Category: News

IMPHAL, April 22: At least five persons including two women were injured when a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by unidentified persons exploded near the 1st Gate of the Manipur University under Singjamei Police Station, Imphal West this evening around 4:10.

The injured persons have been identified as Ningthoujam Romeo, 19 son of N Tombisana Singh of Khangabok Partb II Maisnam Leikai; Irengbam Jugeshwar Singh, 63 of Irengban; Khomdram Bijen Singh, 23 son of Kh Birkumar Singh of Yairipok Khoirom; Ngangom Asha Devi, 26 daughter of Ng Dhananjoy Singh of Langpok Maning Leikai and Chanambam Anjana Devi, 31 wife of Ch Sanajaoba Singh of Bihnupur Ward no 4.

According to reports culled from the spot, one of the injured Ningthoujam Romeo works as a mason at the construction site of a culvert near the Iron Gate constructed by PWD along the highway and around 20 meter north of the 1st Gate of the university.

The IED bomb wrapped in a plastic bag was found planted along the roadside of the Indo-Burma Road.

Unaware of the contents of the bag, another worker of the construction site had moved it to an open space.

The IED went off suddenly when Romeo tried to open and look inside.

He was hit by splinters in different parts of his body and is undergoing treatment at RIMS Hospital in a critical condition.

The four others who escaped with minor injuries have been discharged from the hospital.

The impact of the blast was so powerful that it left a one foot deep pit with a 2.5 feet radius.

The splinters of the bomb also hit the pillars of the Iron Gate and flex signboards put up nearby.

On receiving reports of the blasr, a team of Imphal West District Police led by additional SP Dr S Ibomcha rushed to the spot and inspected the site.

Bomb experts of Manipur Police and CRPF along with sniffer dogs and metal detectors also arrived at the area, reports stated.

It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam will be passing through this route to take part in the Khongjom Day observation at Khebaching at Khongjom tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Manipur has strongly condemned the blast.

In a statement, the AAP Manipur said triggering bombs in public places and killing innocent people by several unknown extremists/vested groups have deeply shattered the normal life and natural freedom of the common people.

It futher appealed to all concerned irrespective of ideologies to refrain from terrorizing innocent public in any manner from today.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/five-civilians-injured-as-powerful-ied-explodes-near-mu-gate/

IMPHAL, April 22: The BJP Manipur Pradesh has filed an RTI seeking a detailed report on use of funds and developmental works taken up by the 60 sitting MLAs of the State during 2012 and 2015.

Speaking to media persons in this regards during a press meet today at the party`™s office, BJP Manipur Pradesh president Th Chaoba informed the RTI was filed by the party`™s RTI Cell.

Expressing seriousness on the matter, he said all units of the party including from the block and district levels will hold a meeting to meticulously discuss the issue.

The meeting, he said will emphasized on three main issues including the series of scams reported in the Minor Irrigation department, the recent death of an old age pensioners while waiting for her pension amount and the grievances of the VDF personnel on strike.

Further elaborating on the course of action regarding the issues, Chaoba informed that the BJP will conduct spot investigations of all the dam sites under MI department wherein scandals have been reported like at Wanghemkhuman, Kabowakching and Sanjenbam-Pukhrambam areas of Nambol under Bishnupur district, Thoubal, Imphal East, Imphal West districts etc.

To mount further pressure on the government, the BJP would be staging a series of demonstrations, added Chaoba.

With regards to the death of the old aged pensioner at the 1st Manipur Rifles ground, he said that BJP will collect the list of detailed information about old aged persons who are yet to receive their pension amount starting with the 40 Assembly Constituency of the valley district.

At the same time, he urged the concerned minister to resign on moral ground taking full responsibility for the ill-fated incident.

Moreover, the BJP will come out with a list of pensioners, most of which are close relatives of MLAs and minister who are enjoying the pension scheme beyond norms, said Chaoba.

On the VDF issue, the BJP Manipur president said the VDF personnel are being exploited by the State government.

Recalling how the VDF came into being following the Heirok incident, he said that the central government had recommended recruitment of only 1000 VDF, however, the Congress government taking advantage of its stability recruited more than 12 thousand to woo voters just ahead of the 2012 election.

