Day: December 29, 2012

Imphal, Dec 29: A committee formed to enquire into the killing of journalist K. Dwijamani @ Nanao held a sitting today at South block Secretariat at the chamber of Principal secretary (Home) . It was the final meeting, before submitting its report on December 31 to the Government of Manipur
Till now the committee has taken statements from three police personnel, nine Village Defence Force (VDF), three journalists and two civilians who were present at the time of the incident added official source.
In t today’s sitting a post mortem report of Nanao was also examined by the committee, apart from this the three members visited the for the third time the site of occurence.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/committee-on-killing-journalist-will-submit-report-by-dec-31/

IMPHAL, Dec 29 NNn: Hundreds of people staged sit-ins at two different places in Imphal on Saturday demanding arrest of Livingstone, a self-styled Lt Col of NSCN-IM involved in the alleged assault or molestation case of film actress Kh Momoko at a musical event at Chandel recently.
Film Forum Manipur, Manipur State Shumang Leela Council in teaming up with various social organizations organized sit-in protests in front of the office of FFM, Lamphel and Uripok Khaidem Leikai.
A large number of people participated at the demonstrations. The protests were organized as part of the agitation spearhead by FFM and MSSLC in collaboration with various NGOs in the state demanding justice in the molestation case of film artiste Momoko.
L Surjakanta, president, FFM while talking to reporters on the sidelines of the demonstration organized in front of the office of FFM, said the state Government should not take such democratic form of agitation for granted as the NGOs may take up further intense agitation over the issue.
The sit-in protest organized at Uripok Khaidem Leikai was also participated by a large number of locals from Uripok Huidrom Leikai.
Taking part at the demonstration, RK Sanahanbi, president Kanglei Ima Lup, strongly condemned the incident and urged the Government to book the NSCN-IM member without any delay. In the same spirit, she also condemned the Napet Palli incident wherein a girl was reportedly molested by three people urging the Government to punish the culprits.
The ceasefire pact signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM should be revoked immediately, she demanded and termed the ceasefire agreement as a consent given by the Central Government to the Naga outfit to unleash crimes against civilians.
All the NSCN-IM camps in Manipur that is not covered by the ceasefire agreement should be demolished, she further demanded while appealing to every section of the society not to use women as their soft target to take vengeance.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/sit-in-protest-continues/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Dec 29: Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who holds home portfolio appealed to all to imbibe sacrificial spirit of the freedom fighters of the state and work for making Manipur strong and united.
Speaking at the sideline of the celebration of 156th birth anniversary of Bir Tikendrajit at Congress Bhavan today he said Tikendrajit and others died while fighting for protection of the princely state. As a part of the celebration of the 125th foundation day of Congress party PCC has celebrated birth anniversary of great freedom fighter of the state. Rani Gaidinliu is another freedom fighter whose birthday will also be celebrated by the PCC. Her birthday falls on January 26. She also fought against the Britishers and landed in jail for 14 years.
As we celebrate the birth anniversary of great leaders of the state we are reminded the sacrificial spirit with which they fought for protecting the princely state. We all must show respect to the freedom fighters of the state so that the young generation will feel the need for making a strong and powerful state.
Earlier Chief Minister O. Ibobi led the Congress leaders and workers in offering floral tributes to the photograph of the martyr.
When Gaikhangam was told whether the dissidents within the party were trying to put wedge between him and the Chief Minister by making wild allegation that the Union Home Minister had asked Chief Minister to control him, he said the campaign will not be successfully. He added he and the Chief Minister were working cohesively extending cooperation to each other.
Asked about the crime against women he said laws need to be amended to deal with the perpetrators of the crime effectively. The tormentors acted like devils, he also said.
Asked about frequent imposition of bandh on national highway roads, he said more security personnel are required to protect national highway. The state Government is contemplating to recruit about 200 police constables. The security personnel being appointed will be used in the protection of villages and national highway, he added.
He said the number of security personnel is so low that even an SP has only 50 or 60 constables under his command.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/gaikhangam-appeals-to-all-to-imbibe-sacrificial-spirit-of-great-leaders/

