December 6, 2015 – Page 2

HRI questions police reformation, modernization in Manipur

IMPHAL, December 6: Police reformation or police modernization is not only about upgrading weapons they use and not about training them to suit the changing times and abide by various

IMPHAL, December 6: Police reformation or police modernization is not only about upgrading weapons they use and not about training them to suit the changing times and abide by various laws while performing their duty.

This was stated by secretary of Human Rights Initiative Wahengbam Joykumar Singh while speaking to media persons at its office at Wangkhei Thangpat Mapal, Palace Compound today.

He said the Supreme Court of India has given judgements or directives in three cases which particularly deal with the police reformation and improvement of criminal justice system.

Following these directives is a very important part of the police reformation besides upgradation of weapons used by police personnel. However, in the case of Manipur it has not been followed, he maintained.

He said HRI had filed an RTI to find out whether the directives issued by the Supreme Court in the matter of State of Gujarat vs Kishanbhai Etc., (2014) 5SCC 108 is being followed by the State Home Department.

It may be mentioned here that the Ministry of Home Affairs had instructed the State Home Department in 2014 to follow the directives issued by the apex court in the above mentioned case.

He said at first the State government tried to furnish the information being sought by the RTI, however, denied later stating that “the Manipur Police Department is exempted from the purview of RTI Act, 2005 as per Manipur Government Notification 11/4/2005-AR dated 15.10.2005 and corrigendum of even No dated 25.10.2005 and hence it is regretted to inform you that your request cannot be entertained.”

He said the matter was taken up to Manipur Information Commission (MIC) following which the Commission asked the appellant to provide a verifiable proof of the case.

‘’First of all it was wrong from the MIC side to ask for a verifiable proof of the case because it is mentioned in the RTI Act that matters relating to suspicion of human rights violation and corruption the information seeks should be provided even if there is exemption,’’ he said.

However as asked by the MIC we provided a verifiable proof to them after which the Commission directed the SPIO/Home Department to provide the information sought by the appellant free of charge within 45 days from the date of receipt of this order, he claimed.

The order was signed on November 16 last according to the copy of the order provided to media persons.

“Now what we want is the information we are seeking as directed by the MIC,” he said.

He demanded Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who also holds the Home portfolio to maintain transparency and accountability in the Home Department.

“We also demanded removal of the ‘exemption tag’ given to Manipur Police Department while seeking information through RTI as such rule is not there in other States,” he said.

“Because we are living in a very advance stage of human civilization where we should be able to file an FIR online and also information/details about the inmates lodged in the jail are provided online/website in other States to maintain transparency and accountability,” he observed.

He said as the police and jail departments are very important departments for promotion and protection of human rights, HRI is not happy with the exemption from the purview of RTI Act, 2015 of these two departments.

There should be transparency and accountability in the eye of the public, he said, demanding the State government to remove the RTI exemption of these two departments.

He said in regards to the directives given by the Supreme Court in the case of Writ Petition (Civil) 310 of 1996: Prakash Singh & Ors Vs Union of India and Ors (22/09/2006), the State government had submitted an affidavit to the court, claiming that they follow the directives when the truth is the opposite.

Admitting that transferring police officers before one year time is quite common in the State of Manipur, he pointed out that frequent change of investigating officer is one major factor of not being able to file charge sheet on time in many cases.

He noted that police have an important key role in right to access to justice but they have failed to discharge their assigned duties and as such, citizens are reluctant to approach them which led to failure of police reforms and community policing.

Land acquired for establishment of Film Institute in State: CM Ibobi

IMPHAL, December 6: Chief Minister, Okarm Ibobi Singh has said that the State cabinet has taken decision to establish Film Institute in Manipur and acquired 250 acres of land in

IMPHAL, December 6: Chief Minister, Okarm Ibobi Singh has said that the State cabinet has taken decision to establish Film Institute in Manipur and acquired 250 acres of land in Imphal East district.

