Manipur News

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 5

Regional conference of state labour and employment ministers and secretaries of the Northeast states was held today at Imperial Hall, Classic Grande, Chingmeirong. It was organised by the ministry of labour and employment and is the first time ever held in the NE region itself.

Santosh Kumar Gangwar, minister of state labour and employment (independent charge) chaired the function and was inaugurated by chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh as chief guest.

The review meeting discussed the implementation and enhancement of schemes for child labour, plantation workers, Employees State Insurance Corporation workers, social security schemes, building and other construction workers’ cess fund among others.

Biren said the state government has taken up various programmes for employment generation in both domestic and global labour markets through job-oriented skill development training programmes in health, IT, agriculture, sericulture, technical education and others are in place to formulate prospective plans for skill development in the state.

He further a state mission on employment, housing and drinking water for each household by 2022 was launched by the state government. “There is a target to generate 7.50 lakh employment by 2022 at the rate of 1,50,000 employment every year starting from this year and not necessarily white collar jobs,” he added.

Santosh Kumar, in his speech, said that he chose to have his first ever review meeting in North Eastern states after taking charge last year to strengthen ties between the Centre and the states.

He said mainstreaming the NE region is the priority of the Centre and that they are on the plan to scrutinise and make better plans for the development of the region.

He said that he would extend every possible help to the region and requested the states to utilise the funds for the available schemes for the welfare of labourers.

Secretary of labour and employment of central government, M. Sathiyavathy said that overall performance of the NE region is not up to the mark and urged the regional officials to fair better in the next review meeting.

The function was also attended by state’s labour minister, Th. Radheshyam, minister for labour and employment, Assam, Pallab Lochan Das, parliamentary secretary, labour and employment, Nagaland, Neiphrezo Keditsu, financial advisor and additional secretary, ministry of labour and employment Arun Goel and officials from other North East states.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 5

Ten persons were arrested in connection with a video uploaded on social media on October 2 featuring mob violence.

Giving this information today at a press conference at his office conference hall today Imphal West SP Themthing Ngashangva said a video was uploaded on Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media from one account skumarinstitute offilmindustry on October 3 at 11.49 pm. The video shows some unknown people were forcefully cutting the hair of a man and a woman using abusive languages and physically assaulted the duo.

He said after examining the video and after investigation cyber crime unit and Kakching district police learnt that incident occurred at Sugnu Awang Leikai at about 11 PM on October 2.

Themthing further said the individuals who were involved in the crime have been identified and subsequently some of them have been arrested. They were handed over to cyber crime police station for further action.

An FIR number 42(10)2017 cyber crime police station under Section 147/323/342/506/509/354/34 IPC was registered against the ten accused.

Among the ten, four persons were arrested on October 4. They are identified as Khaidem Sunny Kumar Singh, 35, son of Kh. Amusana Singh, Thangjam Prem alias Yaimabi Meitei, 20, son of Th. (L) Ingocha Meitei of Sugnu Awang Leikai, Laishram Reevence Singh, 26, son of L. Sanajaoba Singh of Sugnu Mamang Leikai, Khaidem Abung Singh, 25, son of Kh. (L) Hemanta Singh of Sugnu Thong Makha Napet.

The other six were arrested today. They are identified as Khaidem Abem Devi, 37, wife of Kh. Sunny Kumar Singh of Sugnu Awang Leikai, Thounaojam Ibemcha Devi, 44, wife of Th. Inaocha Singh of Sugnu Awang Leikai, Wahengbam Lakhsmi Devi, 21, daughter of W. Bijoy Singh of Sugnu Awang Leikai, Yengkhkom Romita Devi, 22, wife of Y. Naocha of Sugnu Awang Leikai Khaidem Sabitri Devi, 22, wife of Kh. Ibungcha Singh of Sugnu Awang Leikai and Thangjam Thoibi Devi, 32, wife of Th. Naotombi Singh of Sugnu Awang Leikai.

