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Resignation of three MLAs from Drafting Committee a political game: JCILPS

IMPHAL, July 31: Pledging to continue the ongoing mass movement for safeguarding the indigenous people till an acceptable bill to restrain the unchecked influx of outsiders into the state is

IMPHAL, July 31: Pledging to continue the ongoing mass movement for safeguarding the indigenous people till an acceptable bill to restrain the unchecked influx of outsiders into the state is passed by the government, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has categorically stated that the committee and public only want implementation of effective bill to serve the purpose nothing else.

A statement of JCILPS said the constitution of the Drafting Committee by the government has nothing to do with the committee and public, while reiterating that the committee representing the people had submitted a five-point memorandum to the government to be included in the proposed bill.

However, the government came up with the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 which only favours outsiders instead of a bill acceptable to all sections of the people. The controversial bill was withdrawn only after witnessing public outcry. The ongoing mass agitation by the public is due to the apparent failure of the government to pass a bill to safeguard the indigenous people, it pointed out.

The MRVT & MW Bill was passed in the Assembly despite holding series of talks between the government and committee and convening meeting of all political parties to pass an acceptable bill. This clearly shows that the government is working against the wishes of the people, it said.

Stating that JCILPS welcomed the constitution of the Drafting Committee, the statement said that the resignation of three MLAs from the Drafting Committee is a well orchestrated political game staged by the government, which the people are well aware.

The unwarranted remarks of MLA Ng Bijoy that the Drafting Committee is still waiting for submission of the five-point recommended by JCILPS to be included in the proposed draft bill has proved that the insincerity of the Drafting Committee, it claimed.

The statement wondered how come the government and Drafting Committee do not know the five-point recommendations which were adopted during a public consultation held on July 23 last.

Reiterating that the five-point recommendations to be included in the proposed draft bill will not be altered at any cost, the statement reaffirmed that the committee and public will not fall prey to the delaying tactics adopted by the government on the proposed bill.

Bridge collapse cuts off border villages from other parts of State

MOREH August 1: Four villages lying near the Manipur-Myanmar border near moreh Town have been cut off after an iron bridge connecting the villages with the border town was washed

MOREH August 1: Four villages lying near the Manipur-Myanmar border near moreh Town have been cut off after an iron bridge connecting the villages with the border town was washed away last night by the strong river current.

The iron bridge on the Lokchao/ Minal River near the Haolenphai Village along the DC Road connecting Moreh Town with the four villages collapsed last night in the torrential rain cutting off any connect between the border villages and Moreh or other parts of the State.

Now with the bridge washed away, it would be impossible to import any construction materials from the Myanmar side. At the same time two Assam Rifles post guarding the border in the area will find it difficult to move around.

However, till today there is not much drop in the water level of the Lokchao River.

Meanwhile, additional DC N Gojendro visited the area to take stock of the situation.

He had also met Myanmar officials and urged them to help in the movement of the residents of the cut off villages until a new bridge is constructed.

At the moment several houses on the Myanmar side are also flooded due to overflowing of the Lokchao River.

Meanwhile, locals of Moreh are appealing to the government to make the Imphal-Moreh highway free as there is no other way for them to rush to whenever there is an emergency. People have also complained that they are facing numerous hardships including shortage of essential commodities since the highway was cut-off due to the torrential rainfall over the past few days.

It is been two days since the important highway has been cut off, cutting off the border town from other parts of the State.

The Moreh to Pallel stretch of the highway has caved in and witnessed landslides at more than 11 places since the arrival of this monsoon.

Even two-wheelers are unable to pass through at several places along the highway at present. This has resulted in stranding of several persons along the route.

It is also reported that people who are in emergencies are travelling from Moreh to Pallel on foot. Several mudslides are also reported in between Moreh and Lokchao and at Kwatha Lamkhai about 10 kms from Moreh.

A massive mudslide stretching for about 50 meters is also blocking the highway near the Khudengthabi Village.

People have appealed to the highway division of the PWD to clear the highway to enable communication along the highway possible once again.

It is also learnt that the highway has been cleared till Khudengthabi. However, several passenger vehicles are stranded at Khudengthabi.

Around 50 heavy and light vehicles are also stranded on the highway and there has been no electricity in the Moreh sub-division since the past five days.

A review of Prof. Gangmumei`s `Social Chance In Manipur`

By Sanamani Yambem With all the scholarship and exposure of Prof Kamei one was somewhat surprised to see that the Hinduisation of Manipur is still being termed a Sanskritisation. When

By Sanamani Yambem

With all the scholarship and exposure of Prof Kamei one was somewhat surprised to see that the Hinduisation of Manipur is still being termed a Sanskritisation. When Prof. M N Srinivas had coined the term in his Tagore Memorial Lecture at the Columbia University what was implied then is what was popularity known then as the`Yuppies` or the Young andUpwardly Mobile Professionals. Although the young part may had not been considered but the upwardly mobile aspect was definitely an issue.

When the Meities adopted Hinduism, it did not create a separate class of people except perhaps the Bramhins who were ,to use a popular term not `indigenous `. and who would readily accept what the King had accepted.

As prof Kamei himself would admit ,one essential reason why Islam could spread so easily in Eastern India as against the tardy spread of Islam in Northern India ,was essentially the rigidities of the Brahminical being more rigid in North India compared to the Eastern part of the country, which resulted in the large concentration of Muslims in Eastern India leading to the creation of the then East Pakisthan and subsequently Bangladesh.

What Islam offered was equality ,which implies liberty and the choice to worship alongside your king. Adoption of Hinduism did not provide this.To call Manipur`s adoption of Hinduism purely as Sankritisation would not be doing justice to the original meaning of the word. We need to wake up to that.

Despite having adopted Hinduism ,the Hinduism of Manipur is Manipuri Hinduism and not the Hinduism of Tanjavur or say Somnath. The Hinduism of Manipur is Manipuri Hinduism unique in its own way. For while the rituals may be Hindu the customs are definitely are of the pre Hindu era. If there is a death or a child birth even in a Bramhin family , that family is not permitted to enter the temple or perform any ritual. This is exactly the blending of the rituals with the customs.

