Day: December 19, 2017

UKHRUL | Dec 19

The former president of Tangkhul Naga Long, Stephen Angkang, passed away this early morning at his residence in Phungreitang East, Ukhrul.

He served as the president of TNL, for the first time in 1969-71. Then again in 1996-97, and finally for the third term in 2006-2008.

The octogenarian, born on July 14, 1930, completed his schooling in a mission school and graduated from Guwahati University in 1961.

In his lifetime, he had authored three books, namely, ‘Longyao’, ‘Kamrangphy’ and ‘Hau Customary Law’.

Further, he had also translated ‘Khamba Thoibi Sheireng’ and ‘Madhabi’ from Meitei to Hao-Tangkhul and ‘Genevieve’ from English to Hao-Tangkhul.

In recognition of his commendable research on tribal culture, he was awarded Manipur State Kala Akademi 2007. He has also been conferred recognition by UNESCO for his research on the culture of Manipur.

In appreciation of his laudable service to the society and as a mark of respect, the Tangkhul Naga Long will be organising a condolence service at 10:00 am, at TNL Ground, Ukhrul, on December 20. After the ceremony, his body would be taken to his native village, Lungphu, for burial.

The deceased 87-year-old had not been well for the past few months, said their family members.

IMPHAL | Dec 19

Expressing vehement condemnations against the burning of stacks of unthreshed rice straws which are kept for threshing, at several areas of Manipur, the proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) said the organisation will hand out punishments to those who are guilty.

A release signed by director, department of publicity, Sak-hen said some of the incidents where rice stacks have been torched are Laisram Samananda and Takhellambam Athouba’s  rice straws at Keinou Thanga under Bishnupur district on November 17, rice straw stacks from one hectare of rice field belonging to Jacob Hmangte at Saikul Hill Twon Loukol under Senapati district on November 23, Rice straw stacks made of Three “Lou sangam” (27225 sq. ft. x 3) of rice fields belonging to Pukhrambam Khomei Devi and one “Lou sangam” (27225 sq. ft. x 1) belonging to Michael Kamei at Loktak Project Santipur Lampat Loukol under Bishnupur district on November 24, another rice straw stacks made of “Lou sangam” (27225 sq. ft. x 1) belonging to Sapam Jitendra was set ablaze at Bashikhong Kaijipat Loukol under Okram Chuthek on November 29, and recently on the early morning of December 17 at Khumbong Maning Sagol Tongba Makha Leikai where rice straw stacks made of three “Lou Sangam” belonging to Sinam Bijoy was burned down.  

It takes seven to eight months for a farmer to start farming and harvesting to produce rice for a year and it is also his main source of income, it said. The routine acts of burning down these piled stacks of rice straws by unknown miscreants is suspected of being carried out deliberately in an organised manner, the release continued.

This has been committed against the farmers’ community, and it not only harms the owners but causes a lot of inconveniences to all the people of the State, it added. This has been committed with the purpose of reducing the productivity of the State, the release further said. The group who is responsible for burning down the stacks are against humanity, it continued.  The people of Manipur vehemently condemn the acts and the organisation appeals the people to help find out the unknown miscreants, the release further said. The guilty party will be punished, it added.

Jeijei Newme

IMPHAL | Dec 19

Wildlife enthusiasts fear that this year, the count of migratory birds in and around Loktak Lake may decrease as compared to recent years.

Migratory birds come to the state every October till early March with December and January as the peak season.

In an interview with Imphal Free Press, chief conservator of forests, Forest headquarter of Sanjenthong, Anurag Bajpai said that these migratory birds are mainly of duck family. They come looking for suitable environment at this area from Tibet, Siberia, China and Europe.

As many as 60 species of birds have been recorded so far with the most common bird as Whistling Teal (Tingri), Mandarin Ducks, Shelduck, Ibis and Grey Leg Geese.

Sony Meitei, assistant professor of Moirang College and also a member of Indian Bird Conservation Network said that the number of migratory birds have been decreasing with each passing year.

He cited human settlement and economic activities as the main reasons for being unfriendly to annual winged guests.

He also said that the nightlife of Loktak Lake with LED lights also caused the birds to skip this place.

R.K, Birjit Singh, ornithologist said that the problem which has been further and seriously complicated by using of LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights for fishing in the lake has dwindled the population of water birds including those of migratory species from 47,088 with 68 species in 2016 to hardly 5,000 with 17 species in January, 2017. “It seems that now they have diverted their migratory routes into a marginal habitat where it may succumb to predation, starvation or death,” he added.