IMPHAL, Dec 29 NNN: State Cabinet has on Saturday approved to recruit wife of TV journalist Th Dwijamani as a Government Primary School teacher, apart from paying Rs 5 lakh to the next of kins of the scribe as compensation.
The approval was given during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi held at the CM’s Secretariat here, Government spokesperson minister M Okendro told the media after the meeting at the New Secretariat. The Cabinet meeting also approved appointment of 122 different posts in the department of Consumers Affairs Food & Public Distribution (CAF &PD) on contract basis under an Rs 30 crore project. The Cabinet took this decision with an aim to ensure PDS items directly reach at the doors of every beneficiary, Okendro said.
He said a total of 64 light vehicles equipped with GPRS will be procured which will be used in distributing PDS items to ensure transparency in the distribution system in the state.
Th Narmada, wife of late TV journalist Dwijamani will be appointed as a Government Primary School teacher as approved by the state Cabinet during Saturday’s meeting and another Rs 5 lakh will also be given to the next of kin as compensation, the Government spokesperson announced.
Dwijamani was killed in a police firing incident that took place during the recent unrest in Manipur sparked after the alleged molestation incident of film artist Kh Momoko at Chandel headquarters.
Saying that complaints have been receiving about PDS items being used badly in the last 17 years in Manipur, Okendro stated that Justice Wadhwa Commission instituted by the Central Government had conducted investigation into the alleged misuse of PDS items in the state by politicians in cahoots with militants.
The state Government, therefore, is planning to take up an Rs 30 crore to ensure PDS items to reach at every door of every beneficiary, Okendro added, informing another 122 posts in the department of CAF & PD will be recruited on contract basis as part of the project.
The Cabinet meeting further decided service period extension of two years for National Awardee teachers while one year for the State Awardees, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/dwijamanis-wife-to-be-given-job-as-primary-teacher-rs-5-lakhs-ex-gratia/

IMPHAL, Dec 29 (MNS/ UNA): Tension runs high at Kamjong in Ukhrul district as the dead bodies of the two hunters lie in state amidst series of meetings carried out by all the frontal organisations of Ukhrul districts.
The dead bodies of K. Kuma (48) and Ramshang (40), both from Kongkan village will be taken to Ukhrul district on Sunday morning and will be followed by a public meeting.
The two hunters were killed by gunmen yesterday.
Meanwhile, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) president Yangmi Kapai said though tension is running high, they are appealing for calm.
“We are appealing everyone to restraint themselves from indulging in any violent activity,” said Yangmi Kapai. He said the situation has been going tense in the aftermath of the indefinite bandh in the valey districts on the Chandel incident. “Yesterday’s killing incident has added fuel in the fire,” the TKS chief stated.
The proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) said that the two hunters at Ukhrul district were killed when its MPA (Manipur People’s Army) cadres fired mistaking them as Assam Rifles personnel and requested the people, particularly Tangkhul community to pardon the outfit for the mistake.
Terming the incident of killing the two innocent villagers as most shocking incident, a statement of the UNLF signed by its senior publicity officer Ksh Yoheiba clarified that cadres of its armed wing MPA had mistakenly fired at them.
Cadres of MPA who were taking position to lay an ambush on the troopers of Assam Rifles, stationed at Konkan, which is located around 3 km from the area where the two innocent villagers were killed for two days. On the second day, MPA cadres saw some people in combat dress approaching towards the place where they were taking position to ambush the AR troopers.
As evening approached, the visibility was poor and thinking that they were “Indian Occupational Force (IOF)”, the MPAs opened fire at them only to confirm later as innocent villagers K Kumar and K Ramsung.
After confirming them as innocent villagers, MPAs cadres offered apology for the mistaken with a request to forgive them . They (MPA cadres) further led them to the way leading to their village and departed for their based camp unhappily with disappointment, the statement said.
MPA cadres involved in the incident passed the information to the “radio” but they were yet to report to their unit. After their arrival at their unit and investigation into the incident, UNLF would take up appropriate action against them, the statement assured.
The mistake was committed by a team of MPA but UNLF’s Central Committee owned the responsibility and shared the shocks and pain being suffered by the families of the deceased, the statement said.
The UNLF requested the Tankgkhul community to forgive the outfit for the “big mistake” and calm down, the statement requested, urging the outfit to give a chance to help the families of the deceased to bring up their children.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/unlf-seeks-pardon-protests-at-ukhrul-over-killing-of-two-persons/