Yet, having said that Hinduism did not provide any upward mobility , it is about time that a true explaination be looked for rather than simply putting it as Sanskritisation.

Social change follows economic transformation .What one would have expected would be to examine the impact of the introduction of land revenue system in the state. How this had created a new class of petty officials yet,they had exercised tremendous influence n society. The creation of a bureaucracy within a very feudalistic set up. The social implications of the British rule could provide a possible answer.

What needs to be looked into would be the creation of a contractor and trading class in the state . The end of the Second World War in Manipur created a new group of people who had benifitted from the war. Often the question was how to spend the money. Air travel was newly introduced to the state and Calcutta was linked by Kalinga Airlines to Calcutta. Apart from the officials who were the people who travelled by air and for what.

My first trip was in the year 1955 when I travelled to Calcutta when I accompanied my parents. The aircraft was a Dakota (the famous DC-3) and the first stop was at Silchar followed by Agartala. That was purely pleasure trip. But there were others who went to Cal to cut a disc at the studios of His Masters Voice.

There were the book stores such as the Students Store and Book land . They have to travel to Cal to print their books or buy paper and ink. The emergence of a new class of entrepreneur need to be examined if we are to study social change.

We need to read the lyrics of the songs recorded in the immediate post war Manipur. The dress code, the shoes they wore and the cigarettes they smoked all these are manifestations of social change.

None of these aspects have been touched upon.

I wish Prof Gangmumei had given some insight as to why Manipur was let as a princely state and not as a part of British India. For when we examine the pattern of investment, particularly the railway network we see that while British India Assam had a railway line from Lumding to Badarpur to Silchar laid in early 20th Century Manipur is yet to have a rail line in the21st century.

Social change as reflected in the dress code , in the music , the plays , and also other forms of expression should have been looked into for a better appreciation of social change. One must ,however admit that the article has been well documented ,but not well analyzed. The treatment of the arrival and spread of Christainity deserves praise.

As an old friend ,nevertheless it is always a pleasure to read Gangmumei.

Government should enforce guidelines in coal mining

By Oken Jeet Sandham We have been seriously discussing on the coal mining issues – whether there are legal or illegal – taking place in Nagaland particularly in Mon

By Oken Jeet Sandham

We have been seriously discussing on the coal mining issues – whether there are legal or illegal – taking place in Nagaland particularly in Mon district. The random coal mining sans following guidelines has destroyed the environment and eco-system in and around the coal mining areas. The mining has also caused severe damage to the land resources of the area. We must know that we have to clear the forest where the mining is going to take place. Such activities lead to massive deforestation. Areas of forest will also be cleared in order to build the mining facility and laying roads. While doing so, many organisms and animals lose their natural habitat too. In the process, many organisms and animals start perishing themselves as they sometimes are not used to immediately other neighboring forest environment.

The Government might have been issuing licenses to the contractors/companies with complete guidelines. But they have hardly checked whether they have been carrying out as per the guidelines. As per the reports coming in from the Mon district, these contractors/companies have failed to properly close the areas after mining, thereby affecting the environment of the surrounding areas. Several water ponds have been there as a result of rampant illegal mining. The water collected in these ponds is polluted due to producing chemical composition in the mining area.

Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang in his Budget Speech presented in the Assembly on July 23 also admitted the continued extraction of coal in the State in a faulty and dis-organized manner. He further said, “In order to effectively control and generate better revenue as well as to give more benefits to the land owners, the State Government has made amendments to the Nagaland Coal Policy and Rules to ensure that all lease holders get registered with Taxes department so that they are brought into the tax net.”

On the contrary, reports have been pouring in for quite some time of the rampant illegal coal mining taking place in the Mon district. There are allegations that many coal mafias from outside the State have been involved in all these illegal coal mining activities with the help of locals. These illegal coal mining activities have been allegedly continuing without being checked. Locals have been employed as cheap miners, besides it is reported that they have been working without equipment necessary during mining works.

If the Government wants the coal mining to continue, they should strictly enforce the guidelines so that no environmental pollution is there. They should also see that the health and wages of mineworkers are properly taken care of. Safety should be priority for the mineworkers and they should try to improve the safety areas for them (mineworkers). We should carefully monitor whether they are provided with all these necessary equipment.

Although mining is a very money-making business and creates employment avenues, we should not forget that such activity severely affects our environment. Zeliang in his Budget Speech made it clear that the amended Nagaland Coal Policy and Rules would ensure setting up of integrated “coal stockyards and depots” at important exit points, which, according to him would check “illegal mining, rationalize coal mining and increase revenue of the State.” He, however, stated that the Village Councils had been empowered to “check illegal mining, protect the environment and collect Naga Commission.” But illegal mining seems to be continuing unchecked. The Government should immediately investigate into illegal coal mining activities as they have been gravely harming their ecological system and also other lease holders as to whether they observe proper guidelines. We should not talk of losing revenues only.

Massive landslide buries 20 people alive; houses washed away in Chandel

CHANDEL, August 1: Atleast 20 villagers of Joumol Village under Khengjoi Sub-Division in Chandel District have been buried alive and several houses swept away in a landslide due to incessant

A photo of the landslide at Joumol Village, Chandel Manipur

CHANDEL, August 1: Atleast 20 villagers of Joumol Village under Khengjoi Sub-Division in Chandel District have been buried alive and several houses swept away in a landslide due to incessant rain for the past few days in the State.

According to reliable sources, 20 villagers of Joumol Village have been buried alive while 12 houses were swept away by landslide early this morning around 6:30.

However, a villager survived the fury of nature and reported the incident to the Assam Rifles post of Hengshi Village.

Joumol Village is located around 98 km from the Tengnoupal HQ (83 km of motorable road upto Holenjang and 15 km of non-motorable road from there on).

The State Relief and Disaster Management department has also instructed the Chandel district administration to depute district disaster rescue team to the spot and co-operate with the villagers, according to official sources.

