October 20, 2015 – Page 3

IGAR S greetings

Major General VS Sreenivas, IG AR South and all ranks of the Assam Rifles have extended warm greetings and sincere goodwill to the people of Manipur on the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja Source Hueiyen News Service

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=32&src=211015

IGAR S greetings

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=32&src=211015

Suspected UTLA cadre killed in alleged gun-fight with SF

IMPHAL, Oct 20: Atleast one militant suspected to be of UTLA was reportedly gunned down by troops of 27 Assam Rifles in a skirmish at Kolbung Village this morning under

IMPHAL, Oct 20: Atleast one militant suspected to be of UTLA was reportedly gunned down by troops of 27 Assam Rifles in a skirmish at Kolbung Village this morning under Tousem police station, Tamenglong district.

According to official sources, following information of the presence of some valley based militants in and around Kolbung Village troops of 27 Assam Rifles surrounded the area since last night.

The Assam Rifles troops launched a search operation in the wee hour today wherein they encountered the militant suspects around 5 am and exchanged heavy gunfire, continued the sources.

While the gun fun fight lasted till 7 am, at least one militant suspect was reportedly killed in the clash.

The Assam Rifles troops also reportedly recovered an AK-47 Rifles along with some live rounds from the encounter site, the source said.

The identity of the slain militant is yet to be established till the filing of this report.

Gov halts viva voce for police constables recruitment

IMPHAL, October 20: The ongoing viva voce test for recruitment of 2000 police constables being organised at the first battalion ground at has been put on halt with immediate effect

IMPHAL, October 20: The ongoing viva voce test for recruitment of 2000 police constables being organised at the first battalion ground at has been put on halt with immediate effect by an order of the Governor of Manipur following complaints of irregularities from various quarters.

In the meantime, the Home department has decided to hold an enquiry to ascertain the alleged irregularities headed by a senior office of the government within a period of two months.

A statement issued by the Principal Secretary (Home), J.C Ramthanga, stated that it has been brought to the notice of the government that in the ongoing selection process for recruitment of 2000 police constable (Male/Female), a large number of candidates were called for viva-voice test far in excess of the ratio fixed by the Supreme Court of India, which is also reflected in an order passed by the Manipur High Court in W.P (C) No. 861 of 2015.

Subsequently, the government also received a number of complaints alleging serious irregularities in the selection process, it said adding that to allay the apprehension of the aspiring candidates, the government arrived to the decision to hold an enquiry.

It further informed that in order to facilitate holding of the enquiry, the DGP Manipur will be taking over all the papers, records and minutes of the ongoing selection process for safe custody with immediate effect and asked the chairman of the DPC, Commandant 1st Battalion, Manipur Rifles, to give full co-operation in handing over all the concerned papers, records and minutes to the DGP.

Given the above circumstances and to avoid further legal complication, it had order in public interest, that the ongoing viva-voce test was stopped immediately till further order issued by the Government, it said.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Constable (Male) Recruitment Board, Manipur, Th Radheshyam Singh, in a statement has notified that the `Viva Voce Test`™ of the successful candidates in the written test examination for the recruitment of Constable (Males) in the Manipur Police department, which was scheduled to be held with effect from October 22 to November 1 has been postponed indefinitely.

Loaded tankers to reach Imphal today

IMPHAL, October 20: Over hundred loaded oil tankers stranded in the neighbouring states along the National Highway (NH)-37 due to the 48-hour hill districts bandh imposed by the Joint Action

IMPHAL, October 20: Over hundred loaded oil tankers stranded in the neighbouring states along the National Highway (NH)-37 due to the 48-hour hill districts bandh imposed by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Kadangband, will be arriving in the state from tomorrow.

Speaking to IFP, the All Manipur Petroleum Tankers`™ Drivers`™ Union (AMPTDU) president, Bhupenchandra Gosh, said that the loaded tankers have starting their inbound journey today and will be arriving in the State by tomorrow.

