Category: News

IMPHAL, June 21: At least three hard cores cadres of the underground KCP (City Meitei) group involved in various anti social crimes in the state were apprehended by a combined team of the Imphal East district police commandos and the personnel of 23 AR during a cordon off operation conducted at Thamnapokpi village on the early morning of the June 18.

According to an official release of the SP Imphal East, the combined security team on getting specific information about the presence of some of the hardcore activities of hard core cadres of the KCP conducted their specific operation at the Thamnapokpi village at the early morning after the areas have been kept under cordoned by the combined security forces.

The official release further mentioned that, the security forces during their course of operations in the village arrested three active members of the underground KCP (City Meitei) group identified as Sukham Ananta Meitei alias Nanao alias Salai, 20, son of S Muhindro Singh of Thamnapokpi Makha Leikai, Keisham Bindu Singh, 37, s/o K Achoubi of Thamnapokpi Mayai Leikai and Okram Somorjit Meitei alias Hemjit Singh alias Somo, 24, s/o O Chandra Meitei of Thamnapokpi Awang Leikai from their respective houses and the security force also recovered two 9mm pistol with several ammunitions from the arrested persons.

It is also mentioned that, during the preliminary interrogation, Sukham Ananta revealed that he joined the outfit in the month of March 2008 and got basic military training from Bangladesh under Army No.11023, 2nd Batch of KCP (City Meitei) and is now holding the rank of s/s corporal of the outfit and still working under the command of one s/s corporal Abom of the same outfit.

The release further mentioned that, S. Ananta also disclosed to the police that, he was involved in shooting and killing of a lady at Sabungkhok who was identified as an active worker of minister Ph Parijat on July 27 last year.

On the other hand arrested K Bindu also told the police that he is an active member of the same outfit an involved in extortion of Rs.5 Lakhs from one Rani of Yorbung a member of the village council, the release added.

Further Okram Somorjit also disclosed to the police that he was involved in killing of a worker of minister N Loken Singh at Wahengkhuman during April last month and shooting of Shyamkeshore, president of Yaingangpokpi Bazar Board near Leimakhong Mapal in the month of August last year over and above his assignment of collection of demand money of Rs.1 lakh from the Shija Hospital during March last year, the release added.

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IMPHAL June 23: A 15 member representatives of various leading exporters’ firm of the country have arrived here, to participate in the 2nd Buyer – Seller meet cum exhibition, 2011 held at the conference hall of the Hotel Classic, today. 

Expressing contentment at the products displayed during the exhibition, the representatives, that include from Delhi, Kolkatta, Kerala, Varanasi were of the opinion that the products should be made on par with the international standards in terms of commercial viability such as pricing, market acceptability and production capability.

They suggested that the parameters of the traditional methods of the local artisans and its usages should be diversified in order to meet the taste of global consumers.

The representatives of the leading exporters’ firms hinted that creative diversification in the locally produced textile products is necessary.

M. Rajen, OSD, handloom, directorate of commerce and industries said that today’s meeting cum exhibition was held to form a platform for the local handloom weavers and local entrepreneurs to have the opportunity to directly interact with the exporters and to find a viable roadmap for global arena of the locally produced handloom products. He said that Manipur stands 4th position in the number of Handloom weaver and 3th position in Handloom usages and Yarn consumption in the all India ranking.

Today’s buyers–sellers meet cum exhibition was organized by the Manipur Apex Handloom Weavers and Handicraft artisan co-operative societies limited under the integrated handloom development scheme.

The function was sponsored by the development commissioner (Handloom) Ministry of Textiles, Government of India & Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Manipur.

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IMPHAL July 1: Chief-whip of the SPF and MLA of Thanga constituency T. Mangibabu clarified that the allegations made against him by one Tongbram Robindro who was arrested by police for smuggling drugs and that his arrest was perpetrated by the MLA himself is unfounded.

Talking to reporters at his office at the old secretariat complex today, Mangibabu contended that he had nothing to do with Robindro’s arrest and he was hauled up by police for his clandestine business activities.

“How can I instigate the police to arrest someone, Robindro was known as a smuggler after the Delhi police arrested one Napolean from Delhi airport with 200 kgs of Ephidrine on April 4, Robindro was named as the mastermind behind the smuggling in the media. His allegation in the local electronic media that he is not involved with drug trafficking and that I was responsible for his arrest is baseless”, the MLA added.

The MLA contended that he had been involved in politics since the early 80’s has never used any unfair means to get ahead in his career. “Let anyone stand for election, it is a person’s democratic right but I feel that he should be centered in bringing about peace and development, not in criminal activities”, he said.

The MLA and his workers voiced that Tongbram Robindro has political aspirations and to contest the forthcoming elections.