Several houses of Hollenjang, Wayang and Tuitung Village under Khengjoi sub-Division have also been swept away by landslides in the past few days.

But there are no reports of loss of human lives from these villages till the filing of this report.

The State government has dispatched a team of State Disaster Response Force to rescue the villagers.

But the team could not proceed to their destination due to several landslides near Tengnoupal and had to return to Chandel district Headquarters.

It is also learnt that the bodies of the villagers buried underneath are yet to be retrieved, as no rescue team is able to reach the village yet.

Meanwhile, another landslide wreaked havoc in between Bongyang to Lokchao along the Imphal-Moreh section of the national highway and Tengnoupal-Sangshak road in Chandel district.

Some of the villagers of Senam and Tengnoupal fearing similar devastations in their villages have started vacating their houses and shifting their belongings to safer places.

The fear has been ignited by the appearance of cracks in their villages due to the landslide.

Major cracks have also appeared on the Imphal-Moreh highway in between Chahmol and Tengnoupal.

In between Tengnoupal-Sita Junction to Tengnoupal Power Sub-Station landslides have occurred at four locations blocking the Tengnoupal-Sangshak road.

A portion of the road has also been washed away by a landslide in between Chehlep Lamkhai and Phalbung Village.

Speaking to the media persons, Daniel Mate, president Kuki Students`™ Organisation Tengnoupal said that owing to the incessant rainfall, landslides have occurred at many places in and around Tengnoupal Village.

And the village has been cut off from the rest of the State due to landslides since the last few days, he added.

While appealing the State Government to provide relief assistance, he also urged the general public and traders to suspend vehicular movement along the Imphal-Moreh road temporarily due as precautionary measures.

Meanwhile, the Vaiphei Peoples`™ Council, Gen HQ has also expressed its deep and heartfelt anguish at the landslide.

A statement of the council said almost all the villagers of Joumol Village lost their lives in the massive landslide, with the exception of one who managed to survive under extreme circumstances.

With the village still inaccessible due to incessant rainfall, the Vaiphei community would like to call on the State government, Army, paramilitary forces and non-governmental organizations to expedite relief operation and ascertain the veracity of the extent of damages, and carry out relief operation without further delay, it said.

The loss of human lives is painful enough. And the lost of an entire village due to natural calamity calls for a joint united effort, and the Vaiphei Peoples`™ Council, on behalf of the Vaiphei community, would like to appeal to all to lend a helping hand in this hour of distress and great need, the press release signed by Khatkhotong Baite, president VPC and Khamneithang Vaiphei, general secretary said.

19 of the 20 victims of the landslide have been identified as:

1. Semkhothong Baite (M) 60 years, 2. Khamneng Baite (F) 60 years, 3. Semkhothong Baite (M) 60 years, 4. Khanching Baite (F) 60 yrs, 5. Semkhoson Baite (M) 65 yrs, 6. Jamlet Baite (M) 45 yrs, 7. Semkholet Baite (M) 50 yrs, 8. Jangminlun Baite (M) 20 yrs, 9. Mangkholet baite (M) 40 yrs, 10. Hoineilhing Baite (F) 3 yrs, 11. Doujam Baite (M) 30 yrs, 12. Paojamang Baite (M) 1yrs, 13. Thangmang baite (M) 40 yrs, 14. Holmang Baite (M) 40 yrs, 15. Thangkholal Baite (M) 40 yrs, 16. Mary Baite (F) 35 yrs, 17. Lhunkhomang Baite (M) 25 yrs, 18. Jangginlal Baite (M) 25 yrs, 19. Tongkhothang Baite (M) 35 yrs.

Hill People`s Alliance forms ADC Churachandpur

LAMKA, July 31: The elected members of the Autonomous District Council Churachandpur have elected Langkhanpau Guite as the leader of the council today with 16 voting for him. The ADC

LAMKA, July 31: The elected members of the Autonomous District Council Churachandpur have elected Langkhanpau Guite as the leader of the council today with 16 voting for him.

The ADC Churachandpur was formed today with the election of Guite as the chairman.

His opponent Khaipau Haokip got five votes while two were declared void. Another member acting as the polling officer didn`™t vote.

The new chairman designate thanked his colleagues from the Hill People Alliance for electing him.

Guite also thanked his sole opponent describing him as a close colleague from the last council.

Speaking on the occasion, Guite said `as we are at the dawn of constituting a new council, let us resolve to work more closely in unison, harmony in the interest of our district.`™

`Due to lack of staff, the few who are there have to work extra in our offices today. Posts vacant due to death or superannuation are still lying vacant.`

He urged the elected members to work for the protection of the district boundary, secure sixth schedule in the hills and work in cooperation with the local MLAs.

He further exhorted the elected council members to work sincerely for the interest of the district.

Meanwhile, reacting to reports appearing on local dailies about the Hill Area Committee deciding to endorse the granting of sixth schedule to the hills of the State but on the condition that the ADC Act 1971 and ML&LR Act should be amended, he said he had talked to the HAC chairman who has clarified against making any such decision.

Guite said the council takes strong objection to the report.

He further appealed to all to attend to their posting places including the SDOs and the SDCs so that the medical staff, police and teachers would follow suit.

Guite also called on the need to invite the ADC leaders as chief guest in important functions like the Independence Day celebration which would be a step forward in the empowering of the ADCs.

Meanwhile, the DC Lunminthang Haokip who also attended the function briefed the newly elected council members about the status of the finance and different schemes undertaken in the district.

Elaborating on the status of IAY scheme in the district, the DC said funding is awaited as the paper work is already completed.

The other members of the council also expressed appreciation of the new chairman and made suggestion for improving ADC Churachandpur.

Meanwhile, it was informed that the election for the vice chairman will be held on August 3 following which the chairman will appoint five executive members.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/hill-peoples-alliance-forms-adc-churachandpur/

ILPS agitations continue

IMPHAL, July 31: Agitations demanding action against the police personnel involved in the death of Sapam Robinhood and introduction of the Inner Line Permit System or a similar legislation in

IMPHAL, July 31: Agitations demanding action against the police personnel involved in the death of Sapam Robinhood and introduction of the Inner Line Permit System or a similar legislation in the State continued at several places in the State today.