The Chief Minister stated this speaking as the chief guest during the International Sankritan Day Celebration 2015 at Chandrakriti Auditorium, Palace Compound organized by the State Level Organizing Committee for International Sankritan Day Celebration 2015.

Ibobi further mentioned that of the total land acquired 200 acres will be for the construction of film studio while the remaining 50 will be for the institute adding that more land would be acquired according to the need.

He also divulged that the plan to establish the University of Culture is on the pipeline and is likely to come up by 2016/2017.

Regardless of the fact that Manipur is facing financial problem, the obligation of developing the art and culture must be fulfilled at any cost for its obvious reason of being the face of Manipur over the globe, opined the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister further expressed the need of preserving and promoting various priceless art forms of Manipur based down by our ancestors cutting across the community line.

He continued that the achievement of Manipur Sankritan nominated from India inscribed on the Representative List of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is due to tireless effort made by eminent personality and gurus in the field.

The Sankritan is an art form conceived by the King Bhagyachandra Singh in the 18th century, he said, adding that alike Sankritan other splendid art forms of various communities need to be improved and highlighted to get same recommendation from UNESCO.

Okram Ibobi Singh lauded the organiser for hosting such significant celebration while appreciating the participation of delegates from Myanmar, Hojai, Silchar, Tripura etc.

He also assured that the festival in the coming year will be included in the budget to ensure that it is celebrated at a larger scale.

Minster of Commerce & Industries, Govindas Konthoujam said that the art & culture and sports of Manipur are gifts of our ancestor that helped the State easily recognisable throughout the world.

Terming the recommendation of Sankritan by UNESCO a great achievement, he is confident that this will surely bring a tremendous change in the field of art & culture.

Renowned Art Personality of Manipur, Aribam Shayam Sharma, highlighted that Sankritan encompasses an array of arts performed to mark religious occasions and various stages in the life of Manipur. The Sankritan brings people together and established a relationship between individual and community.

It is a vibrant practice to promote relationship among people as the entire society involve, with the knowledge and skills traditionally transmitting from mentors to disciples.

Awareness prog on Smart City

IMPHAL December 6: A day-long media awareness programme on Smart City was organized by All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) at Manipur Press Club here today. Chief Town Planner N

IMPHAL December 6: A day-long media awareness programme on Smart City was organized by All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) at Manipur Press Club here today.

Chief Town Planner N Gitkumar Singh; president of AMWJU W Shyamjai; editor of Echel daily Irengbam Arun and editor of ISTV Network Brojendro Ningomba attended the programme as presidium members.

The deliberation centred on the laypersons’ increasing mobility constraints and illegal inconveniences created by VIP mobility.

Irengbam Arun explained the relativity of illegal residential areas within the main market and how it adds to both parking and commuting inconveniences.

He observed that the improvement and expansion of road have merely been utilized as additional parking space rather than enhancing the traffic flow in the city.

He said that misconceptions on modernity have led to rapid construction of community halls replacing the erstwhile traditional green patches in many localities.

Brojendro Ningomba opined that Imphal city has been facing a perpetual traffic issue hampering commuters and slowing down productive hours.

During the gathering, opinions were pooled on subjective priorities on the six options under the smart solutions as well the three approach choices for area based development namely Retrofitting, Redevelopment and Greenfield.

The concerned Department had announced that seeking public opinion will be closed on December 9.

There was also discussion on issues related to impact assessment, benefits for urban poor and lobbying skills.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/awareness-prog-on-smart-city/

UNLF owns attack on MGT Tata Motors

IMPHAL, Dec 6: Miscreant exploded an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) late last night near the showroom Manipur Golden Travels (MGT) Tata Motors situated along the Tiddim road Sanaiparou under Singjamei

Sources said that the explosion occurred around 11.35 pm detonated using remote device.