Unfortunately, those MLAs who won the election by virtue of the VDF votes today have remained silent spectators watching them get exploited, said Th Chaoba.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/bjp-files-rti-seeking-report-of-developmental-works-undertaken-by-60-mlas/

IMPHAL, April 22: Altogether 6289 poultry were culled today by 10 Rapid Response Team of the State Veterinary and Animal Husbandry in connection with the confirmed outbreak of Bird Flu in the State.

According to the official report of the directorate, the RRT also destroyed 264 eggs as well as 376 kg poultry feeds.

Today`™s bird culling operations were conducted at 10 different locations within the 1 km radius from epicenter ICAR Lamphelpat where the outbreak of the HPAI was declared.

A RRT led by Mayang Imphal Veterinary Hospital, veterinary officer Dr T Indumati Devi conducted the operation at Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai and Tarung Villages, whereas Sekmai Veterinary Hospital veterinary officer Dr Kh Ibetombi Devi led another team in the area around ICAR, Lamphelpat.

In the areas of Lamphel Officer Colony behind Lamphel Police Station and Officer`™s Club area Hiyanglam Veterinary Dispensary veterinary officer Dr RK Imochouba Singh led a team, Veterinary Hospital Kangpokpi, veterinary officer Dr L Ronibal Devi led another RRT and conducted the culling operation around AG Colony, CRPF Colony and adjoining areas.

Sabal Leikai Veterinary Hospital Officer veterinary officer Dr TH Sukumar Singh lead his team and conducted operation at PDA Complex and adjoining areas, while, veterinary officer of Pony Sanctuary, Heingang Dr M Menjor Singh and his team conducted the operation at Thangmeiband Hijam Leikai.

Veterinary officer of Cattle Farm Turibari Dr N Padam Singh led his team around Tarung Village upto road approaching the village while, DVO, Senapati veterinary officer Dr Muhindro Singh led his team in conducting the culling operation at Central School, Imphal Road.

The RRT led by AEO of DVO, Imphal East conducted the operation along the road approaching Shija Hospital and Research Institutes.

An official of the directorate said the public had fully cooperated during today`™s operations and that the RRTs were accompanied by a medical and revenue team.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/vety-officials-continue-culling-of-poultry/

IMPHAL, April 22: The Training Nurses Association of India (TNAI) Jawahar Lal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences Unit has threatened to launch a non-cooperation movement if the government fails to fulfill their demands within five days.

A press conference was convened today with regards to the issue at the JNIMS complex, wherein S Rama, TNAI general secretary divulged that the unit had submitted a memorandum regarding their demands to the Chief Minister of Manipur on April 20.

As a mark of their protest, the nurses at JNIMS have started wearing black badge the same day of the submission of the charter of demands, she said.

Highlighting their plight, the nurses pointed out that the staff like faculty and residents of JNIMS were appointed after having fulfilled the minimum requirement prescribed by the Medical Council of India as with their RIMS counterparts.

Relatively, the faculty and residents of JNIMS are allowed to enjoy the scale of pay and allowances at par with their counterparts at RIMS considering their qualification, experience and nature of duties whereas extensive of or application of the same principal has been denied to the nursing of JNIMS which is nothing but a discriminatory treatment meted out towards the nurses.

It said that full pension scheme according to the entry point service as was given in the case of nursing employees of RIMS has been denied to the Nursing personnel of JNIMS.

The demands of the nurses include immediate framing of service rules for all the posts in various grades of nursing personnel; no direct recruitment against any nursing posts in all the grades except at the entry point of staff nurse after finalization of seniority list, due notification of recruitment rules of all the nursing posts in different grades.

The TNAI further demanded the regularization of the services of the 48 staff nurses who were appointed after undergoing the due process of appointment and representation of nurses before the executives committee of JNIMS society.