Protestors braved the incessant rain which has been non-stop since morning to come out to the streets and stage sit in protest supporting the movement.

Sit in protests were held at Pishumthong Oinal Leikai organised by the local meira paibi lup at the Pishumthong Waiting Shed.

Speaking to media persons, Memcha member of the POLMP demanded the government to acknowledge the interest of the people and fulfill their demand at the earliest.

Instead of going forward towards prosperity, the State seems to be going backward and through a lot of hardships, she said.

The students are losing their valuable time and those surviving and feeding their families through their daily wages have been hit hard by the government`™s lack of concern for the people, she added.

The present turmoil in the State could have been prevented only if the government was concern with the welfare of the people, she continued.

Memcha also demanded that the police personnel involved in the death of class XI student Sapam Robinhood should be punished at the earliest.

She continued the Pishumthong Oinam Leikai Meira Paibi Leikai will also support the JCILPS until the demand for introduction of the ILPS or a similar legislation is fulfilled.

Womenfolk of Khobghampat Awang Leikai, Khongampat Mantri Leikai, Khongampat Mayai Leikai also staged a sit in protest in their locality today.

Similar sit-ins were also witnessed at Singjamei, Uripok, Khurai, Kakwa among other places.

Placards demanding implementation of the ILPS and action against the police personnel involved in the death of class XI student Sapam Robinhood were also exhibited during the demonstrations.

Meanwhile, the Imphal East United Clubs`™ Organisation has demanded the Congress government to bring a proper solution to the present demand for the introduction of the Inner Line Permit System or a similar legislation in the State.

It stated any delay in finding a solution to the issue would only add fuel to the anger among the public which would result in more uprisings in the State.

It urged the government to prepare the draft of a bill and at the earliest and discuss it with the people.

The organisation further pointed out that the government employees of the State have failed to come out and support the ongoing movement till date.

It further appealed to the employees to join in the movement.

The organisation has also demanded suspension of the police personnel involved in the death of Sapam Robinhood at the earliest.

The statement continued that the organisation strongly supports the movement spearheaded by the JCILPS.

Sit in protests were also staged at Kakching Khunou Bazar by the Kakching Khunou,Umathel,Thongam meira paibee, at Charangpat Nongpokp Sekmai by Charanagpat club and meira paibee Thokchom Lamkhai by Thokchom Lamkhai meira paibee and at Wabagai Lamkhai by Hiyanglam Lamjao,Wabagai meira paibee.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/ilps-agitations-continue/

JCILPS snubs credibility of Drafting Committee, pledges to continue stir

IMPHAL, July 31: Claiming that insincerity of the government is clearly palpable with the resignation of three MLAs from the Drafting Committee which has been entrusted with the responsibility to

IMPHAL, July 31: Claiming that insincerity of the government is clearly palpable with the resignation of three MLAs from the Drafting Committee which has been entrusted with the responsibility to draft an acceptable bill to safeguard the indigenous people, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has accused the government of trying to appease the people and committee by making false promises that an acceptable bill to do the needful will be drafted at the earliest.

In a statement signed by Assistant Media Co-ordinator of JCILPS Md Kheiruddin Shah Mojinmayum, the committee which is leading the mass movement for enactment of a new bill to monitor the incessant entry of outsiders into the state said the resignation of the three MLAs from the Drafting Committee came at a time when the government is assuring the people and the committee that a bill acceptable to all sections of the people will be drafted within the set deadline.

Following the resignation of the three MLAs from the Drafting Committee, the government`™s lackadaisical attitude towards drafting of the proposed bill which is the collective wishes of the people has come to the fore, it stated.

Saying that the ongoing mass movement for enactment of a fresh bill needs to be intensified as the government remains ineffective to the collective wishes of the people, the statement vowed to continue with different forms of agitation along with the public till an acceptable bill is passed by the government.

The government cannot easily fool the committee and public by inviting for talk on the proposed enactment of a new bill that also through the media. What the public want from the government is good governance nothing else which they have failed to deliver, it said.

Stating that the committee is closely monitoring the sudden resignation of the three MLAs from the Drafting Committee, it asked the political parties and government to desist from indulging in electoral politics by taking advantage of ILPS issue.

The ongoing legitimate movement for enactment of a new bill is solely for safeguarding the indigenous people, the statement said, appealing the people to intensify the ongoing agitation which the government is trying to suppress.

HC directs Dr Shekharjit reinstated as RIMS director

IMPHAL, July 31: Amidst escalating speculation on the appointment of a new director of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), the High Court of Manipur on Friday has directed

IMPHAL, July 31: Amidst escalating speculation on the appointment of a new director of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), the High Court of Manipur on Friday has directed the authorities to reinstate Dr Shekharjit Singh as the new director of the prestigious medical institute.

It may be mentioned that Dr Shekharjit was removed from the post of director by a ruling passed by North East In-Charge of Ministry of Health on August 25, 2014.

According to reports received by this daily, Dr Shekharjit was relieved from the post of the director by an order issued by an official acting as the North East In-Charge of Ministry of Health.

Challenging the order, the incumbent director knocked the doors of High Court of Manipur.

The Court in its ruling passed today directed to reinstate him as the Director of the medical institute as no specific provision had been mentioned to relief him from the post of Director.

If the doctor is to be relieved from the post then an official order has to be issued supporting the direction otherwise he should be reinstated as the director of the institute within three weeks, the court said in its ruling.

Haokholal Hangshing elected Chairman of ADC Sadar Hills

KANGPOKPI, July 31: Haokholal Hangshing, uncontested elected INC candidate from 2-Kangpokpi District Council Constituency have been elected uncontested as Chairman of ADC Sadar Hills today in a simple function of Election of Chairman held at Conference Hall, Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council, Kangpokpi.