Although the bomb did not inflict heavy damaged, it completely shattered the showroom glass besides leaving splinters damage on the wall.

A team of bomb expert has inspected the blast site and recovered bomb splinters.

MGT Tata Motors is an authorised dealer of Tata Motors situated at MG Avenue Imphal.

Meanwhile, the proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) claimed responsibility for the explosion at the MGT Tata Motors.

In a statement released by M Sak-hen, Director Department of Publicity of the outfit, said that the explosion was a first warning to the proprietor of the showroom Kulwan Singh and his son for their deceitful and challenging act shown towards the party.

It warned that the outfit would go to greater extend including shutting down their entire business in the state, if they (proprietor) remain adamant to the party.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/unlf-owns-attack-on-mgt-tata-motors/

Union Home Minister to call for a report on UNACCO incident

IMPHAL, December 6: The Union Home Minister has assured to call for a report from the state government report which regards to the UNACCO incident that injured eight individuals on

IMPHAL, December 6: The Union Home Minister has assured to call for a report from the state government report which regards to the UNACCO incident that injured eight individuals on the day when the result of Thongju and Thangmeiband by-poll was declared.

The assurance was given to the newly elected MLAs of BJP Th Bishwajit and Kh Joykisan, who met the Union Home Minister at his official quarter around 10:30 am today.

President Th Chaoba, M Asnikumar General Secretary Administration, L Basanta Sharma General Secretary Media Affairs and Manipur-in-charge Prahlad Sing Patel were also present during the meeting which reportedly lasted for an hour.

During the meeting the Home Minister was brief of the various issues confronting the state besides the negligence from the part of the Manipur government in dealing with the UNACCO incident.

It has been informed that in his response, the Home Minister taking serious note of the poll violence assured that he would call for an explanation report with regards to the incident from Manipur government to ensure that guilty are punished.

The meeting also deliberated on deteriorating law and order situation of Manipur and the significant progress of BJP in Manipur, and plans for upcoming election including the Nagar Panchayat election 2016 and general election 2017.

Later the BJP Manipur Pradesh delegates also met the Union Health Minister at his official quarter Motilal Neharu Margea.

During the meeting the team apprised the Minister to upgrade the RIMS hospital one of the premier Institutes of Manipur, and to provide with the necessary infrastructures which has giving a serious concern on the Hospital.

The Union Health Minister in his response assured to provide all the necessary needed infrastructure of RIMS and assured to personally visit Manipur to inspect RIMS after the Parliament session.

The Union Health Minister also asked to table a detail report for any shortcomings in the RIMS.

The delegates will further be camping in Delhi to met also the Union Ministers and also Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

Culture and Progress

How much is culture responsible for the progress made or the lack of it of any given society? Or more provocatively in our context, how much is culture responsible for

How much is culture responsible for the progress made or the lack of it of any given society? Or more provocatively in our context, how much is culture responsible for the embrace or resistance to modernity and development? These are questions that keep returning because of their continued relevance. There are any number of books written on the subject, addressing and seeking the roots of so much disparity in development all over the world. The intriguing nature of the question has also assured many of these books to become best-sellers. Just to cite two examples in the possession of IFP are Jared M. Diamond’s “Guns, Germs and Steel” and Professor David S. Landes’ “Wealth and Poverty of Nations”. But another one “The Central Liberal Truth” by foreign aid worker, Lawrence E Harrison, which says culture does make a world of difference in attitudes to modernity and development must also be in the list of important works on this subject. The thought if pursued, developed, and applied earnestly and consensually, can also pay dividends for the Manipur society. How much have our own varying cultures been a catalyst or inhibitor of modernity and development? Complaints about the lack of these qualities as consequences rather than causes of lack of development are not uncommon, but what has been uncommon is any sincere, soul-searching attempt to gauge the conditions that might have possibly contributed to things going wrong on the way. What has been the role of culture and tradition in our grappling with this issue of gravity? It would indeed be an interesting academic study to make an assessment of the correlation between development and the willingness of a community to accept change. We would for one vouch that the praxis, at least in this case is extremely strong.