Anurag Bajpai cited that the decrease in number of migratory birds could probably because of three reasons. The high water level of Loktak Lake this year which is caused by three floods and Ithai barrage may disrupt the population of migratory birds count.

He said that these birds like shallow waters and as this year’s water is not shallow, they might skip this place.

Anurag said that Ithai barrage also block the food essential to these birds from the source i.e. Irrawaddy river, so without food, there cannot be a habitat, same as human beings.

Citing the third reason, he said that fishing at night using LED lights disturbs the sleep and peaceful environment of the birds. So with all these disturbances, these birds may have skipped this place resulting to decrease in numbers at Loktak.

He said that the actual result will be seen in the census of birds taken usually in January, peak timing of migratory birds settlement.

The chief conservator said that the cycle of migratory birds is important for human beings and is actually a complex eco-system. If they stopped coming, there can be a major change in the environment system.

The birds need fish and so do human with the birds, as they usually come and help in harvest.

Saving the environment for the birds is a need of the hour before unfavourable change of environment happens in and around Loktak Lake, he pointed out. “It is our duty and responsibility to give a conducive environment to our annual guests” he added.

He also said that there is a plan to convert the lake into a conservation site in the form of community reserves.

As a department, he said that it is trying to make this negative change in the environment stop through social fencing by organising awareness campaigns, mainly targeting students and youths. It also holds meetings with village leaders and influential decision makers for attitudinal change.

For protection measures, he said its staffs are alert enough and besides that police and court are also cooperative enough in giving deserved judgement and punishment.

Anurag also said that local birds are equally important and need to be protected from further extinction from the state.

IMPHAL | Dec 19

Education minister, Thokchom Radhehsyam Singh said that the Sainik Schools have been playing important roles in safeguarding national integration, through patriotism imbibed in hearts, minds and souls of the students in the face of peril which challenges the national harmony.

He was speaking at the 45th Annual Day celebration which was observed with great zeal and enthusiasm today at the Manekshaw Auditorium, Sainik School Imphal. The minister who is also a former student of the Sainik School Imphal said the school since its inception has been providing and creating a holistic approach for the all round development of the students. Though the school faces certain drawbacks and constraints from the limited resources, he said the school has been performing admirably.

The 45 years of its existence, the minister stated, is the proof of the changes evolving round the institute transforming into one of the prominent school serving the society and country as a whole. He said the school has been working as a premiere institute with the student’s being instilled with qualities of optimism, patriotism and sense of responsibility to become a national builder, he added.

He advised the students present at the celebration that there are no failures in life only lessons to be learnt. As a student of the said school, Th. Radhehsyam said that he had never been a performer in his school days but today whatever he is, is all because of the school.

Achievements, he said some may achieve faster and some may achieve it later in their life. The only thing one should never forget is that – the focus towards one’s goals should always be maintained until it is achieved, he explains.

The principal, Sainik School Imphal, Captain (Indian Navy) Vinay Tiwari, delivered a school report about various achievements of the school in respect of academics, co-curricular activities and games and sports for the current session.

The minister also gave away the prizes to the cadets and Houses for their outstanding performance in academic, co-curricular, games and sports. Principal secretary education, Vineet Joshi, director of education, Th. Kirankumar, the staff, cadets and the parents attended the celebration.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Dec 19

In order to promote cleanliness and a waste free environment, a village in Manipur’s Senapati district declared to celebrate “Dustbin Less Drive Festival” on December 16 every year.

Formally launching the Dustbin Less Drive Festival by buying all the dry waste- such as papers, plastics, sweet wrappers, all kinds of bottles, unused shoes, clothes etc generated within the village at Rs 20per kilogram, for proper disposal, the Kaibi village authority has taken a decision in this regard on Saturday.

Thus the village authority buys a total of around 8000 kilograms of mixed dry waste generated in the village and deposited at the village land before it was transported to an isolated location for further disposal.

The authority of the village which is presently exploring other (future) plans, has spent around Rs 1,80,000 (including transport and labour cost) in taking up the initiative from their budget.

Secretary Pukeho Athishu of Kaibi village authority when contacted said that they take up this initiative so that we do not requir any dustbins in our village. The idea is to educate the villagers so that the village can keep clean, he felt.

The new way of campaign cum initiative was taken up in the village as part of the national wide Swatch Bharat campaign.

Kaibi is village inhabited by Mao community and it is located about 100 km north of Imphal having around 500 houses and a population of about 3000. 