Presiding Officer of the Election of Chairman, M.L. Dominic, elected MDC from 23-Nongmaiching DCC declared Haokholal Hangshing as Chairman of ADC Sadar Hills and hand over the Certificate of election as the ADC Sadar Hills Chairman after he administered the oath taking ceremony of the newly elected Chairman.

Proposed by Seikhosat Kipgen, elected INC candidate from 4-Tujang Waichong DCC and seconded by Lunkhohen Haokip, elected INC candidate from 20-Mapao DCC Haokholal Hangshing is the lone member who had filed nomination for the Chairman post.

The jovial occasion of election of Chairman was attended by all elected members of ADC Sadar Hills apart from staffs and employees of Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council, Kangpokpi.

Visibly cheerful Haokholal Hangshing extended his heartfelt gratitude to the elected members for their concerned over the peaceful formation of ADC Sadar Hills while giving credit to all the members for the peaceful election of Chairman.

Stressing the importance of District Council the newly elected Haokholal Hangshing said awareness on the importance of District Council should be imparted among the people as well as the elected members.

He also assured that ADC Sadar Hills under his leadership would work for peaceful coexistence and good governance and work collectively for overall grassroots level development while urging the public including leaders of various civil society organization and village chiefs to render fullest cooperation towards the administration and functioning of district council.

The newly elected Chairman hosted an ebullient feast at his Kangpokpi residence which was attended by all elected members of ADC Sadar Hills.

Appeals for aid in flooded areas

IMPHAL, July 31: With incessant rain continuing nonstop in the State over the past couple of days, several areas have been flooded. Several organisations have also called for help from

IMPHAL, July 31: With incessant rain continuing nonstop in the State over the past couple of days, several areas have been flooded. Several organisations have also called for help from the government to the flood affected areas.

The Anal Lenruwl Taangpi, Imphal Branch has appealed to the government to provide all possible help to the flooded areas of Chandel district.

According to a release of the association, due to incessant rain for the past few days, houses and properties including livestock as well as standing agricultural crops have been destroyed and submerged in Chandel Head Quarter areas, Chakpikarong and Pallel areas.

Moreover, the people of Chakpikarong area are in panic as the Chakpi river is flowing above the danger level and the lone bridge of Chakpikarong connecting the area is in a dilapidated condition as it is detached from the mainland from both sides leaving the people to be in touch through phone only as there is no other means of communication, it said.

Meanwhile, the Popular Front of India, Manipur State has also appealed to the government to look into the flooded areas in the south such as Khangabok, Sangaiyumpham, Wangjing-Tentha, Sangaiyumpham Cherapur, Nungphou, etc. which has been affected by flood.

A press release of the party has said that appeal has been made to medical, veterinary, water suppliers to give aids to the flood affected areas as soon as possible.

Moreover, paddy fields are mostly destroyed and needs immediate aid. Paddy fields of Lilong A/C are also at the risk of being destroyed. The party has appealed to the government once again to provide necessary help on the issue. The party also appealed to take up preventive measures on the rivers as well, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/appeals-for-aid-in-flooded-areas/

Mapithel Dam downstream villagers continue to live in fear of dam collapse

IMPHAL, July 31: Amid the reported leakages of the Thoubal Multi Purpose Dam, residents of the villages located in the immediate downstream area of the dam continue to take shelter

IMPHAL, July 31: Amid the reported leakages of the Thoubal Multi Purpose Dam, residents of the villages located in the immediate downstream area of the dam continue to take shelter outside their villages fearing an outburst of the water and flooding their villages.

Resident of Itham, Moirangpurel and Tumakhok villages had started evacuating their villages fearing the worst due to the reported leakages since July 23 and have been spending the night on trucks, waiting sheds and makeshift shelters.

Today a team of media persons accompanied volunteers of the Development Organisation Andro Kendra and visited the downstream villages including Tumukhok, Itham, Nongdam and Morangpurel.

The team found that villagers were staying on trucks, and some had scattered to higher places along the foothills. Villagers were also found taking shelter in some houses which were build on the hill slopes.

Interacting with the media team, a villager Y Thoiba said around 1614 villagers are presently staying in his camp at thangjing Pukhri Lamkhai relief camp. Most of the people are from Tumukhok Village, he continued.

Among those taking shelter there are several newly married women who had just settled in their husband`™s homes and pregnant women, he said. They have been shifted to their parental homes today, he continued.

There are also many children, he said.

The incessant rain has only compounded their problems, Thoiba said.

There are also some 300 villagers from Nongdam Tangkhul Village at the camp at present, he observed.

Tomba also observed that volunteers count the people staying in the camp everyday at around 8pm.

Although all these people had fled from their homes and staying in such hardship, there has been no help from the side of the State government, he observed.

He said recently the local MLA Th Shyamkumar had extended 100 bags of 50 kg rice, four bags of dal, one bag of onion and a tin of oil for them, while the Human Rights Initiative supplied 24 bags of rice to the people of Itham and Moirangpurel yesterday.

On being asked as to when the people will be returning to their homes, he said until and unless the leakages of the dam are filled and authorities concern repair the dam fully, the people are afraid to return home.

He continued, the people are afraid to trust just the assurances and guarantees of the officials as the leakage of the dam is a very dangerous issue.

Although the authorities have started releasing the dam water through two valves it is not enough to allay the fears of the people, he continued.

He observed, if by any chance the dam collapses the first impact would be with our villages not others.

The water released since some days back is not enough, although it had led to the flood in Thoubal, he continued.

Meanwhile, the team also Moirangpurel Government High School where around 500 villagers are taking shelter and the SDO office where around 1000 villagers are taking shelter.

All the villagers continue to wait for help from the authorities.

Meanwhile, it may be mentioned that the local MLA Th Shyamkumar had inspected the situation of the relief campers and shared their grievances.

Ministerial team inspects flood situation in Thoubal district, assures relief material

IMPHAL, July 31: Incessant rain since the past few days and the ever rising water level of the rivers in the State have been a cause of worry for the

IMPHAL, July 31: Incessant rain since the past few days and the ever rising water level of the rivers in the State have been a cause of worry for the government with several areas getting flooded. Overflowing rivers have inundated nearby areas in several districts with the worst affected areas reported in Chandel and Thoubal districts.