She continued that after the erstwhile JN Hospital has been recognised as JNIMS it created confusion for nurses either they are under Health Service, government of Manipur or JNIMS, central government.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/jnims-nurses-warn-of-noncooperation/

IMPHAL, April 22: As announced earlier, officials of Health Services, Manipur have started conducting survey on Bird Flu in households in Imphal West and East, situated within 3 km of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Lamphelpat from today following the confirmation of the highly contagious Bird Flu outbreak on April 18.

According to reports received by IFP, the survey is being conducted by health experts of 13 sectors under Health Services, Manipur with 10 members in each of the sectors.

The main objective of the survey which will be conducted for seven days is to check whether any person had been infected with the Avian Influenza virus which can be transmitted from birds to humans.

Areas in Imphal West where the survey conducted today are Thangal Bazar, Chingmeirong, Uripok, ICAR complex, Langol Tarung and Iroishemba while Mantripukhri and Khuman Lampak are the areas in Imphal East where the survey covered.

During the extensive survey, no one was found with symptoms of the Bird Flu.

However, Tami Flu capsules were distributed to 15 staff who work at the Poultry Unit of ICAR which is the epicentre of the Bird Flu outbreak.

Health officials of the 13 sectors will continue its survey tomorrow at the remaining households within 3 km of the epicentre, the reports said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/health-officials-begin-household-survey/

IMPHAL, April 22: The Human Rights Initiative, Manipur in collaboration with the JAC for the Mapithel Dam Downstream Affected People, Imphal East conducted a public meeting cum mass rally on the `UN declaration on the rights of indigenous people and Mapithel Dam`™ at Moirang Purel, Imphal East today.

Around 500 villagers of Itham Moirang Purel, Nungram and Tumukhong participated in the public meeting and mass rally voicing concerns against the construction of Dam which they claimed will submerged the land of people living upstream while those living downstream will face water scarcity.

Addressing the public gathering, HRI executive director W Joykumar expressed that the dam has instilled fear among the immediate downstream residents along the Thoubal River. The people are afraid at the same time that the dam may break raising concern over the quality of main dam`™s construction, he said.

During the meeting, phamplets were also distributed to the participants highlighting that the Irrigation and Flood Control department had started blocking the Thoubal River for filling up of the mapithel Dam since January 10. It said the reserved water of the dam has already submerged an extensive portion of agricultural land, grazing ground, forest areas of Louphong and Chadong village.

The public meeting was also attended by Mapithel Dam Affected Village Organisation (Upstream) chairman RS Sankhan, JAC members Rabi and L Okendro, village elders Mani and W Lukhoi and Moirangpurel Meira Paibi member T Kaboklei.

Meanwhile, during a brief meeting with media persons on the sideline of the public gathering, one of the site engineer identified as assistant engineer L Tamocharoi said the construction of the dam was sanctioned in the year 1989, however, construction started only in 2000.

He said there is also an arbitrary case ongoing in the court against a previously involved contractor for incompetence and fund misappropriation. The construction was later handed over to Delhi based progressive Construction Limited, he said.

He said distribution of compensation for the affected upstream areas had already been completed through the Ministy of Tribal Affairs and had been handed over to through the concerned DC, however, there has been no compensation for people living downstream as of yet.

Sharing some facts about the dam, he said that Mapithel Dam will have a gross storage capacity of 176.38 Million Cubic Meters. He said that the dam is Homogeneous Earth Filled and has a length of 1074 meters and is 66 meter high.

The estimated cost of the dam is stated to be Rs 1387.85 crores. The dam is set to commence from early 2016 and will have three 2.5 Mega Watt turbines which will generate 7.5 MW of electricity, he said.

He continued that the dam is only for the state of Manipur and it will benefit 21862 Hectares of irrigational land which will boost 153% in the annual agricultural yield.

He further said that the dam will be able to supply enough water for irrigation and will be able to control flood erupting from Thoubal River.

He also said that Mapithel Dam will have the capacity to supply 5 million gallons of potable water for the twin districts of Imphal.

The engineer also expressed that the construction has faced stiff opposition and there has also been cases of staff of the company being attacked, tools worth crores of rupees damaged by UG groups for which a dedicated Thoubal Dam Police Station has also been opened.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/rally-against-mapithel-dam-taken-out/