Athishu also informed that they’ve no immediate plan as of now. But they’re trying to relocate the waste at an isolated and safe place for further disposal. The village authority is planning to approach the district authority and state administration to support the initiative for a sustainable waste management.

Manipur generates around 178 tonnes of solid waste on daily basis, according to official reports. But there is no scientific way of disposing the waste in almost all the hill towns and villages.

IMPHAL | Dec 19

The Centre for Research and Advocacy (CRAM) has expressed its grave concerns over the continued pursuance by the national hydroelectric power corporation (NHPC) for the construction of 66 MW Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric Project across the Leimatak River.

CRAM considers the NHPC’s pursuance as untimely and that it reflects a complete disregard for the indigenous peoples of Manipur who have long been demanding the review and decommissioning of the Ithai Barrage of the 105 Loktak Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project, said a release.

The said call of the people was made in light of the severe environmental impacts and its detrimental effect on the livelihood of communities living in and around the Loktak wetlands area, it added. That, the said Loktak project instead of its proposed irrigation of 50,000 hectares of land, had rather submerged massive agricultural land. Thus, undermining Manipur’s food sovereignty and reducing it to a food dependent state, the release related.

But in spite of these actualities, NHPC without assuming any responsibility for the loss of land and livelihood of the people, it is insistent on its path of accruing more profit, the release mentioned.

The release further stated that the construction and operation of the proposed project on Leimatak River would mean the continued operation of Ithai Barrage for another 50 years. But with no MoU or operating guidelines and the extensive devastation that it had incurred over four decades, Manipur cannot afford the operation of Ithai barrage any longer, it added.

Therefore, CRAM reiterates that the proposed construction of 66 MW Loktak Downstream Project is premature and should be withheld. That, it would only aggravate the woes and suffering of indigenous communities in Manipur, the release maintained.

Lastly, the Centre for Research and Advocacy demands the revocation of MoU signed between the government of Manipur and NHPC on September 26, 2008. It also further urged the central government as well as the state government to immediately initiate steps to decommission the Ithai Barrage, in empathy with the prolonged demands of the people of Manipur, the release concluded.

UKHRUL | Dec 19

The newly commissioned 132/33 KV sub-station at Hungpung has reportedly failed to light up Ukhrul district.

Ukhrul requires 25A load towards Hunphun and 150A load towards the district Mini Secretariat through the feeder located at Khunchao sub-station. But the newly commissioned sub-station by MSPCL could only carry 25A load, resulting in power failure in Ukhrul, since yesterday.

As per the information provided by one of the officials present, the said sub-station at Hungpung broke down while loading the whole required energy load and that panel problems might be the reason behind the breakdown.

The concerned company is now trying to provide power supply to Ukhrul through the earlier 33KV line which was employed for the district.

IMPHAL | Dec 19

Human Rights Law Network (Manipur) said that today a division bench of the High Court of Manipur comprising of acting chief justice, N. Kotiswar Singh and Justice, Kh. Nobin Singh has awarded Rs.7,00,000 as compensation to Thangjam Ongbi Apabi Devi, the petitioner, whose son namely Thangjam Thoithoi alias Anilkumar Singh of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai, Imphal West, Manipur was killed by a combined team of Manipur Police Commando and 18 Sikh Regiment on January 14, 2012.

According to the case dossier, on January 14, the petitioner’s son had left his maternal grandmother’s house at around 2 p.m. riding a kinetic Honda and thereafter, he did not come back, said a release.

 However, the next day the petitioner’s mother came to know that their son was killed by a combined team of security forces and his dead body had been deposited at the RIMS Hospital mortuary, it said. 

On January 14,  2012 at about 8.30 p.m. after killing the petitioner’s son, one jemandar, L. Bebekananda Singh of 3rd IRB attached to the Commando Unit, Imphal West District lodged a written report with the Officer-in-Charge Wangoi Police Station stating inter alias that on the same day at about 6.p.m,  he received a reliable information regarding movement of armed underground cadres in and around inter village road of Narankonjil and Chandranadi with their intention to carry out a bomb attack on Congress workers, in connection with the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election-2012.

The report said, based on the said information, a combined team of Manipur Police Commando and personnel of 18 Sikh Regiment proceeded towards the said area and established a checkpoint at the junction of Mayai Lambi road and Chandranadi road leading to Narankonjil village to nab the said cadres; while conducting frisking at the spot at 7.30 p.m. one two –wheeler rider along with a pillion rider was spotted and they shouted them to stop for verification; instead of stopping, one of them fired upon them and speeded their vehicle towards Narankonjil side.