At the same time, assuring that their will be no dearth of petroleum products once the tankers reached the State, he appealed to the public not to `panic`™.

He said the public have face enough hardship in the past few months to get essential commodities especially petroleum products due to frequent bandhs and blockades along the National Highways.

He also said that the public is anxious due to an announcement of economic blockade along the National Highways from October 21 midnight.

Nevertheless, he appealed to the public not to panic as the Indian Oil Corporation Limited has enough stocks to outlast the proposed 10-day long economic blockade.

Giving the stock positions of petroleum products with the IOC, the AMPTDU president said the IOC has diesel stock to last for 15 days, petrol to last 12 days and abundant stocks of kerosene, and aviation fuel.

While the oil tankers will be escorted till Imphal by the CRPF personnel from Dimapur,altogether 49 empty oil tankers including those of Bharat Petroleum, Essar and NRL etc will be leaving Imphal for Oil depots in Assam by 7:30pm.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/loaded-tankers-to-reach-imphal-today/

JAC`s total bandh ends, economic blockade likely

KANGPOKPI, October 20: The 48 hr total bandh in all hill districts of the state imposed by the Joint Action Committee against the killing of Khupneilal Neihsiel and Robert Hesei

KANGPOKPI, October 20: The 48 hr total bandh in all hill districts of the state imposed by the Joint Action Committee against the killing of Khupneilal Neihsiel and Robert Hesei Kipgen allegedly in a fake encounter by personnel of 8 AR on January 28 ended this midnight.

Meanwhile, a reliable source also said that JAC is expected to hold a joint meeting with various Kuki CSOs tomorrow for further course of its agitation, which is likely to be more intense than before while adding that indefinite economic blockade in all highways in the hill districts of the State is also likely to be discussed in the joint meeting.

Endorsed and teamed up by various Kuki CSOs including Kuki Inpi Manipur, KSO, TSA, and TYA, the 48 hr JAC total bandh completely disrupted normal life in most part of the hill districts with bringing vehicular movement to completely standstill and total shuttered of business establishments and Government institutions.

Reportedly, the JAC on Kadangband killings had been contemplated on the 48 hr total bandh to show discontentment over the failure of the state Government to table the magisterial probe report pertaining to the alleged fake encounter within the stipulated three months period.

Providentially, no problematic situation has been reported during the 48 hr JAC total bandh in any part of the hill districts even if the bandh severely derail the entire administration and normal in hill districts of the State.

Volunteers of JAC had strictly conducted read-through of exempted vehicular movement at Taphou Kuki village and Gamgiphai in Sadar Hills along the Trans Asian Highway No.1.

Interestingly, the district administrator of Senapati Jacintha Lazarus, Deputy Commissioner Senapati, who is on her way to Imphal from the DHQ was halted for more than an hour at Gamgiphai this morning at around 10 am by bandh supporters.

It is also reported that around 50 loaded trucks and more than 50 passenger vehicles including wingers, inter-state buses and private vehicles are stranded at Hengbung Composite Taxation Gate, Senapati public ground and police gate respectively.

Meanwhile, a reliable JAC source said that there is no intimate solicitation on the part of the state Government over the issue until today.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/jacs-total-bandh-ends-economic-blockade-likely/

JSCC warns students` union poll candidates against ignoring code of conduct

IMPHAL, October 20: The Joint Students`™ Coordination Committee has warned today that any candidate ignoring the election code of conduct of the Students`™ Union 2015-16 election will be asked to

IMPHAL, October 20: The Joint Students`™ Coordination Committee has warned today that any candidate ignoring the election code of conduct of the Students`™ Union 2015-16 election will be asked to withdraw their nomination and even if a candidate wins the election by ignoring the code, the candidate will be asked to resign.

Speaking to media persons at a press meet today at the AMSU Headquarter, convenor of the committee Jayentakumar Khuman said the all candidates must abide by the election code of conduct.

He also appealed to the other student organisations which are outside the ambit of the committee to respect the code of conduct.