A team of the ministers accompanied by officials of the Irrigation and Flood Control department inspected the flood affected areas of Thoubal district including Heirok, Chandrakhong and Sangai Yumpham today.

The ministers in the inspection team included Education minister Moirangthem Okendro Singh who is also the local MLA of Heirok constituency, Works and Transport minister Dr Kh Ratan Kumar Singh and IFC minister Ngamthang Haokip.

On reaching Wangjing, the team found the Wangjing bazaar stretch of the Imphal-Moreh highway submerged under water due to the incessant rain, while paddy fields in the area have been totally submerged under water making the area look like a vast lake.

Noting the condition of the Heirok Champra Bridge connecting Heirok Part I and Part II to be unstable and that it could collapse any moment, the officials have also blocked passage over the bridge for the time being.

Briefing media persons at the spot, minister Ratan said a bailey bridge will be erected near the old bridge as an immediate solution.

He elaborated the department has some parts for the bridge while the remaining parts will be procured at the earliest.

Ratan said the Champra bridge is an important bridge of the area and more important the Litan Bridge in Heirok Part II.

It may be mentioned that the RCC Litan Bridge in Heirok part II had collapsed yesterday.

The team also witnessed that the Chandrakhong Bridge in the district has also collapsed due to the strong water current.

At Heirok, the minister also assured to replace the bridge which collapsed yesterday as soon as the water level of the river recedes.

At many places including at Pallel, Sugnu, and in other parts of the valley districts rivers are flowing above the bridges.

Meanwhile, the concern minister has promised necessary relief camps at the earliest at flooded areas. The government, he said will also provide necessary items including food supplies at the earliest to the flood affected people.

Local schools and community halls will be utilised to open the relief centres, he continued.

Unholy corruption feast

It is no longer just the roads that get washed away every monsoon. Now bridges too are unable to withstand the torrents. From what we are witnessing, it is unimaginable

It is no longer just the roads that get washed away every monsoon. Now bridges too are unable to withstand the torrents. From what we are witnessing, it is unimaginable that this is an age of unthinkable technological revolution elsewhere in the world and people are building highways under the sea and through mountains. These are times when in certain advanced countries, there are plans to convert highways into clean energy generating solar panels, or to recycle waste plastic to build roads, somewhat promising to put a modern day scourge to good use. The good news is, in this era of globalisation, like all else, technologies too spread and become available to almost all corners of the world in no time. There is little to doubt that these latest technological advances, or their products, too would become available everywhere soon, either through channels of dissemination the legal market or else through grey underworld of cloning and piracy, a phenomenon yet uncontrolled, but in many ways a boon to the extent that it has checked total monopoly of technology by the rich countries. If not for the cloners in countries like China and India, who knows so many of the wonders of modern times, including cell phones, would have still remained out of reach of a bulk of humanity living outside the affluent bracket.

If it can be argued the current cutting edge generation of technology are too distant and expensive for places like Manipur to acquire, surely earlier generations, perhaps even three or four generations down the line, would probably still be enough do wonders to Manipur`™s physical infrastructure. If ageing infrastructures built during the colonial times, such as the ancient Maharani Thong on Nambul River have withstood the monsoon torrents for more than a century and half, how are dams and bridges built within the last one decade (some of them like the Sekmai dam still brand new), tumbling like nine pins at the first monsoon they encounter. Something seriously is rotten in the state of Manipur and this fact has been known for at least the last couple of decades, yet nothing has changed. In all likelihood, though this rot is exposed unlike ever before this time in the serial collapses of bridges this monsoon, nothing will probably change and things will be where they always were. Official corruption which is the major cause of all that we are witnessing now, will also predictably continue to roll on as ever before, as if nothing has happened.

Why is this state of decay so persistently refusing remedies? Why has it become so predictable that even the biggest shame that visits the place eroding the very being of the society would not ensure a check on corruption? The answer is simple. Corruption today has become such a monolithic structure in which everybody and anybody who is someone in the society has come to have a stake in the booties it offers. All through the government hierarchies, corruption abounds. Practically in every hierarchy there are middlemen and women, doing the haggling for bribe amounts for everyday government favours that should have come for no cost at all under normal circumstances, to be handed over to their bosses higher up for a percentage cut for the safe buffer against ignominy they provide these bosses. The bosses do not take the bribes directly, but the bribes chain stretches to them from the bottom. This being the case, each link in the chain protects the back of the next link to ensure the chain remains, and thus corruption remains institutionalised. While bridges and roads get washed away by the monsoon each year, the number of imported sports utility vehicles, SUVs, reciprocally rise on these same dilapidated roads. The number of expensive apartments owned by government employees in the metropolises of the country too has been growing by leaps and bounds. Can things get any worse?

This year has seen the worst monsoon from this vantage. The obvious inference is, the past decade has been the most corrupt. The percentage of public money meant for building these infrastructures that turned into SUVs and marble palaces also probably has been the highest. In a stagnant economy like Manipur, where government jobs are virtually its only source of liquidity, there is something disturbing in the wealth that has come to accumulate in the hands of few, even as the larger masses are driven increasingly to desperate poverty. The contractor-bureaucrat-technocrat-politician nexus siphoning off Manipur`™s resources is coming to strangulate the state. What is even more disturbing is, in the contractor category of this nexus are also gun totting self-professed saviours of the land. It is also bitterly ironic that in this unholy partnership, sworn enemies who kill each other on the battlefields, happily feast together from the cauldron of corruption.

Leader Writer: Pradip phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/unholy-corruption-feast/

NPF refutes dy CM`s claim that no one has claimed stake for Tamenglong ADC

IMPHAL, July 31: The Naga People`™s Front (NPF) Tamenglong refuting to the claim made by deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam that no one has stake claim to form ADCs for Tamenglong,

IMPHAL, July 31: The Naga People`™s Front (NPF) Tamenglong refuting to the claim made by deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam that no one has stake claim to form ADCs for Tamenglong, termed the statement as blatant lie and an attempt to murder democracy.