Recalling another incident of mob violebnce in Lamsang in 1997 in connection with FIR number 15(3)1997 Lamsang police station PS under Section 148/149/307/323/336/436/353/354/427 IPC Themthing said the accused persons in the case prevented the police personnel of Lamshang police station and fire servicemen from entering the house of the complainant. Some of the accused persons burnt the house and outhouse of the victims.

Th SP said the incident took place on March 29, 1997 at around 9.30 am. The charge-sheet of the case was submitted on July 1, 1997. After twenty years sessions court Imphal West delivered its judgement on July 25, 2017 convicting 28 accused persons including 19 females.

“Mob-justice gives bad impact to the public and if one cannot catch at young, he will catch when old. People need awareness about mob justice and public should not take law into their own hands,” Themthing said.

For the first time Kangla is venue for state level Mera Houchongba

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 5

Chief minister, N. Biren said that no external forces can break the integrity of the state if all the people of the state stand together as one and safeguard the integrity of the state. He was delivering the chief guest’s speech at the Mera Houchongba festival, 2017 today at Kangla, Imphal. The vent was organised by the state level Mera Houchongba Committee.

The festival was attended by many people from both the hill and valley and gifts were exchanged between the brothers and sisters of the hill and valley.

The chief minister appreciated the titular king of Manipur, Leishemba Sanajaoba for his efforts to keep the tradition of celebrating Mera Houchongba festival every year, which maintains the bond of brotherhood between the people of hill and valley.

As bringing unity among all the people of the state is the desire of the new government, the government have joined hands with the team of Sana Konung headed by the titular king and organised the festival at the state level, he added.

Biren claimed that in the past few years there were gaps between the people of the hill and valley made by some people for political gains but the present government has brought back the close bond.

He appealed to all the people of hill and valley “to forgive and forget” the past mistakes and start loving and helping one other to make a bright future of the state.

The chief minister assured all the people of the state that there will be enormous positive changes in the state within two to three years and asked the people to cooperate and support in taking up developmental works by the government.

Mentioning yesterday’s unfortunate incident of mob violence at Sugnu, which was uploaded in social media he said that the government will not tolerate any kind of mob violence and asked the people not to take the law into their hand.

Biren said that “Imphal Evenings” was introduced in the interest of the public for public recreation and to show that the state is a peaceful state. So it will be very wrong to give negative comment, he added.

Regarding the traffic jam caused by the Imphal Evening on the first day the government has made proper planning for swift flow of the traffic in the next Imphal Evenings, he added.

The chief minister said that the working hours of the works department will be increased from 8 hours to 14 hours by giving extra wages in order to complete the developmental projects timely.

Stating that the government wants to remove the two rods from the mouth of the two Kanglas statues inside the Kangla he sought opinions of the people.

Earlier in the morning many people from both the hill marched from Sana Konung to Kangla.

The function was attended by Leishemba Sanajaoba as president and arts and culture minister, L. Jayentakumar as guest of honour, council of ministers, MLAs, village chiefs attended the programme special invitees.

Cultural dances were performed by people from different communities as a part of the festival.

From Our Correspondent

KANGPOKPI | Oct 5

An earth fissure presumably triggered by a gradual landslide appeared at Maram Centre village in Senapati district has appeared, foreboding a catastrophic natural calamity in the district.

After the fearful Kalikhola earth crack in Kangpokpi district, a similar earth fissure has appeared in the southern part of the village, near the carwash point area above Don Bosco College and Assisi Girls Hostel area which has a boundary with NH-2.

Around 30 to 40 houses have already been affected so far while 10 houses including three concrete buildings were badly damaged. One of the concrete buildings was completely destroyed and many properties were torn apart and cracks developed inside many houses which forced five households to evacuate to safer places. So far, no casualty or injury has been reported. However, about 50 to 80 more houses are on the verge of destruction if the landslide continues.

Both National Highway-2 and Maram Peren road has been affected by the earth fissure like situation triggered by the gradual landslide.

It may be mentioned that Maram Centre village is under 49-Tadubi Assembly constituency with approximately 160 households and located about 14 km away from Senapati district. The landslide occurred owing to the heavy incessant downpours since September 25.