Anyone disregarding the code of conduct will be held responsible for any untoward incident arising out of it, he said.

He said the JSCC will open a college election monitoring cell on October 24 at the Johnstone Higher Secondary School adding that anyone having any complaint on the matter can approach the cell.

Elaborating on the election code of conduct 2015-16, he said all kinds of party, picnic, cinema, charity showing support to a candidate should be cancelled and candidates should not engage in distribution of pamphlets or posters or routines.

Jayenta also said that candidates should distribute money or any other items in connection to the election and that none of the monitoring cell members could be candidate, inner agent, proposer, seconder or counting agent for the elections.

New secularism needed

To say Manipur`™s problems are intractable would be an understatement. There are too many of them, a great many of which work at cross purposes, pulling the cart in different

To say Manipur`™s problems are intractable would be an understatement. There are too many of them, a great many of which work at cross purposes, pulling the cart in different directions, ensuring in the end nothing moves. The demand for the introduction of the Inner Line Permit System and now the opposition to its introduction, are just the latest example of this lack of any common will amongst its people. Perhaps the divide is inevitable, considering the ethnic diversity, but more importantly, the different political economy each was in before the advent of the modern. The settled agriculturists, the shift cultivators, the hunter gatherers, the nomadic foragers and communities amongst whom the economy and professions have begun to diversify and take roots in the secondary sector, beyond the traditional and primary, are hardly likely to have the same outlook to land and governance. Before the advent of the modern, Manipur was all of these wrapped into one, and indeed would have counted as a typical Zomian landscape that James Scott sketched in his important but controversial, `Art of Not Being Governed: An Anarchic History of Upland South East Asia`. Scott predicts the days of Zomia is definitely numbered, implying the ultimate and inevitable replacement of this quaint and anachronistic human-scape with that the modern. If this foreboding is accurate, perhaps the turmoil places like Manipur are going through is the inevitable trauma of such a transition.

For the moment, any form of a civic identity of its citizenry seems destined to remain elusive in Manipur. Everybody, on the other hand is too stuck up with their perceived ethnic identities defined presumably and exclusive by ethnic traditions alone. Each therefore continues to choose to remain in the respective seclusion of their individual boxes, rendering any larger civic agenda redundant. By its very definition, the civic identity would have to be secular. In the context of places like Manipur, we are of the opinion that secularism should be less about separating religion from politics, but more about separating ethnicity from politics. In other words, to paraphrase and adopt respected historian Romila Thapar`™s definition of secularism, in our context it should be about giving our civic citizenship primacy over our ethnic identities in matters of routine administrative outlooks, or `governmentality` to borrow the notion made famous by Foucault. Just as religion is expected to remain in private spheres of individual citizens in a secular democratic polity, ethnicity too must. The civic and public agenda of governance must rest on issues like administrative convenience and optimisation of resource utilisation etc. After witnessing all that has been happening in Manipur in the past few months, we are inclined to believe maybe this degree of uniformity through a constitutional definition of citizenship and rights, is vital for any project to construct a secular polity to succeed.

The trouble in Manipur today is, especially in the wake of the controversy over the ILPS demand and subsequently objections to it, too may are fixated on reading too much between the lines that they have become extremely prone to miss out what are actually in print. In a secular democracy, laws are made by a set of people but these law makers do not get to interpret the law they make when it comes to their application, unlike say in a feudatory or dictatorship. The interpretation is done by another set of people in an independent institution called the judiciary, whose mandate is to weigh any piece of legislation against the fundamental tenets of the constitution and best practices in international law, if challenged. If the application of any law is found by the judiciary to contravene any of the fundamental principles of the constitution, such an application or interpretation of the law will be deemed to be ultra vires and disallowed. We also know that the appellate structure of the Indian judiciary extends right up to the Supreme Court and therefore even an individual citizen can challenge the false application or interpretation of any law via even the country`™s highest court. What we learned by rote in school that democracy is safer than any other known polity because of this separation of legislature, judiciary and executive, is reality. To doubt this would be to ask for anarchy. Again, as Friedrich Angels wrote, the State is a mechanism for surplus management. State formation therefore happens where a surplus economy emerges. In other words, states run on taxes they can collect and use, and if there are no taxes to be collected, there will be no state. But in the case of Indian provinces that we also refer to as states, this logic has been overridden especially in the case of the Northeast. The proliferation of the demand for separate states and administrations therefore has nothing to do with alternate models for tax management, but of the desire for separate begging bowls. Isn`t it time yet for issues such as these to become the focus of our intellectual deliberations?