Another study by American economists Raymond Fisman and Edward Miguel, to demonstrate the same praxis between cultural grounding and development is interesting from this vantage. The study takes into account records of illegal parking tickets earned by diplomatic vehicles from different countries in New York. The figures seem hardly a coincidence. The two economists found out that diplomats from countries that rank high on the Transparency International corruption index pile up huge numbers of unpaid tickets, whereas diplomats from countries that rank low on the index get barely any at all. For instance, between 1997 and 2002, they found out, the UN Mission of Kuwait picked up 246 parking violations per diplomat. Diplomats from Egypt, Chad, Sudan, Mozambique, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Syria also committed huge numbers of violations. By contrast, not a single parking violation by a Swedish diplomat was recorded. Nor were there any by diplomats from Denmark, Japan, Israel, Norway or Canada. The reason for this as per their conclusion is, human beings are not merely products of economics, but are also shaped by cultural and moral norms. “If you are Swedish and you have a chance to pull up in front of a fire hydrant, you still don’t do it. You are Swedish. That’s who you are.” In this light, another politician thinker of the mid 20th Century, Walter Lippmann, who once said in a speech: “All cultures have value because they provide coherence, but some foster development while others retard it. Some cultures check corruption, while others permit it. Some cultures focus on the future, while others focus on the past. The question that is at the centre of politics today: Can we self-consciously change cultures so they encourage development and modernization?”

The question is profoundly relevant to our situation. How receptive has our own cultures been to a vision of a modernised future. Can we say the same thing that has been said of the Swedish diplomats who would not park in front of a fire hydrant even in the dead of the night when no one is watching, in referring to our own elite? Do we see signs of any moral and social obligations that would stop someone from littering the streets with their kitchen garbage? Do our consciences come to play in checking personal urges for unfair and corrupt practices? Are there any unwritten norms that make people guilty at breaking one-way traffic norms? It is indeed a telling revelation that most often it is siren blaring, flag waving VIP vehicles that violate these norms. There have also been tremendous debates as well as idle talks about the infamous, lethargic work culture in the official establishment. Has there ever been an inherent, cultural checking mechanism that informs the place that such lethargy amounts to dishonesty to profession as well as to self. These data are convincing and they show that there is indeed a correlation between such cultural attitudes and the march of modernity. Shouldn’t we then self-consciously make the effort to change the detrimental aspects of our cultures so that they encourage development and modernization? We must keep in mind that little brownie points scored, as for instance in the tussles of supposedly disparate interests of hills and valley, will not matter one bit if they stand against the tide of time. In the end, nothing can stand against the future, and there can be no argument that the future is headed for the modern.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/culture-and-progress/

KSO calls 48-hr gen strike against AR brutality

IMPHAL, December 6: Strongly condemning the alleged assault on president of KSO Chandel Block and two village chiefs by 24 Assam Rifles at Khudengthabi Check Post yesterday, the KSO General

IMPHAL, December 6: Strongly condemning the alleged assault on president of KSO Chandel Block and two village chiefs by 24 Assam Rifles at Khudengthabi Check Post yesterday, the KSO General Headquarters has imposed a 48 hours general strike in the hill districts from December 6 midnight.

Speaking to the media, general secretary of KSO General Headquarters Seibol Haokip demanded the government to book the AR personnel involved in the brutal assault at the earliest and award punishment as per law.

He said that there had been such inhuman treatment meted out to travellers at Khudengthabi Check Post by AR personnel in the past as well.

It is the inherent nature of 24 AR to disrespect and persecute tribal people ever since they posted in the area, he alleged.

Lamenting that AR personnel have been acting at their own behest, he made it clear that KSO will not take the matter lightly and ensure that tribal rights are not violated.

