Month: July 2013

A journallist family members are now at the receiving end after the journalist had published one incident where a hunter in Ukhrul district had killed a Himalayan Griffon vulture last year.
Ukhrul District Journalists Union (UDJU) alleged that the elder brother of a journalist was harassed again by a hunter who ( hunter) was punished for his illegal hunting under Wild Life (Protection) Act of India.
“At around 10:30 am Monday, one Ngaraipam Shimray physically harassed Hongprao Shimray, the elder brother of journalist Pamreiso Shimray for his report at the Imphal based English daily Hueiyen Lanpao “Rare Birds sighted in kamjong range begin to fall prey to locals” December 15, 2012,” the UDJU said.
According to the UDJU, the story was reported following the killing of Himalayan Griffon vulture by Ngaraipam Shimray. Himalayan Griffon vulture is considered an endangered bird under the Wild Life (Protection) Act.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/scribe-harassed-at-ukhrul/

The Federation of All Tribal Youth Clubs, Manipur (FATYCM) has shot off a letter to the Prime Minister on Monday lodging a protest against the demand for inclusion of the Meitei in the Scheduled Tribes status list of the Indian Constitution.
In the letter to the Prime Minister, the tribal youth federation has also raised a demand for a separate state for the tribals of Manipur to avoid potential social-political conflict in the state.
There have been news reports published in the local media recently, saying that the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh had agreed in principle to give ST status to the Meitei within the Constitution if recommended by the state assembly, the memorandum said.
It said the news, if true, is very disturbing and dangerous that it could disturb the socio-political issues of the region beyond redemption.
Tribals of Manipur are indigenous people and were never a part of the Meitei hegemony in the valley which was ruled by several kings, it said.
Until the British colonial Government annexed the tribal areas, tribals were independent, had their traditional customs, culture, polity and lived like the ancient Greek City States in the hill-tops of the mountains, it said, adding that even after the Britishers arrived, the colonial rulers left the tribals to themselves except collecting house tax of Rs 3 per year as a sign of their subjects and this system continued till India attained her independence.
It further added that the tribals of Manipur were never under the direct relationship with the Meitei kings, but they were merged to the valley without their consent when India got its independence.
The tribals or hill men of the current state of Manipur were neither a party to the Merger Agreement that culminated in its amalgamation into the Indian Union in 1949-50, it added.
It alleged that the Meitei, the majority community in Manipur, has exploited the simple tribal people of the state socially, economically and politically.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/fatycm-opposes-making-meitei-st/

Imphal Jul 29 MNS/UNA : The oath taking ceremony of Dr Ashwani Kumar as Governor of Manipur on Monday was boycotted by scribes in Manipur after they were humiliated by the CRPF personnel guarding the Imphal Raj Bhavan.
Kumar who is the Governor of Nagaland was today sworn in as Governor of Manipur. He will look after the charge of Governor of Manipur until the Centre appointed a full-fledged Governor of Manipur.
The Nagaland Governor was given the additional charge of Manipur Governor to fill up the post which was lying after the tenure of Gurbachan Jagat expired on July 22 last.
Kumar who arrived at Imphal yesterday from Kohima was administered the oath of office by chief justice of Manipur High Court, Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre.
However, the ceremony was boycotted by the scribes after those who went to cover the oath taking ceremony at the Raj Bhavan were humiliated by the CRPF personnel detained at the entrance gate of the Bhavan by not allowing them to proceed beyond the gate.
The journalists went for the news coverage after getting invitation from state chief secretary DS Poonia to attend the said function.
However, disrespecting the invitation card produced by the scribes, the CRPF personnel disallowed them from entering the Raj Bhavan.
An emergency meeting of the editors of all local dailies and standing committee members of All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) held at Manipur Press Club discussed the development. While vehemently condemned the attitudes of the security personnel, resolved to draw the attention of pertinent authorities to look into the matter and takes up necessary action.
Noting down the matter seriously, the meeting further resolved to boycott the carrying the news regarding the oath taking ceremony.
AMWJU’s general secretary, in a press note, maintained that this was not the first instance of humiliating the scribes who were on duty by the law enforcing and security agencies. He further urged the concerned authority not to repeat such act in future.
Interestingly, the incident took place barely a day after a one-day seminar cum workshop on relationship between police and media held at Imphal has mooted that better cooperation between law enforcing agencies like police and scribe fraternity to serve public interest.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/scribes-boycott-oath-taking-ceremony-of-ashwani-kumar-as-governor/

Imphal Jul 29 UNA : The Manipur People’s Party (MPP) Monday demanded a procurement policy to buy paddy crops from the farmer of Manipur by the state and Union Government and also fixed the rate of it before the implementation of Food Security Scheme.
The party said that farmers work very hard while growing paddy crop. But due to usage of fertilizers in large quantity in the last few years, soil of paddy fields is captivated by it. But now farmers are not able to produce the expected amount due to scarcity of fertilizers.
In this situation how would the government distribute food grain at the rate of Rs 1, 2 and 3, the party asked demanding that the state government should give a clear cut report to the people of Manipur, the party demanded.
If the government failed to give a clear cut report and do not procure the paddy from the local farmers, it has to be replaced by the food grains from other states. This would deteriorate the dignity of labor of the farmers of the state.
At last the field would be owned by rich people and the other businessmen. The people of Manipur would suffer a lot when the scheme ends.
The party further alleged that the Food Security Scheme which is going to be implemented only in the states where Congress government was a bias scheme.
Meanwhile, Manipur government was reportedly planning to launch the scheme in Manipur from August 20 next, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi.
The scheme would be implemented in three selected districts of the state as first phase, an official source said.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/manipur-to-implement-food-security-bill-from-august-20/

IMPHAL, July 29 NNN : Police today claimed to have cracked the L Sanjoy murder case after three accused in the case were arrested and taken into its custody.
On Monday, the accused were paraded before the media at Lamphel Police Station, Imphal West district. Officer-in-Charge of the police station, N Ingocha while brifing the media identified the trio as  Kongkham Tomba, 33, son of late K Bheigyachandra of Nambol Kongkhgam Leikai, Sagolsem Raju, 39, son of S Nanda of Moirang Sribon, also in Bishnupur district and Lairellakpam Jackey, 38, son of late L Ningthem of Lamlai Maning Leikai in Imphal West.
OC Ingocha said the trio was close friends of Sanjoy and the four worked together for more than one decade as daily wage earners and they also worked as rickshaw pullers. The accused had been staying at Chingmeirong Yenkhoiba Keithel Sang here while the victim, hailing from Mayang Imphal Kokchai Maning Leikai, was staying at Mantripukhri in a rented house, he said.
On July 21 night when Sanjoy was found dead, the four, who were drunk, had a brawl which resulted in the death of Sanjoy, the OC said. He said the scuffle took place after the accused refused to give a rickshaw to the victim for returning home. Kongkham Tomba hit on his head with  a iron chain fixed in a key, Ingocha said.
Locals of the area came out to intervene when the fighting was still going on following which Sanjoy left the spot walking alone, but succumbed on his way near Chingmeirong Oil Pump that night, he added.
He said the case will be handed over to Imphal Police Station as the site where the incident occurred is under the jurisdiction of this police station.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/sanjoy-murder-case-solved/