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/new-secularism-needed/

UNC calls 48 hr bandh in hill districts

KANGPOKPI, October 20: The United Naga Council (UNC) has today decided to impose a 48 hr bandh in all the tribal districts in Manipur from midnight of October 22. The

KANGPOKPI, October 20: The United Naga Council (UNC) has today decided to impose a 48 hr bandh in all the tribal districts in Manipur from midnight of October 22.

The UNC proposed to the impose 48 hr bandh in protest against the anti-tribal bills, rules, acts and notification and against passing of infamous anti tribal 3 bills and two resolutions on August 31 by the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

The UNC said the `continuous ill treatment and anti-tribal policies`™ pursued by the government of Manipur has its manifestation in myriads form while adding that the three Bills and two resolutions passed by Manipur Legislative Assembly are draconian anti tribal and they are simply another manifestation of decades old exploitation, subjugation and suppression to the indigenous tribal people in the present state of Manipur.

It continued that the state cabinet adopted a decision to implement the Manipur Land Use Policy in 2014 in the entire state of Manipur and the State Cabinet adopted a decision to abolish the Manipur(Hill Areas)Village Authority Act,1956, in 2014, the traditional time honoured institution of the tribal people.

It further stated that the Manipur reservation of vacancies in Post and Services(for ST/SC) Acts 1976, has been kept in-operative while the `100 Point Roster`™ in reservation was replaced by `200 Point Roster`, 2007 against the wishes of the tribal.

In the name of police station boundary, more than 100 tribal villages in the foothills were amalgamated to the valley districts, UNC alleged before adding that the communal government of Manipur opposed tooth and nail the implementation of Delimitation Commission`™s Report in 2001.

The UNC also said the government of Manipur opposed tooth and nail the peaceful solution and political aspirations of the Nagas and other Tribal people.

It further said that militarization in the entire Hills/Tribal Areas where there is complete peace and normalcy under Ceasefire and Suspension of Operation (SoO) have been actively operative.

Enforcing Meitei Mayek (script) on the tribals in all the educational Institutions is also one burden,` it added.

`Any democratic form of people`™s movement in the hill/tribal areas has been crushed using live bullets to suppress the genuine political aspirations of the people,` the UNC said before adding that the `communal government` of Manipur totally opposed and denied any Constitutional Provisions of India for upliftment and protection of the tribal people.

Therefore, the demand for Separate Administration for the Nagas and tribals outside the Communal and Oppressive Government of Manipur is historically, politically and constitutionally a legitimate demand, UNC asserted.

While appealing to all the tribal people of Manipur to extend crowded co-operation and support in the proposed 48 hours bandh UNC warn that anybody who violates the democratic movement will bear the responsibility in own risk.

The UNC also urged the Government of India for its political intervention at the earliest.

PHED, electricity, medical, religious ceremony, funeral program, educational institutions and media will be exempted from the purview of the bandh.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/unc-calls-48-hr-bandh-in-hill-districts/

TNL ex-communicates Thangkhul MLAs for disregarding resignation demand

IMPHAL, October 20: The Tangkhul Naga Long has ex-communicated two Tangkhul Congress MLAs for not complying to a declaration made during a public rally which had called for their resignation.

The two are 45 Chingai AC MLA MK Preshaw and 43 Phungyar MLA Victor Keishing, ex-communicated by Tangkhul Naga Long.