According to Ashang Pamei, president NFP Tamenglong, stated that the NPF was taken by surprised that such leader would stoop so low and try to misguide the people.

Pamei clarified that the NPF with eight elected members and BJP with five members have formed the Democratic Alliance of Tamenglong and claim majority to form the ADC Tamenglong on at least three counts, on June 19 a week after the announcement of the election results on June 28 and on 13 July after the swearing in ceremony at Tamenglong.

Upon not meeting our request for inviting us to form the council, we had already resorted to a 24-hour total shut down in the hill districts on July 26-27 last and we are still waiting for the State government to take up the required steps, divulged Pamei.

It continued that at this juncture, Gaikhangam making such irresponsible remark is uncalled for and fits condemnation in the strongest term.

Moreover, we demanded to know why Gaikhangam after having wasted so much time dare to blame the majority alliance for the impasse, said the NPF president.

Is the deputy commissioner Tamenglong sleeping over our repeated claim of majority and subsequent stake claims we made to form the ADC Tamenglng, he questioned.

Should the State government continue to dilly delaying the council formation process, people will not remain silent anymore, he maintained adding that it appealed all the right thinking citizens to rise up to defend the constitution.

KCP (Noyon) cadre arrested, claim police

IMPHAL, July 30: A combined team of Thoubal district police commandos and 22 Assam Rifles reportedly arrested a cadre of the KCP Noyon faction on Wednesday during a search operation

IMPHAL, July 30: A combined team of Thoubal district police commandos and 22 Assam Rifles reportedly arrested a cadre of the KCP Noyon faction on Wednesday during a search operation conducted in the general area of Kakching Wairi.

A statement issued by PRO Manipur Police, RK Tutusana, identified the KCP cadre as one Leishangthem Rajkumar alias Naoba alias Tomba, 23, son fo L Muhindro Singh of Kakching Wairi Senapati Leikai.

It said that investigation revealed that he was involved in three different encounters with the security forces.

While a case has been registered at Nongpok Sekmai police station, investigation is said to be underway.

The statement further said that a combined team of 12 Bihar regiment and Bishnupur district police Commando arrested a cadre of the KYKL on July 27 from Nambol Kongkham Makha Leikai.

He has been identified as one Leishangthem Ibohal Meetei alias Loya, 50, son of L Rabichandra Meetei of Nambol Kongkham Makha Leikai.

It said that as per investigation he revealed to have given five demand letters to five congress MLAs of Bishnupur district.

In a separate incident troop of 45 Assam Rifles claimed to have arrested a cadre of PLA while conducted a search operation at Korengei area on Wednesday and recovered arms and ammunitions.

According to official sources, the arrested PLA cadre has been identified as one Lieutenant Hijam Premhi alias Jingboi, 41, son of H Iboyaima of Singjamei Mongkham.

On his disclosure a follow up operation was launched and revered arms and ammunitions from the area of Phaknung village including A Beretta alongwith Magazine, two hand grenades, three live rounds of 9mm pistol and mobile hand set.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/kcp-noyon-cadre-arrested-claim-police/

Pallel villages inundated as river overflows banks

IMPHAL July 30: Mounting tension has gripped the people in and around Pallel town along Asian Highway 1 as the river running alongside has overflowed flooding the vicinity and the

IMPHAL July 30: Mounting tension has gripped the people in and around Pallel town along Asian Highway 1 as the river running alongside has overflowed flooding the vicinity and the water level continuing to rise with the incessant rain.

Residents of surrounding villages of Pallel area were in for a surprise during the wee hours of July 30, when water started seeping into their homes around 2.

The Island Village which has 47 households under Tengnoupal Block is completely under water with only the rooftops visible above the water.

People have evacuated from their homes and are presently taking shelter at other relative`™s places and good Samaritans.

Some of the affected families are presently taking shelter under the Pallel Church for the night.

The most vulnerable at the moment are the children, elders and the pregnant women.

`No one except for the REACH M volunteers have come to our rescue yet,` lamented a displaced villager.

He said, `Our MLA, district administration authorities and the security forces have also failed to extend any help yet.`

Adjoining villages like Teraphai village, Theimongkung village have also been affected by the flood. At least four houses in Theimongkung villages are flooded.

In Pallel Khulak village, the water has flooded their paddy fields and standing crops.

`People of the Pallel Bazar area comprising of more than 150 households remains sleepless in anxiety as the water level of the river continues to rise` informed Bijoy Mao over the phone at the time of filing this news.

Pallel Bridge was also wrecked by the flood and the commuters are now using an un-inaugurated bridge to cross over the river.

Langthabal residents submit memorandum to Naoriya Pakhanglakpa MLA on ILPS issue

IMPHAL, July 30: The Apunba Langthabal Lep and Phuramakhong Nambul Mapal ILPS Demand Committee supported by local clubs, meira paibis had approached the Naoria Pakhanglakpa A/C, MLA RK Anand at

IMPHAL, July 30: The Apunba Langthabal Lep and Phuramakhong Nambul Mapal ILPS Demand Committee supported by local clubs, meira paibis had approached the Naoria Pakhanglakpa A/C, MLA RK Anand at his residence and also submitted a memorandum which contained four demands.

A press release of the committee said that the memorandum was submitted by four members of the committee including its chairman and secretary to the MLA in person.

The MLA gave his support to help implement ILPS in Manipur, it said.

The MLA had also clarified before the committee members that no delaying tactics are being employed by the government on the issue, according to the statement.

It said the MLA also pointed out that work has been taken up to carry out a judicial inquiry on the death of late Sapam Robinhood and there are also appeals for release of other arrested students, it said.

The committee has also stated that further demonstration will be organised if the MLA fails to take up positive actions regarding the demands by August 15, it said further appealing to the public to support the committee.

The committee also extended its gratitude towards those who took part in submitting the memorandum to the MLA.

