNS Section 351(3), he has been sentenced to two years of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000.
The court also directed payment of Rs 4 lakh as compensation to the survivor, including Rs 40,000 from the fine amount, and instructed the District Legal Services Authority to provide the remaining Rs 3.60 lakh.
