Day: August 3, 2017

IMPHAL| Aug 3

Oinam Sawombung Youth Development Club (OSYDC) has said that the five people who died recently after consuming adulterated alcohol were victims of poisoning.

The club urged to stop the online shaming of the victims on social media by spreading false rumours about their drinking habits, said a release. None of the deceased were alcoholics and had no records of being treated at hospitals for liver or stomach problems, it said.

The release continued that they have no history of quarrel with anyone. They were victims of poisoning or food poisoning which can be caused by taking any sorts of adulterated food or drinks, it further said.

The adulterated alcohol was brewed by a Kabui family from Kabui Khul, Leisangkhong and sold by two locals from Sawombung, it added. The authorities concerned must sort out the matter to prevent communal misunderstanding that may rise out of the matter.

The club appealed to the government to help the family of the victims who had passed away due to poisoning and those who are undergoing treatments.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 3

Chief minister N. Biren Singh today assured the House to immediately introduce new bye-laws for building construction in the state over the existing bye-laws under the MAHUD department.

The chief minister, who is also holding the portfolio of relief and disaster management, was responding to queries raised by Opposition during budget discussion.

Biren maintained that the relief and disaster management left no stone unturned and is actively involved in relief and rescue operations in the recent flood despite the fact that it has no adequate man-power.

The department has only 37 specially trained personnel, who are expert in flood fighting and rescue operations.

The personnel mainly comprise of different state forces, impart training to police, CVO and NGO volunteers and scouts etc., and mock drills are conducted regularly, said the chief minister.

Despite the challenges, he said the department had opened a 24X7 helpline to attend to complaints of the general public and co-ordinate with various departments regarding relief and rescue works.

While four MCS officers were entrusted to supervise the co-ordination works, 97 relief camps were immediately opened at different localities of flood affected areas, he asserted.

With regards to distribution of relief and assistance, he said it was normally done through the DCs, SDOs who are responsible for preparation of district level assessment for the lost incurred during the time of flood and natural calamities.

The chief minister also cautioned bureaucrats and officials to give utmost respect to the elected representatives by co-operating with the leaders in times of any calamities.

Pointing out that compensation to be distributed to earthquake victims for the year 2015 is pending with the finance department. He assured the House that a sum of Rs. 14 cores would soon be released for the purpose within couple of days. 

Biren further assured the House to explore avenues to compensate flood affected victim without any more delays.

The House passed four demands amounting to Rs. 975,16,40,00 including stationery and printing Rs. 5,77,26,000, relief and disaster management Rs. 50,75,48,000, economics and statistics Rs. 17,32,45,000 and information technology Rs. 23,66,45,000.

Of the four demands cut motion was raised by the Opposition bench only on relief and disaster management.

The cut motion was raised by Opposition MLAs K. Ranjit Singh, Md. Abdul Nasir, Md. Fajur Rahim and Kh Joykisan Singh.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 3

Chief minister N. Biren Singh, today informed the House that the police department has suspended three police personnel of Andro police station besides transferring the officer-in-charge of the station following the death of a woman inside the police station.

Biren Singh was replying to a call attention motion moved by Opposition MLA, Kh. Joykisan Singh during the ongoing budget session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Further in his clarification with regards to the arrest of the deceased woman, identified as Mutum (O) Indira, Biren revealed that she was arrested for her alleged involvement in the missing of one Sunibala Devi.

Sunibala’s husband lodged a complaint with the police on July 27 and after thorough investigation into the case by the investigation officer (IO) Indira was arrested on August 31.

Unfortunately, Indira was found hung to death inside the toilet of the police station, he said.

The chief minister maintained that taking serious note of the incident which amounts to “custodial death,” swift action was taken by the home department by suspending the police personnel for their incompetency.  

He further informed the House that a magisterial inquiry has been constituted into the incident.

The suspended police personnel include an SI identified as L. Heramani, ASI H. Prakash and women police constable Kh. Soniya Devi.

They were reportedly suspended for misconduct and dereliction of duty on August 1 by an order of the superintendent of police Imphal East, Kabib K.

The officer-in-charge of the Andro police station, inspector Soram Khomba, has been transferred to MPTC while A. Khelendro, inspector MPTC has been posted as new officer-in-charge of Andro police station.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 3

The charge handover programme of the apex body of film fraternity, Film Forum Manipur’s executives was held today at Shankar Talkies, Lamphel and Samjetsabam Mangoljao took charge as the new chairman of the forum.

In a brief chat with the Imphal Free Press, the newly elected chairman, Mangaljao said that as the new chairman he would first of all correct the affiliation in art and culture department to Department of Information and Public Relation (DIPR). He said that film department is supposed to be affiliated to DIPR and instead is affiliated to art and culture department.

He maintained that he would try his best to implement the cine policy in the state, which has not yet been materialised till date.

The forum had many times requested the state government to implement this policy but the government had never given a positive response, he said.

If this policy is implemented in the state, the actors, directors, cameramen and those who are working in the film fraternity will be better placed, he said.

The forum is made up of 12 guilds including the guilds of actors, singers, directors and others. As a new chairman, he said he will try to expand the market of Manipuri films in the country and also to the neighbouring countries of the state including Myanmar, Thailand and Bangladesh with English subtitles.

He also mulled over the idea of installing cinema theatre in major shopping centres of the state. When asked about the Manipuri films not winning any national award this year in feature film category, he said most of the films are produced for commercial turn over.

He said under his chairmanship  he would try to make good films as much as possible.

Mangoljao, who started his film career in 1978, in a light mood shared that one of his best films would be ‘Lalasi Pal’. His next movie due to be released is “Korounganba Part-2” in which he is casted as the father-in-law of his real daughter.

The general election to the executive body of the forum was held on July 31. Along with Mangoljao, Khwairakpam Bishwamitra was elected as vice chairman-I, R.K. Homen as vice chairman-II, Ngangbam Ghanashaym as secretary general, Waikhom Gojen Meitei as finance secretary, Rakesh Naorem as secretary information and publicity, Laishram Premananda as joint secretary-I, Oinam Gautam as joint secretary-II and Thounaojam Mahes as joint secretary-II, respectively.