Flashback 2014: Irom Sharmila, Mary Kom keep Manipur in news

Imphal, Dec 22: Militant activities including blasts on Republic Day, Irom Sharmila's fast entering the 15th year and boxer MC Mary Kom winning an Asiad gold kept Manipur in news in 2014.

Though there was some decline in militant activities, nevertheless 13 civilians including 5 non-Manipuris were either killed by unidentified gunmen or in bomb explosions.

Five militants were killed by Assam Rifles in separate encounters while one Assam Rifle personnel was killed by unidentified militants during the year. Altogether 63 cadres of different militant organisations surrendered before the government.

A member of the Autonomous District Council was shot dead by unknown persons on July 11, while he was going from Imphal to Ukhrul district. Congress won both the Lok Sabha seats in Manipur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Manipur in November for the first time after he assumed the office to attend the famous Sangai Festival. Sangai is a rare species of brow- antlered deer available only at Keibullamjao National Park in Bishenpur district.

K K Paul was sworn in as governor on September 15 replacing V K Duggal. An attack on an Assam Rifles post near Myanmar border and four explosions marred Republic Day celebrations in the state.

Two personnel of the 21 AR - a Major-rank officer and a rifleman - were injured in the attack, but no casualty was reported in the explosions.

August saw high drama as civil rights activist Irom Chanu Sharmila was re-arrested by police, two days after she was released on court orders, on fresh charges of attempt to commit suicide and remanded in judicial custody.

42-year-old Sharmila was forcibly taken away to the Jawahar Lal Nehru Hospital from a makeshift shelter near it where she was continuing her 14-year-old fast demanding repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). On November 6, her fast entered the 15th year.

Sit-in- protests, hunger strike and demonstrations joined by students, civil society organisations and human rights activists were held in Manipur on that day to express solidarity with the activist.

Boxer M C Mary Kom brought laurels to the country as well as Manipur when she won a gold medal in the Incheon Asiad. A biopic of hers directed by debutant Omung Kumar and co-produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali was released in September.

However, there was no screening of the Priyanka Chopra- starrer biopic in theatres in Manipur where there is a "ban" by insurgency outfits.

PTI