Manipur is a Northeastern state of India which shares its boundaries with Nagaland, Mizoram and Assam on three sides and Sagaing Region of Myanmar on the remaining. A part of the seven sisters, its name translates to jewelled land. The strategic location of Manipur has enabled it to be a junction of cultural and economic exchange between Indian subcontinent, central Asia and Southeast Asia.
Initially a princely state, Manipur became a part of Indian democracy in 1947 when its monarch signed an instrument of merger with India. Imphal is the largest city of the state as well its capital.
Lying at 790m above sea level, Manipur is surrounded by hills on all its sides, as such the geography of the state consist of both types of features. It has rugged hilly terrain on the outer part of the state while mostly plains present within its enclosure. Being water surplus due to the presence of four river basins, the major crops grown are rice, orange, rubber, tea, coffee, etc with rice being the staple for the region. One of the most notable geographical features of the state is the Loktak lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in our country.
Apart from being geographically rich and strategically important, Manipur is also well known for its people who have gone on to make a mark for themselves. Notable amongst them are Irom Sharmila Chanu, a civil rights activist also known as the iron lady of Northeast, MC Mary Kom, six time world women boxing champion and most recently Saikhom Chanu Mirabai, the first silver medalist from India in weightlifting at Tokyo Olympics.
In an interview with India Today's Gaurav Sawant, strategic affairs expert Professor Brahma Chellaney addressed the controversy surrounding the release and departure of Matthew VanDyke and other foreign nationals accused of illegal activities and arms supply to Myanmar rebels. Chellaney asserted, "Under successive Indian governments, India has surrendered to external pressure," comparing the development to past episodes such as the Bhopal gas tragedy, the Purulia arms drop, and the Italian marines case. He criticized the decision to allow individuals facing serious national security allegations to exit the country on default bail, stating, "These seven men will not return to India. They have been deliberately let go free. Let's be clear on that. This case is dead. It's dead as a dodo." Furthermore, Chellaney highlighted the direct regional fallout for India's Northeast, warning that the flow of drones and weaponry to Chin rebels in Myanmar fuels Kuki insurgent groups active in the ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur.
Congress workers staged protests across several states on Friday, demanding the resignation and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid the political row over the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
This episode of Super 6 covers key national and international political developments. Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin responds to Chief Minister Vijay regarding an assembly hand gesture while recalling his 1976 detention under the MISA Act.
A memorial gathering was held in the national capital to pay tribute to a Manipuri musician who died following a mob attack. Attendees and family members gathered in solidarity to remember the artist and condemned the incident as a hate crime. Concerns were raised regarding growing violence, mob brutality, and prejudice faced by people from the Northeast, highlighting ongoing struggles and tragedies. The incident has triggered widespread outrage and renewed focus on administration accountability, safety concerns, and addressing targeted violence in the capital.
This News Today primetime special report examines major news developments across India and internationally.
A panel discussion anchored by Rajdeep examines the fatal assault on Manipuri musician Thangjam Vikram in Delhi. Rights activist Binalakshmi Nepram asserts that the attack is a clear case of racial violence rather than a routine rage crime, drawing parallels to the 2014 killing of Nido Tania. Dr Alana Golmei and Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves highlight systemic apathy, the lack of a dedicated anti-racism law, and failure to implement the Bezboruah Committee recommendations. The panel notes that out of 2,656 FIRs filed regarding crimes against people from the Northeast in Delhi between 2014 and 2026, only 33 resulted in convictions—a conviction rate of just 1.82%. Former Uttar Pradesh DGP Vikram Singh concedes the figure represents a failure of policing and calls for greater police empathy and proactive measures.
Speaking to India Today after the mob attack on 54-year-old Vikram Singh in Delhi, social activist and neighbor Sangeeta Keshom recounted how a group of eight people assaulted him outside his residence. Describing the victim as a calm artist and music lover whose family has resided in the locality since his son was in primary school, Keshom addressed the recurring racial harassment faced by people from Manipur and the Northeast in the national capital. Calling out discrimination and derogatory slurs, she stressed, "We are also Indian, so the protection the other Indians are getting, we also should get that protection." With the accused persons arrested, she demanded strict punishment to deter hate-driven attacks, urging communities and neighbors to stand united against violence.