The decision was arrived at during a public meeting called by the apex Tangkhul Naga Long in Ukhrul today.

The declaration reads, `Based on the strict directive of United Naga Council dated October 19 and the TNL consultative meeting on the same day, the following three declarations are hereby publicly announced.`

MLA MK Preshaw and MLA Victor Keishing have refused to respect the decision of the TNL taken during a public rally on September 9 hence they will now cease to be considered a part of the Tangkhul and will not be allowed to set foot in Tangkhul areas again, it said.

It said 44 Ukhrul MLA Samuel Risom is requested to clarify on his resignation status within 15 days, failing which he will be subjected under the same penalty.

`Further course of action will be decided duly by the TNL leadership.`

It might be mentioned that on September 9, a massive public rally was held in Ukhrul under the aegis of TNL and several declarations were made including condemning the silence of the three Tangkhul representatives during the passing of the three anti tribal bills in the State Assembly on August 31 and being party to the resolution against the Indo Naga peace treaty.

The TNL had issued an ultimatum for their resignation citing their failure to safeguard the public interest of the people they represent.

Chief Secretary assures Sanjenthong re-opening ahead of Sangai Festival

IMPHAL, October 20: The Sanjenthong will be opened to the public well ahead of the Sangai festival and repairing of the roads in the vicinity of the festival venue has

IMPHAL, October 20: The Sanjenthong will be opened to the public well ahead of the Sangai festival and repairing of the roads in the vicinity of the festival venue has already been initiated.

This was stated by Chief Secretary O Nabakishore answering to media persons at a press meet held in connection with the upcoming Sangai festival 2015 this afternoon at the conference hall of Old Secretariat Building.

The Chief Secretary said like last year, this year also a chartered flights of the Golden Myanmar with a seating capacity of around 75 persons will land at the Imphal Airport twice.

The first flight will land on November 21 in Imphal and return back to Mandalay on the same day and come back on November 26, he said.

In the process, the flight will bring 75 tourists from Myanmar to Manipur and 75 from here will visit Myanmar. This will help promotion of tourism and developing relationship between the two countries, he added.

Secretary Tourism Nidhi Mani Tripathi, who was also present at the press meet, informed that atleast 15 Ambassadors and High Commissioners especially from South-East Asian countries and South Asian counties have been invited for the upcoming Sangai Festival 2015.

`A couple of them have shown interest also and they are inquiring about the programme,` she said.

She further said the Ministry of External Affairs have come forward to assist the Tourism Department this time.

`They (Ministry of External Affairs) have also arranged for an interaction meeting with the High Commissions and diplomatic houses in Delhi of these 15 countries on October 23.`

`And our Resident Commissioner, Commissioners of Commerce and Industry, and Tourism departments will be interacting with them,` she said.

`We will be making a brief presentation on the Sangai Festival. We want to explain to them that what kind of art form, culture, our rich history and heritage we are going to showcase and how it is going to strengthen our ties with these South Asian countries,` she said.

As it is also going to strengthen the Act East Policy of the Government of India, the Ministry of External Affairs of India has come forward this time showing keen interest, she said.

She said the Embassy of Japan has also shown interest and are inquiring about the programme details of Sangai festival.

`We have also invited Indian ambassadors of Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Thailand and Cambodia as these countries are very close to India and we are sharing our cultural and ethnic identities.`

The Chief Secretary said this time the Thailand delegates have made a special request to the State Government to allot 25 stalls for their products.

`Thai products are definitely popular in Manipur and so there will be 25 stalls earmarked for Thailand,` he said.

Myanmar will have about five stalls where they would sell their products like precious stones and semi-precious stones and other items, he informed.

Other attractions of the upcoming Sangai Festival include cultural programmes, exhibitions of dance forms of all the nine districts of the State, MMTA`™s adventure games and sports, Horticulture department`™s horticulture products like flowers etc.

There will be an improvement in the layout at the festival venue as we are consulting various experts on the issue, he said.