The charter of demands contained in the memorandum are, to include the five points as demanded by Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System, Manipur in the present drafting Bill on ILPS, to pass the present drafting New Bill on ILPS by August 15 without fail, the Government of Manipur should not play delaying tactics to the drafting and passing of the New Bill on ILPS which can protect the `Indigenous People`™ of Manipur and to complete the judicial inquiry of late Sapam Robinhood at the earliest, it said.

Inhuman punishment

Yakub Abdul Memon, one of the accused in the Bombay serial blasts of 1993, was hanged to death early this morning inside the Nagpur jail where he was interned. Memon

Yakub Abdul Memon, one of the accused in the Bombay serial blasts of 1993, was hanged to death early this morning inside the Nagpur jail where he was interned. Memon was convicted of the charge of financing the bomb blasts which killed 257 people and injured another 713. His brother `Tiger` Memon and notorious Mumbai gangster Dawood Ibrahim, were believed to be the masterminds of the mayhem, but both are in hiding out of the country. It is now known that Yakub Memon was formally arrested in 1994 from the New Delhi railway station, though he had earlier been whisked away by Indian sleuths from Kathmandu where he had allegedly come to consult his lawyers for possible routes for his acquittal in the case. He was sentenced to death in July 2007 along with 11 others. Twenty others were also sentenced to life imprisonment for involvement in the same crime. In 2013, the Supreme Court commuted the death sentences of all except Memon to life imprisonment. The court upheld Memon`™s sentence citing `his commanding position in the crime of utmost gravity` warranted no less.
We are no authority to comment on the guilt or otherwise of Memon in the dastardly Bombay serial blasts. It was however distressing to see such a sharp and irreconcilably polarised divide in the opinions of the country on the matter of his execution. One camp was rejoicing, describing this as justice done to what they called the `collective conscience` of the country. The same misplaced overflow of triumphal nationalism that we all witnessed during the June 8 cross border military strike into Myanmar, which later proved to be a damp squib, was seen repeated all over again. Memon probably was not innocent of the crime, but all the same this kind of reaction, we must say, was distasteful, and we say this in the belief death is nothing to be celebrated. The other camp is not a monolithic block. Some agree Memon would have had a part in the crime but were opposed to the death penalty on ethical grounds. Others who also do not dispute Memon would have been guilty, still wanted him spared on the `quality of mercy` plea that Shakespearean heroin Portia in `The Merchant of Venice` made immortal: `The quality of mercy is not strain`d,/ It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven/ Upon the place beneath:/ it is twice blest;/ It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.` Alas, the nation it seems does not have the patience for the poetry. Yet others take the extreme stand that Memon was not guilty and was framed to pacify what was vaunted by those seeking his death as the `collective conscience` of the nation.

We would probably stand with those who think Capital punishment is too vengeful and cruel. It also serves no purpose in terms of fighting crime than to satisfy the atavistic bloodlust defined by the principle of `an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth`. Death penalty has never been an adequate deterrent against crime either, and no country which has it, including the United States, has seen a decline in crimes punishable by death. We would also go for the `quality of mercy` plea, in the faith that mercy does bless the receiver as well as the giver, and equally that refusing it harms both spiritually. In this sense, commuting Memon`™s death sentence to one of life imprisonment would not have been about saving a life only, but about India giving itself grace. This alas was also not to be.
On the cruelty of the death sentence, no other has argued it more powerfully and convincingly than by another character in a work of art `“ Prince Muishkin in Dostoyevsky`™s `The Idiot`. The horror, he says, is not so much in the pain of the execution, but the murder of hope for life. He argues that the most dreadful experience the convict is made to face is not the execution itself, but the time between the execution and the pronouncement of his death sentence. For this reason, the crime of murder is less cruel than the death sentence, for in a murder, the victim even when his throat is cut, still clings on to hope that he/she will survive, and that is his salvation to the last. This salvation is not there for the man on death row. A soldier who can defy death in battlefield will breakdown and resign if his death sentence were to be read out to him, he says further. Imagine what must have gone through the mind of Memon yesterday night, knowing he would be hanged by morning. Capital punishment is too inhuman, and we would agree with the prince that no humane society must endorse it.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/inhuman-punishment/

Government negligence causing apprehensions of flood: BJP

IMPHAL, July 30: The recent incessant rainfall in the State has created much apprehension of flood among the people especially in Thoubal area, BJP Manipur Pradesh general secretary Media L

IMPHAL, July 30: The recent incessant rainfall in the State has created much apprehension of flood among the people especially in Thoubal area, BJP Manipur Pradesh general secretary Media L Bashanta Sharma told media persons today.

He said this is because of the misgovernance of the Congress government in the State.

Speaking to media persons, he said the panic among the people would not have been there had the IFC department been doing its work properly.

Apprehension of fear of flood among the public would have been far lesser had the IFC department released water of the Ithai Barrage routinely, he observed.

Unfortunately, due to the negligence of the department, farmers of Thoubal area have to face much hardship as their paddy fields have been inundated by the recent rain, he asserted.

Various fields in Wabagai Keirak, hiyanglam, Arong Nongmaikhong and others have been submerged under flood, he said.

The Congress doesn`™t care for the people, he warned.

He said if the present government, which enjoys an absolute majority of 48 members in the 60-member House, had any interest for the people of the State, there could have been much development in the State.

But unfortunately, the present government thinks only of themselves and not for the people, he alleged.

Now the failure of the government to ensure quality control in the development projects undertaken in the State has resulted in the collapse of dam in Sekmai, controversial leakages of the yet to be completed Thoubal multi-purpose Dam, collapse of bridge at Heirok, he alleged.

If the government had properly maintained quality according to the fund reflected in the DPR of the projects, such unwarranted collapsing of dams and bridges would have been averted, he observed.

Now that not much time has been left for the third term of the present government to end, the government should take quality control steps of projects immediately, he observed.

He continued, the longest bridge of the State Serou Bridge has been submerged under water due to the recent incessant rainfall.

The bridge is constructed over the Chakpi River. Many houses and paddy fields have also been submerged under water in the area.

Meanwhile, villagers of Serou, Sugunu, Nungu and Tangjeng have drawn the attention of State government to look into their plights.