Imphal, March 18 : To keep the Manipuri culture and tradition alive the State Equestrian Championship was recently held at Manipur Polo Ground.

The 6th Director General Assam Rifles Cup was organized by the Manipur Equestrian Association under the aegis of Inspector General Assam Rifles, South.

The tournament aimed at promoting Polo in a big way.

Imphal, Mar 16 : Two militants of the People''s United Liberation Front (PULF) have been shot down in an encounter with the police in the Imphal East district in Manipur.

The local police informed on Monday that the commandos, who were patrolling the Keirao area in the district on Sunday, were been attacked by militants.

The police commandos, after the encounter, recovered a M21 rifle with six rounds of ammunition and a 9mm pistol with four live rounds from the spot.

Imphal, March 13 : Lui-Ngai-Ni, the seed sowing festival, was celebrated recently in different parts of Manipur with pomp and gaiety.

Young men and women from Anal, Chothe, Lamkang, Moyon, Monsang, Tarao and Maring Naga tribes performed folk dances and songs at the Maha Union Government High School ground.

According to the Convenor of Lui Ngai Ni Celebration committee, the festival promotes peace, harmony and the Naga culture's identity.

Imphal (Manipur), Mar 11 : A Joint Action Committee (JAC) has launched an intensive sit-in-protest over the abduction of an assistant engineer of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFCD).

Mohammed Liyaqat Ali was abducted on March 3.

JAC members along with the engineer's relatives staged the sit-in-protest before the heavily guarded Public Works Department Complex, where the IFCD is located.

Imphal : The killing of a 22-year old barber by unidentified gunmen has spared off agitation in the capital of the State.

Unidentified gunmen shot dead Suresh Thakur and Raj Kumar Choudhury at Sagolband Ingudam Leikai and Kwakeithel Bazar in Manipur recently.

It is suspected that Suresh Thakur, a 22-year-old barber was shot dead inside his hair-cutting saloon by miscreants who came to the saloon on the pretext of having a haircut.

Raj Kumar Choudhury, an 18-year-old sugarcane juice seller, was also shot dead the same day.

Leirongthel Pitra (Manipur), Mar 9 : Uncertainty and fear have gripped people in the remote villages of Thoubal District of Manipur due to constant threats by militants.

Unable to handle the situation, people have decided to leave the villages and have sought the state Government's help for protection from militants.

Leirongthel Pitra is one village in the area which has 118 households and a population of 550 . It is located about 45 kilometers away from Imphal.