Huts showcasing the lifestyles and culture of every community and every tribe residing in Manipur will be exhibited as a heritage village. This is going to be the main attraction for this year, he added.

`We expect a huge success in the upcoming Sangai festival 2015. We are also getting co-operation from all the State government departments,` the chief secretary added.

Secretary Tourism said we are following the traditional practice of having MMTA for eco-tourism and adventure sports, and the cultural evenings as we have doing in the past.

This time Shumang Leela performances have also been proposed and at the same time we have proposed for Asian theatres where China, Japan and obviously something from India and Manipur will be participating, so that will be an international theatre festival during the Sangai festival, she added.

We (Tourism Department) will be organizing Myanmar-Manipur heritage conference in which the culture of Myanmar and Manipur would be presented and there will be academic sessions also on the performances.

Commerce and Industries Department is also planning to have a couple of conferences, she said.

On October 22 or 23rd they will be having a food processing conference because it has lots of potential, she added.

This time we are also trying to showcase our culture thought traditional exhibition huts, the process of preparing it has already started.

This is a new adding in an aim to showcase the rich and diverse culture of various communities who are residing in the State, she added.

Invasion fears as another ‘alien mothership’ UFO appears in the skies – Daily Star

Daily Star

Invasion fears as another ‘alien mothership’ UFO appears in the skies
Daily Star
… the “mothership” above India has emerged – and sent the internet into overdrive. The circular UFO appears to be similar to the Starship Enterprise in Star Trek or the gigantic spaceship in Independence Day. It was captured in the sky above Manipur …

Daily Star

Invasion fears as another 'alien mothership' UFO appears in the skies
Daily Star
… the "mothership" above India has emerged – and sent the internet into overdrive. The circular UFO appears to be similar to the Starship Enterprise in Star Trek or the gigantic spaceship in Independence Day. It was captured in the sky above Manipur …

Manipur’s blighted bills – The Statesman

The Statesman

Manipur’s blighted bills
The Statesman
Even after more than a month since a mob rampaged through Churachandpur, Manipur’s second biggest town leaving nine dead in clashes, scores injured and many houses and government offices burnt or damaged, there is no let up in the agitation for a …

The Statesman

Manipur's blighted bills
The Statesman
Even after more than a month since a mob rampaged through Churachandpur, Manipur's second biggest town leaving nine dead in clashes, scores injured and many houses and government offices burnt or damaged, there is no let up in the agitation for a …

Amur Falcon starts arriving in Manipur’s Tamenglong district – Nagaland Post

The Statesman

Amur Falcon starts arriving in Manipur’s Tamenglong district
Nagaland Post
Amur Falcon has started arriving in Manipur’s Tamenglong district. The migratory bird was seen arriving in the district on Monday, officials said. As told by Range Officer Tamenglong district of Manipur Forest Department, Kh Hitler, over a lakh of the …
Amur Falcon Dance Festival on Oct 26The Statesman

all 2 news articles »

The Statesman

Amur Falcon starts arriving in Manipur's Tamenglong district
Nagaland Post
Amur Falcon has started arriving in Manipur's Tamenglong district. The migratory bird was seen arriving in the district on Monday, officials said. As told by Range Officer Tamenglong district of Manipur Forest Department, Kh Hitler, over a lakh of the …
Amur Falcon Dance Festival on Oct 26The Statesman

all 2 news articles »

UG killed in encounter, KRA (U) president held in Manipur – Nagaland Post

UG killed in encounter, KRA (U) president held in Manipur
Nagaland Post
A suspected cadre of United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA), a Kuki based militant group under suspension of operation truce was Tuesday killed in an alleged encounter with troops of 27 Assam Rifles in Manipur’s interior Tamenglong district. A report …

and more »

Orissa eves keen to break Manipur jinx – HERE. NOW

HERE. NOWOrissa eves keen to break Manipur jinxHERE. NOWBhubaneswar, Oct 20: In-form Orissa will look to break the jinx and win the under-18 title, when they meet their nemesis Manipur in the final at Margao, Wednesday. This will be a repeat of last ye…