Following the assault, KSO filed an FIR at the concerned police station. If the concerned authority does not take appropriate legal action against the accused AR personnel, the relationship between the tribal people and AR who called themselves as friend of hill people will remain strain, he said. He added that only cases related to medical and media will be exempted from the purview of the general strike.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/kso-calls-48hr-gen-strike-against-ar-brutality/

HRI questions police reformation, modernization in Manipur – KanglaOnline

HRI questions police reformation, modernization in ManipurKanglaOnlineIMPHAL, December 6: Police reformation or police modernization is not only about upgrading weapons they use and not about training them to suit the changing times and abide by variou…

HRI questions police reformation, modernization in Manipur
KanglaOnline
IMPHAL, December 6: Police reformation or police modernization is not only about upgrading weapons they use and not about training them to suit the changing times and abide by various laws while performing their duty. This was stated by secretary of …

Missing Poumai boy dies of injuries, family alleges foul play

IMPHAL, December 5: A student from the State, who went missing on November 29 after being allegedly threatened by five people on a running train, died at a hospital in

IMPHAL, December 5: A student from the State, who went missing on November 29 after being allegedly threatened by five people on a running train, died at a hospital in Odisha.

The deceased student has been identified as L Poumai, 23 from Purul, Khabung Karong village in Senapati district.

His family claimed that he could have been pushed out of the running train by goons leading to his death.

L. Poumai boarded Dibrugarh-Bangalore City Express (train number 15902) from Dimapur, Nagaland, on November 27 night towards his destination Bangalore. He made a distress call to his family members in Manipur at around 3 pm on November 29, complaining that five persons had threatened him and even said that they got angry on seeing his face, according to a source.

The source informed he last spoke to his elder brother Stephen at 4.55 pm of the day wherein he told his brother that he was not even allowed to move by the gang of five people. His mobile phone was switched off thereafter.

The train reached Bangalore on November 30 as scheduled but Poumai was found missing. An FIR was filed at Bangalore Railway Police Station on December 1 and investigation was initiated by the police, it said.

While waiting for Bangalore police’s first update on the incident scheduled for December 5, president of Poumai Students’ Union Bangalore received a call on December 3 evening that L. Poumai had died and was asked to claim the dead body from Capital Hospital Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, according to the source.

The call to claim the dead body came almost five days after the victim was found despite documents like Aadhar card and driving licence are with the victim which the police have access too, according to the source.

Meanwhile, police have claimed in their report that Poumai had committed suicide by hanging. Local newspapers of Odisha published stories on December 2 claiming that the victim was found on November 29 after jumping off a train and admitted to a hospital with minor injuries but escaped the hospital on December 1 and killed himself by hanging with his shirt tied to the branch of a guava tree inside the compound of a government official.

The reports said added that a couple going on a morning walk spotted him and alerted the police.

However, family of the victim has claimed that the incident is a hate crime and that L. Poumai died after being pushed off the running train after robbing him of all his belongings including mobile phone .

They claimed that authorities are trying to cover up the brutal crime with fabricated stories, questioning why authorities took almost five days to inform them of the incident. They also alleged that there could have been a ploy to cover up the inhuman crime but couldn’t after a FIR was filed.

Suspecting foul play on the death, the deceased’s family questioned why didn’t the police contact family and friends of the victim when they found him on November 29 with the help of information provided in his Aadhar Card and driving licence recovered from him.

They also questioned why it took almost four days to inform the victim’s family, saying that the police could have informed Senapati DC, SP or the State government.

How can Poumai possibly hang himself to death on a small branch of guava tree that clearly can’t hold his weight and when his feet are firmly grounded?, the family asked.

The family of the victim also claimed that some forces are trying to victimise the victim with fabricated stories and are taking up the case seriously to ensure that people from north east travelling by train don’t face such inhuman incident in the future.

Several organisations in the State have expressed their support to fight for justice to the incident.