Category: News

IMPHAL, October 9: A local court on Thursday rejected an anticipatory bail plea from ousted RIMS director prof Sekharjit Singh who is facing a non-bailable case in connection with regards to irregularities in the supply of dental chairs and other misappropriations.

Special Judge, Manipur East N Rajnikanta Singh rejected the appeal.

Earlier on May 21, the CBI had submitted a FIR before the District and Session Judge Manipur East bearing number Criminal Miscellaneous case number 41 of 2014 reference RC number 6 (A) 2014/IMP under section 120-B, 420 of the Indian Penal Code 13 (2) read with 13 (1) (D), Prevention of Corruption Act

According to a source, the special judge had observed in his order that granting interim bail to the petitioner could hamper investigation as it has been observed upon careful perusal of the case that the investigation of the case seems to be in the initial stage and after considering the nature and gravity of the accusation against the petitioner.

It is also learnt from a reliable source that case was registered against prof S Sekharjit Singh after the competent authority in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, government of India granted it under Section 6A of the DSPE Act, 1946.

On September 12, a 35-official strong team of the CBI had raided the residence of the dismissed Regional Institute of Medical Science director L Sekharjit Singh.

Raids were simultaneously conducted at nine places including Sekharjit`™s official quarter and residence.

It was also reported that the administrative block of RIMS Dental College was a prime target and documents related to the purchase of dental chairs for the hospital were seized during the raid.

It may also be mentioned that Dr L Sekharjit was prematurely removed from the post of RIMS director on August 25 although his tenure was to expire on September 13, 2015.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/sekharjits-anticipatory-bail-plea-rejected/

IMPHAL, October 9: The State Labour department, today, failed to furnish the exact figure of migrant labourers working in the State before the All political party committee on the Inner Line Permit System.

Today was the last meeting of the committee, which was held at the Assembly secretariat hall. The meeting was chaired by the deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.

It may be recalled that during an earlier meeting, the committee had instructed the said department to submit the exact figure of migrant labourers population in the State, as the committee was not satisfied with the previous report submitted.

The commissioner of the department was also instructed to be present in today`™s meeting.

According to a source, deputy commissioner of the Labour department, Tomba along with three representatives were present before the committee. The commissioner, however, failed to turn up, on the ground that he is out of station. In the meeting, the Labour department reported that seven non-local contractors are presently working in the State, but the numbers of hired labourers could not be ascertained.

It continued that the committee after hearing the report observed that the Labour department is not functioning properly in the State, and further instructed to submit the figures very soon.

Later, the committee heard expert comments from retd Session judge, C Upendro, former member of Manipur Human Right Commission, Ng Nongyai and Fast Track Court judge, N Ibohal, on the implementation of ILP system in the State.

The committee is yet to fix the date for adopting resolutions to give a substantial report on the pending issue of ILP to the government of Manipur, added the source.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/labour-departments-shoddy-report-disappoints-all-political-party-committee/

IMPHAL, October 9: Holding Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh for the fiasco over the Govindajee Temple (3rd Ammendement) Bill 2014, MPP president today demanded a special Assembly session to amend the Act.

He said the bill must have been passed without proper discussion in the House.

He was speaking in a media interaction held today at its Mapal Kangjeibung office.

Sovakiran, however, welcomed the statement made by the CM that the said bill can be further amended.

Sovakiran also observed that the 60 MLAs, who represent the entire people of Manipur have no respect for the Constitution of the country, before adding that such important bill was apparently passed without proper discussion in the House.

He further said that unnecessary confusion has been created among the people with the passing of the bill. The Chief Minister seems to have come to his senses only when different sections of the people including various civil groups decried against the bill. `Where was the CM`™s second thought before pushing ahead the bill`, he asked.

Sovakiran alleged that the Chief Minister is cheating the people by passing the buck regarding the passing of the bill to former Governor, VK Duggal.

He is making a mockery of democracy and demeaning the dignity of the House, Sovakiran asserted.

It seems that the members of the House have also casually passed bills on important issues like the State territorial integrity, Inner Line Permit System and protection of paddy land etc., he further alleged.

Advocate Y Priyokumar, legal cell member of MPP, who was also present in the interaction maintained that after the signing of the Merger Agreement between the government of India and Manipur, it was agreed upon that matter regarding to religion and its rituals will be under the purview of the king. He said the Govindajee Temple (3rd Ammendment) Bill is violation of that agreement.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/mpp-demands-special-assembly-session-to-discuss-bill/

IMPHAL, October 9: A VDF personnel was lynched by mob for allegedly stealing a bicycle last night Wangjing Wangkhei Sabal leikai under Thoubal district.

The victim has been identified as Md Aboca alias Ahamatullah, 28, son of Md Enayatullah of Sangaiyumpham Part-I Nungphou bazaar.