HERE. NOW

Orissa eves keen to break Manipur jinx
HERE. NOW
Bhubaneswar, Oct 20: In-form Orissa will look to break the jinx and win the under-18 title, when they meet their nemesis Manipur in the final at Margao, Wednesday. This will be a repeat of last year, a game that Orissa lost. Orissa have had a dream run …

and more »

Paintings at contemporary artists` art exhibition enthral visitors

IMPHAL, October 20: The Neo-Gene, Contemporary Artists`™ Manipur held an Art exhibition on the theme `Creative Ripple`™ at Manipur State Art Gallery, Dept. of Art & Culture Complex, Palace Compound

Art and Culture director Dr K Sushila take a look at one of the paintings.

Manipur State Kala Akademi secretary Dr K Sushila who is also the director Art & Culture, Manipur State Kala Akademi awardee and NEZCC, Dimapur & EZCC, Kolkata member Ch Premananda Roy, managing director, Classic Group of Hotels Dr Th Dhabali Singh, and Neo-Gene Contemporary Artists`™ Manipur president Sarangthem Kula Singh graced the inaugural function as the chief guest, guests of honour and president respectively.

Dr Th Dhabali announced that in his contribution to promote the local artistes, a room in the ground floor of his Four-Star Classic Grande will be allotted for local Art exhibition.

He said, `In recognition of the self-sponsored efforts of the sprouting Artists in the State and with the intent of showcasing their work to potential consumers, we would display your Art in our newest hotel which is scheduled to be formally inaugurated on November 9.`

Dr K Sushila also committed that two Art works displayed today will be purchased by the department for their upcoming Art Gallery.

The two paintings are the canvas painting by Robin W and Withering Sangai creation by N Dhanajit.

`The pony is the pride of the State as it has helped in popularising Manipur with polo, yet they are neglected and mistreated.`

This unfortunate reality is so well depicted by the artist to imprint on the onlookers, she said.

`The dying Sangai painting also strongly depicts the dwindling Sangai population in our vicinity and the need to retrospect this concern`

S Sundaram Singh and Gunindro Singh were felicitated on the occasion for their selfless contribution in the field of visual Art.

Several works of various art forms were displayed in the gallery for the visiting art lovers.

Ch Premananda Roy said, `Unlike performing arts, this form of art cannot sustain on repeating the same art.`

It requires the artist to continuously expand their creativity and continue to explore new ways of exhibition experiences, ideology, illusions and rhetoric, he said.

`Only such originality of style and perfection marks the success of Artists.`

He added, `It is encouraging to see enthusiastic young artists from our State making progressive advancement in this field and we need to support such efforts.`

According to the secretary of Neo-Gene, the collective was formed in 1998 with the initiative of 10 members who had the vision of promoting local artists.

`Several Art exhibitions have been held in the past 17 years on various themes including one on `The Spirit of Sharmila`™` he said.

JSCC locks administrative offices of four schools

IMPHAL, October 19: The Joint Students Coordinating Committee (JSCC) today locked the administrative blocks of Nirmalabas High School, St Joseph`™s School, Litter Flower School Imphal and Zenith Academy against the schools`™ failure to comply with the committee`™s appeal to charge only 30 percent school fees for the month of July and August.

The appeal was made considering the closure of educational institutes in the valley districts during the said period in the wake of ILP agitations in the State.

Speaking to media persons, JSCC media coordinator Manjit Saranghtem said the administrative blocks of the private schools have been locked after the schools authorities failed to comply with the committee`™s repeated appeal.

At the same time, he said, some schools have complied with the appeals for deduction of school fees and teachers`™ salaries for the said months.

He reiterated the committee`™s appeal to school authorities to refund the fees for the month of July- August, if they have already collected the same.

He said government schools are not made mandatory to follow the appeal as the school month fees collected there is considerably low as compared to the private schools.