A Manipuri musician, C. Vikram Singh, was beaten to death in Delhi, triggering massive political reactions and concerns over safety. The Manipur Chief Minister has written to the Delhi Chief Minister seeking personal intervention and demanding an expedited high-level investigation into the incident. Rahul Gandhi raised questions over law and order in the national capital, asking what the Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi Police are doing to stop lawlessness against people from the Northeast. Responding to the matter, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that all eight accused involved in the fight over music and noise have been arrested and police will file a chargesheet within two weeks.
A 54-year-old Meitei musician and music teacher from Manipur, Songtham Vikram Singh, died after being brutally assaulted outside his house in Delhi. The incident occurred when Singh objected to shouting and nuisance created by delivery workers and dhaba staff. After confronting them, he was assaulted with fists and blows and later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Police have arrested eight accused, including a juvenile, with CCTV footage capturing them leaving the scene. Manipur Chief Minister Khemchand Yumnam expressed condolences over Singh's demise, highlighting his contribution to music and culture. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticised the central government over the safety of Northeast families living in the national capital and demanded stringent action against the culprits.
A 54-year-old retired music teacher from Manipur, Vikram Singh, was beaten to death in Delhi's Kilokari village after objecting to noise and commotion outside his home. The altercation involved people associated with a local dhaba and delivery personnel. The victim was rushed to Holy Family Hospital by his family, where he succumbed to his injuries. The Sunlight Colony police have registered a murder case and taken seven accused individuals into custody, including minors. Following the incident, people from the northeast community gathered outside the police station demanding strict action, while former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh condemned the attack and urged police to ensure justice.
In the Tamil Nadu biryani murder case, key accused Manikuddin Lashkar and his wife Bhagwati Maji have been arrested from Manipur's Jiribam and brought back to Tamil Nadu. The investigation began after passengers detected a stench from a red suitcase on the Tamil Nadu Express at Agra station, leading to the discovery of chopped body parts. Further probe at the accused couple's Chennai house revealed the body of 38-year-old Hayat Nisha hanging and additional body parts stored inside a biryani vessel. CCTV footage aided police in tracing the couple to Manipur. The exact motive behind the murder remains unclear as the police investigation continues.
Tamil Nadu police have arrested the prime accused in Manipur's Jiribam district in connection with the murder of a woman whose body parts were found inside a red suitcase on the Tamil Nadu Express. The case came to light after passengers at Agra Cantonment railway station reported a foul smell from an abandoned suitcase. Using CCTV footage, investigators tracked the suspect back to a rented house in Chennai, where additional dismembered body parts were recovered from a vessel used for cooking biryani. Police are investigating the motive behind the crime, while a search remains underway to trace the suspect's wife, who is also suspected of involvement in the murder.
Fresh violence erupted in Senapati district of Manipur as unknown miscreants set two houses on fire, triggering an exchange of heavy gunfire. One of the torched houses belonged to a member of the Kuki community and the other to the Naga community. During the firefight with unidentified gunmen, CRPF personnel Pradeep Singh of the 36th Battalion sustained a bullet injury to his left foot and was evacuated to Senapati Hospital for treatment. Following the clash, security officials deployed additional forces to sanitize the area, prevent further escalation, and bring the situation under control.
Protests and nightly torch rallies have intensified across valley districts in Manipur as civil society organisations demand the implementation of the National Register of Citizens prior to Census 2027. Demonstrators cite concerns over undocumented migration, demographic shifts, and upcoming delimitation exercises. A 48-hour strike called by local groups disrupted normal life across the region. While political parties and valley organisations back the implementation of a citizen registry, tribal councils oppose an immediate rollout, calling it premature and deepening regional fault lines.
Irom Chanu Sharmila spent nearly 16 years on a hunger strike demanding the repeal of AFSPA after the 2000 Malom Massacre in Manipur. In 2016, she ended her fast with a spoonful of honey and entered politics.
From conflict in Manipur to trials at Minerva Academy FC… to that 6–0 win over Liverpool FC Youth Team at the MIC Cup.
The big talking point of this edition of News Today is the escalating West Asia crisis as US President Donald Trump issues a fresh threat to Iran as deadline approaches.
In this edition of To The Point, the focus is on the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran and the showdown over deletion of voter's names in Bengal during the SIR exercise ahead of assembly polls.
Hours before the deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump issued a fresh threat to Iran stating 'a whole civilisation will die tonight'.
A mid-air medical emergency on a Tokyo to Delhi flight is going viral. The Manipur doctor who stepped in tells Mo what happened onboard.