It further said, on seeing their strong determined action, they pushed down their vehicle and ran away towards the paddy field along Chandranadi road; thus in the face of encounter, which lasted about 6/7 minutes they could shot down one of them at the northern side of the road near paddy field; while the other associate managed to escape by taking advantage of darkness.

It continued that on  searching the encounter site, they found one kinetic Honda, one bullet riddled body along with one Chinese hand grenade and one 9mm pistol lying near the dead body, the release informed.

In this regard, on February 18, 2015, the petitioner field a writ Petition before the high court, it continued. Consequently, the high court instituted an enquiry through the learned district judge, Imphal West to ascertain the face and circumstances leading to the death of the Petitioner’s son, the release further informed.

The district Judge, Imphal West conducted an extensive enquiry and submitted his report by ascertaining that the Petitioner’s son was killed in cold blooded manner or fake encounter by the personnel of Manipur Police Commando, Imphal West led by Laitonjam Bebekananda Singh, Manipur Police Commando, Imphal East led by one Jemandar S. Sunder and personnel of 18 Sikh Regiment led by Major Kamal Sajgotra on January 14, 2012 at about 7.30-7.45.p.m. at the inter village road of Chandranadi leading towards Narankonjil, and not from the exchange of firing or retaliation or encounter between the son of the Petitioner and personnel of the Manipur Police Commando and 18 Sikh Regiment, the release said.

The matter was finally heard today and thereafter, the high court of Manipur has directed both state of Manipur and the Union of India to pay Rs. 7.00.000 as compensation to the petitioner within 5 months inasmuch as the same in a clear-cut case of violation of the human rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the constitution of India, it further said.

Meihoubam Rakesh, Advocate, appeared on behalf of the petitioner,  S. Samerjeet, CGSC appeared on behalf of the Union of India and R.S. Reisang, Senior Government Advocate for the State of Manipur, it continued. The present Writ Petitions has been filed with the active initiation of Human Rights Law Network (Manipur), the release added.

IMPHAL | Dec 19

Speaking at the Zou Gal Centenary Commemoration, 2017 function held at Behiang village in Churachandpur district today, Chief minister, N. Biren Singh stated that Churachandpur – Behiang road via Singhat will be developed as the second corridor of the State to South East Asian Nations in the light of implementation of government of India’s Act East Policy.

It was the chief minister’s maiden visit to the village located along Indo-Myanmar border.

He said that the government is planning to set up a Trade Centre at Behiang in order to boost border trade like that in Moreh. For this, there is need to improve road connectivity, he said while adding that he had requested the Union Surface Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari to upgrade Singhat-Behiang section of Churachandpur-Behiang road to a National Highway.

He also said that he and his cabinet ministers would visit Behiang regularly to look into the developmental needs of the village and adjoining areas.

Lauding the villagers of Behiang for protecting a historical site associated with Maharaja Chandrakirti, the  he assured them to do ‘something special’ as a gift for the village for keeping the remembrance and history of the late king alive at the village.

He also promised to upgrade Primary Health Centre (PHC), Singhat to the status of a Community Health Centre (CHC).

The chief minister also urged the villagers to extend support in the smooth running of Behiang Police Station, for which the foundation stone was laid by him earlier in the day.

MANIREDA Chairman and Singhat AC MLA, Ginsuanhau and Chandel ADC Chairman, Sesei Zou were the functional president and guest of honour of the function respectively.

Soon after his arrival in a helicopter at Tonjang village at around 12.30 pm, N. Biren also laid the foundation stone for Maharaja Chandrakirti Memorial Park at the village located near Behiang. This site is protected under the Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1976.

There are three age-old stone slabs inside the complex. These inscribed stone slabs were erected during the reign of Maharaja Chandrakirti in 1872 to commemorate his victory over rebel Lushai Chiefs.

The total protected area of the complex is 607.50 sq.m.

A serenely beautiful small lake popularly known as Chibu Lake is also located inside the complex.

During his visit, the Chief Minister also inaugurated Zou Gal Memorial Cemetery and staff quarters of PHC, Behiang.

Thousands of people clad in traditional attires welcomed the chief minister and his entourage to the interior border village with great joy and enthusiasm.

Health minister, L. Jayantakumar, Agriculture minister, V. Hangkhanlian, MLAs and top civil and police officials accompanied the Chief Minister during the visit.