Meanwhile Robindro who belongs to the same constituency as the MLA is said to be related to the MLA.

Mangibabu replying to the fate of fishers after the introduction of the Loktak Protection Act said that the Act has to be there to protect the lake, but if the clauses in the said act becomes anti people, then it needs to be amended, he maintained.

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By Chitra Ahanthem
“Is Manipur tourist friendly?” happens to be a very popular question doing the rounds in the virtual sphere(read internet, and particularly social networking sites). Those saying “Aye” point towards the emergence of a fancy hotel in Imphal that looks like a 3 star hotel and even has a behind the scenes bar with drinks served in open spaces (Manipur being a dry state besides having the moral guardians on prowl means all other hotels also serve guests in their room with inflated bills); the setting up of tourist parks around the state and plans for hotels on the card. Those shouting out “Nay” to the question points out to the lack of footfall of tourists to the state despite the lifting of the PAP for foreigners; that the filth in the city keeps away people and that it is better other people do not see how much of dirt Imphal town is living with anyway; that law and order is a big turn off for people to visit the place.

To begin with: we must first look at what the Tourism department has set its visions on as part of the “Incredible India” brand. On the national domain, the “Incredible India” brand and media campaign is pitched on the unusual sights, sounds and experiences of India: its people, places and culture. The media advertisement campaigns are full of colour and there is a dedicated handbook along with a web site, brand ambassadors, tourism festivals etc. The problem with the Tourism department in Manipur is that it has not broadened its own horizons. Unlike many other states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra or even our next-door neighbours like Assam and Meghalaya, there is no separate buzz being created to highlight Manipur. Tourist information on the state is left to a few insipid web sites and annual calendars that decorate Government department offices.

A genuine reason for not pitching the state may well be the fact that infrastructure for tourist footfall is not up to the mark at all. Apart from the one fancy hotel and its bar, the Government related hotel in Imphal is notorious for its total unprofessionalism: room service and the in house restaurant never ever give service within time (some guests that I had recommended the hotel to stay in came back with feedback that a breakfast order would be served at lunch time, lunch at dusk and dinner immediately after dusk!). The guest-houses at certain places that I know of (Sendra for one) are falling apart while the matter of whether civilian guests are allowed to stay there lies unknown. If there are other guest-houses anywhere else, we are none the wiser about them.

The setting up of tourist parks here, there and everywhere is mystifying: at least for me. They have been set up with huge costs but with what purpose? All they seem to attract are Manipuri film crews and youngsters with cameras in tow. Will we wake up one day to see a surge of tourists going to these “eco-parks”? But when people do not come to the state, how can they go to the said parks ever? If they came, what is there in the parks here that they have not seen in parks in their own home state? Are there indigenous crafts stalls around the parks? No. Are there decent food stalls near the parks (apart from the perennial dark roomed “Fast food” places)? No. So? Who goes? Sadly, not even many local people head to the parks (apart from film crews and young people dating).

Yet, not everything is lost for the state has great potential that needs to be strategically thought of and implemented. The 9 districts of the state have their own unique locations and the gifts of nature: greenery, hills, meadows, small lakes and water falls, peaks and places for sighting birds. Every community in Manipur has their own colourful festivals and dances which can be pitched for tourist tours (think the boat race in Kerala or the Rathyatra festival in Puri, Orissa that brings in thousands of tourists). More pressingly, there has to be support systems in place for receiving tourists and ensuring that they have experineces that they will recommend to other people. Yes, hotels and transport facilities in the state are practically non-existent at present. It would be mistaken to be content with good places to stay in Imphal only: every district should have facilities for private stays in hotels. Or there should be well oiled (read, run efficiently) Government tourist lodges in the districts. There needs to be conversant tourist guides (does the Kangla Fort even have a guided tour for tourists who are interested?) as also setting up Government approved vehicle rates. This is mainly because most out of Imphal travel is taken either by the NGO community or media people who come in from outside the state who hire privately managed vehicles. End result? Inflated travel costs for the common folks!

End-point:
Tourism in the state is in its infancy given the lack of support systems. But all it needs is for out of the box options and rising up to the challenge. The Tourism department needs to also think of bringing in other people and agencies (the Churches can be brought in as an integral partner in the districts as providers for home stays for a fee given the lack of accommodation facilities). They would do well to also study neighbouring Nagaland and its famed Hornbill festival to begin with: how it is pitched and what it comprises of; how the state works with different stakeholders (bloggers, travel writers, photographers) to ensure maximum visibility. The world of possibilities are endless given the range of places, festivals, food and culture that exist in the state and all that is needed would be concerted efforts for the Tourism Department to think a bit unconventionally.

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