Reports said that the victim was caught along with a bicycle around 8 pm last night. His body was retrieved by the police and deposited at JNIMS morgue.

In protest against the incident, a joint action committee was formed today in a meeting held today at Sangaiyumpham Nungphou bazaar.

Claiming that the allegation made against the deceased was false, the meeting resolved not to claim the lifeless body until the culprits involved in the killing is booked and punished as per the law.

The JAC has also set a deadline to produce the culprits on or before October 11.

The resolution copy was drafted in the form of memorandum and submitted to the Chief Minister of Manipur through, MLA O Landhoni and SP Thoubal.

Later, a silent rally was also organised covering Wangbal, Wangjing and Sangaiyumpham area.

Meanwhile, a meeting was also held today at Wanging Wangkhei Meira hall wherein the gathering bemoaned the incident adding that the unfortunate incident was not intentional.

In order to prevent similar incident in the future, the gathering resolved to bar entry of any outsider in Wangjing area after 8pm.

The gathering also took out a rally with anti-theft slogan.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/vdf-personnel-lynched-for-allegedly-lifting-bicycle/

IMPHAL, October 9: The Shri Govindajee Temple (Third Amemndment) Bill 2014 will create problems among different communities, claimed Umang Lai Kanba Apunba Lup spokesperson Yurembam Meiraba today.

UKAL has also set October 13 for the government to bring a solution on the impasse regarding the Bill and threatened to launch severe forms of agitations in the State in case it fails to.

UKAL has been spearheading a movement demanding revocation of the Bill which has already been passed as an Act with an approval from the State Governor. Many organisations in the State had supported the movement ever since then.

Speaking to media persons at their Palace Compound office, Meiraba said the passing of such a Bill in a secular country is unfortunate and regrettable.

This Act is bound to create more confusion among the peoples unless it is revoked, he claimed.

Elaborating on his point, he said the Umang lai deities are not worshipped by only one community, but there are several communities in the State who worship the deities.

He demanded a special session of the State Assembly at the earliest to revoke the Act.

At the same time, he lauded the statement of the State Chief Minister made during a Mera Houchongba observation that considering the differences in public opinion regarding Bill, he had urged the previous Governor against giving his assent to the passing of the Bill although the State Assembly had already passed it.

Meiraba at the same time questioned as to whether the statement was made to gain political mileage or the Chief Minister was genuine in his concern for the public sentiment.

On the other hand, Lai Lup convenor Maniton Mangang said the Chief Minister`™s statement has created confusion among the general public.

He said the Bill was passed on July 25, 2014 and UKAL supported by other organisations had demanded revocation of the Bill before September 15, however the government has neglected the demand.

Since then, UKAL has decided to boycott the upcoming Sangai Festival of the government.

Now if the government fails to bring an amicable solution to the demand before October 13, stronger forms of agitations will be launched in the State, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/ukal-sets-oct-13-deadline-for-government-to-bring-solution-to-temple-board-bill/

IMPHAL, October 9: Expressing serious concern over the frequent change of the project director (PD) of the Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS), the Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) and MACS Partner NGOs Forum (MPNF) has urged the concerned authority to stop discriminating people living with HIV & AIDS and other marginalised communities through frequent change of PDs.

In a press communique signed by president of CoNE RK Nalinikanta, it has questioned the motive of the concerned authority behind the frequent change of PD, who otherwise should remain in the post if the HIV prevention programme in the State is to be made successful in the interest of the people infected and affected.

While pointing out that the main reason behind the poor implementation of HIV programme in the State is the frequent change of PD, the release urged the State government to change such attitude if at all it sincerely intends to control the spread of HIV in the State.

`What will be the fate of the State if such trends continues`, it added.

The release also informed that no PD of MACS has served the society for a year during the last 4/5 years. There have been instances when a person who has been assigned the post of PD MACS is released within a month`™s time.

`No sooner a PD becomes versed with the programmes of HIV and is all set to implement the programmes, the PD is found transferred and replaced by another official completely ignorant on the issue.`

`Under such circumstances, it would not be possible to implement HIV programmes in the state properly`, the statement charged.

Urging the government not to repeat its mistake over and over again, the statement also suggested that it would be a wise step on the part of the concerned authority to keep intact a Project Director like Shailesh Kumar Chaurasia who is well versed with the existing programmes implemented by MACS, who not only understands the importance of community involvement in the on-going HIV programme, but also keeps close coordination with the implementing NGO partners. It also appeals to the state government to revoke the order of transferring Shailesh Kumar Chourasia from the post of PD MACS in the larger interest of the marginalised communities.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/cone-shows-concern-over-frequent-change-of-macs-project-director/