Woman dies during childbirth in Manipur; JAC demands doctor`s licence cancellation

IMPHAL, October 19: A woman died last night at the Shija Hospitals and Research Institute during childbirth along with her newly born child leading to the JAC formed in this

IMPHAL, October 19: A woman died last night at the Shija Hospitals and Research Institute during childbirth along with her newly born child leading to the JAC formed in this connection demanding cancellation of the involving doctor`™s licence.

The woman has been identified as Salam (o) Meenashwari Devi wife of Salam Sanjoy and the doctor involved as Dr Subodha.

The doctor`™s and the attending nurses`™ negligence led to the tragic loss of lives, JAC president S Babuthouba Singh said.

He demanded the government to fulfil six demands which include cancellation of Dr N Subodha`™s practicing license, restriction of all doctors and nurses involved from working in the medical field, Rs 50 lakhs compensation for the negligence of the Shija Hospital and Research Institute and for the State government to monitor the mushrooming private clinics in the State.

He also said that the JAC demand that the State Medical Council should initiate an inquiry against Dr Subodha and reward befitting punishment.

Speaking at a press conference at the Manipur Press Club today, Salam Snajoy said his wife has been a patient of Dr Subodha since the detection of her pregnancy.

The doctor, he said, had advised for normal delivery on October 18.

Acting on the doctor`™s advice, Meenashwari was admitted to the hospital on October 17 and around 9:30pm of October 18, she went into labour pain and was admitted to the delivery room, he said.

Further according to husband, no doctor was present and Meenashwari was kept waiting for Dr Subodha who arrived around 11:45pm.

Soon on seeing the woman`™s condition, the doctor said it was critical and provided oxygen for 10 minutes after which she was declared dead after giving birth to a boy child.

Around 45 minutes past midnight, the child was admitted at the NICU, he said.

He continued, although the child looked already death, she was kept in the NICU till 6am and was declared dead only today.

Unfortunately, doctors claimed that Meenashwori died due to a cardiac arrest, he said.

Sanjoy said his wife entered the delivery room on foot and after some time her health became all of a sudden critical.

If the Shija Hospital management had arranged to call the doctor a little early, my wife could have been saved, the husband rued.

The hospital management had informed the doctor late, he said.

She could have been happy with the new born son as they already have a daughter, he said.

Various agitations will be launched soon if the government fails to response positively to the agitation, the JAC president said.

Ibotonsana Girls` School students fight it out over election counting

IMPHAL October 19: Two groups of students broke into an intense confrontation at the Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School today over the recent students`™ election which was held on October 17.

Police and local meira paibis had to assist the teachers in controlling the students after the altercation went beyond their capacity to control.

Meanwhile, the school principal Kh Somola declared closure of the school ahead of normal time today and that the school will remain close for the next two days as a precautionary measure.

According to a student of the school, the commotion among two groups of students started around 1pm over disagreement regarding the vote counting.

She said `The election was held on October 17 and there had been much disagreement and allegations during the counting. Those allegations and counter allegations persisted today with some even alleging that the Principal had sided one of the parties.`

Mention may be made that the dispute intensified since the students were supported by AMSU and DESAM on each side.

Both these student bodies had expressed their opinions through the media earlier on the issue.

Principal Kh Somola said a report has been submitted to the director of the Education department and `The final decision on the recent election will be decide by the department.`

The principal narrated that the election for six secretaries to represent the students`™ body was held last Saturday.

According to her, `The voting was held very peacefully. However dispute arises during the counting exercise and the matter has escalated beyond our control. Now it will only be decided by the higher authority as the election was held under the department`™s jurisdiction.`

She claimed that, `The gate broke open today thus allowing some outsiders to enter and escalate the fight despite the gate being kept locked with a gate keeper.`

Large numbers of police including women police led by SDPO/IW Ghanashyam Sharma and members of the local meira paibis pacified the students after more than two hours of attempt.

Officials from the Education Directorate also arrived at the spot.

Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School has about 700 students from class IX to XII, according to the Principal.