Manipur News

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 18

In tandem with the celebrations across the globe, the 9th World Bamboo day was celebrated today in the state at Singjamei community hall, Imphal. The theme of the event was E3 – environment, energy and employment.  

While addressing the programme, chief architect of Buddhabir and Association, Th. Buddhabir Singh, speaking as the guest of honour said that bamboo products are taking an important role to promote arts and crafts of the state.

He said that instead of waiting for government jobs, the youths of Manipur should start their own small scale industry of bamboo crafts to make their living. Nowadays bamboo products are replacing other furniture in most of the countries, and the demands are more than the wooden products, he added.    

Member of Bamboo Forum of India, Sukumar Haobam who also spoke on the occasion said that the day is celebrated globally in order to increase awareness of the usefulness of bamboo. The aim of world bamboo organisation is to promote and protect bamboo and to ensure sustainable utilisation of bamboo products throughout the world.

He also said the celebration was first started in 2011 at Singjamei, organised by Bamboo Forum of India under the sponsorship of several department of the state. The main function was plantation of bamboos at different sites, painting competition on the theme of bamboo, bamboo exhibition which included different bamboo cuisines.

Sukumar further said that bamboo is a good substitute of wood and it has carbon sequestration properties which can reduce the global warming.

Deputy director of handloom and textiles, E. Jeeten Singh said bamboo has been in use in the state in different forms since ancient times. Use of bamboo in furniture will be more profitable than wood as they grow faster and get matured in three to four years.

The directorate of textile is planning to give trainings on the uses of bamboo in order to motivate the artisans and entrepreneurs to bring out innovative ideas for the development of state, he added.

The programme was attended by Mayor of IMC, L. Lokeshore Singh as chief guest, advisor of Social Upliftment Organisation, H. Shyamkanhai as president and joint director of University and Higher Education, L. Iboyaima Singh as guest of honour.

A five day bamboo and cane allied craft exhibition was also inaugurated as part of the celebration at Singjamei Community Hall, which will be on till September 22.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 18

Condemning the alleged killing of Chanam Pravish on September 8 at Noida, and secretly cremating the body without informing the family members, locals of Uripok took out a protest rally today at Uripok Achom Leikai area.

While the locals of Uripok tried to march till the chief minister’s bungalow, police stopped them at Uripok Gopalji Leirak Machin.

Chanam Pravish (22) son of Chanam Jugindro of Uripok Achom Leikai was travelling from Hydrabad to Delhi on September 7 to witness a music concert on September 8 but went missing from the day of concert.

On the same day his brother lodged a missing case to the police. But on September 13 police informed to his brother that Pravish body was cremated as no one came to claim the body.

The locals appealed to the chief minister to let the CBI investigate the case as the dead of Pravish is highly suspected to be a murder.

It may be recalled that Pravish reached Delhi on September 7 and stayed at his friend Ashok Thounaojam’s Safdarjung residence. The following day in the evening, Pravish went to attend a musical concert at Noida.

Pravish and his friends including Ashok along with two others had gone to attend the concert.

Later, around 9.30 pm, Ashok and his friends found that Pravish was missing and accordingly his elder brother Ravikanta Chanam was notified following which a missing report was filed at Knowledge Park police station at Gautam Budh district of Uttar Pradesh on September 9.

Jiri News Network

JIRIBAM | Sept 18

The camp of UTLA/UTLF, which exist under the MoU signed between the state government and Indian government, located at the Peace Panel Camp, Liesahangphai under Tamenglong district, was attacked by heavily armed unidentified assailants. Three people including a woman were killed.    

The attack took place around 12.10 am yesterday at the mentioned location where the three people reportedly died at the spot. They were private Mangminlen (22), son of Kaimang from Buolzol village, Churachandpur, Ngamboi (21), son of Demlun, from Inbung village, Nagaland and Hatshi (25), wife of private Chochon from Buolzol village, Churachandpur.

General secretary, UTLA/UTLF, Robert Singson said in the month of July, the SP Jiribam had taken away their arms which was issued for self-protection by the government. Appeals had been made to the higher authorities regarding the matter. However, no reply was made and this may have led to the advantage of the unknown assailants and made them carry out the attack.

He further expressed that the dead bodies will not be taken unless the government does not turn the signed MoU and all the agreements into concrete actions.

When the incident took place, 37 Assam Rifles was informed though a phone call. The attackers rushed off when the Assam Rifles arrived. More people might have been killed if the AR had not arrived at the spot, he further expressed.

A team led by SDPO, R.K Charles of Jiri police came around 5 am to make a spot enquiry and the dead bodies were taken to Jiri police station for post mortem.

IMPHAL | Sept 18

Manipur is one of the few states in the country where women are highly respected, financially and economically independent, equal partners and sometimes more dominating compared to women in other parts of the country.

This was stated by governor of the state, Najma Heptulla addressing at the 2-day workshop on ‘Gender Sensitive Best Practices, Implementations and Capacity Building of Police Officials’ at Manipur Police Training College, Pangei, today.

The 2-day workshop is being organised by Manipur Police Training College in collaboration with Centre for Social Research, New Delhi, a non-governmental organisation, working on gender issues for the police personnel.

Applauding the work of the NGO, in sensitising crime against women, the governor said gender division is actually in the mindset of the people. Incidents of atrocities on women are being reported in the past 2 -3 months but the state is generally peaceful due to the police, she said, adding those in the police are quite sensitive of the issues not because of any training but because they are born in a society, where women are highly respected and such kind of training is perhaps unnecessary.

She further said the police should also increase their vigilance on drugs smuggled from across the border.

The governor continued it would be a good step to send representatives from the State to other parts of the country to train and sensitise about gender sensitisation. Apart from gender sensitisation training, sensitisation on the bad effects of drugs should also be taken up to curb violence as there is rise in consumption of drugs among the youths, she added.

The governor conveying her message to the young police officers said that there should be no discrimination based on caste, creed, religion or gender, as laid down in our Constitution. As a law-enforcing officer, police personnel should abide by the Constitution, and discharge their duties by treating those people in distress with equal respect and they should treat those people in distress with equality, she said R.K. Tutusana Devi, director, Manipur Police Training College, said that like in other parts of the country crime against women in Manipur is definitely on the rise taking a toll on law and order situation in the State.

But inhuman crime such as female foeticide, dowries killing among others are almost non-existent in the State she said, adding that it is the right time to sensitise the police forces specially the mid-level forces, as crime against women is on the rise in Manipur.

The programme will certainly sensitise them on gender issues, not only male officers vis-à-vis female officers, they have to understand themselves, understand the needs of their counterparts male or female and change their behavioural attitude accordingly so that such type of crime are kept under control in the State, said Tutusana.

She also said that there are still areas in the country that women are still apprehensive of approaching the police. In some cases, there are reports of police harassing the victims instead of helping them, she added.

She requested the CSR team to take up sensitisation programmes for these police personnel, which will be very beneficial for the police forces.

Sobita, chairperson, Manipur State Commission for Women, who also spoke on the occasion said that the programme is a very pioneering work rendered for the officials in Police Department.

In Manipur even though we are not having such serious crime that are happening in other parts of the country, of late there was an increasing trend in the crime against women, she added.

And in this regard a sensitization programme for the police personnel and surrounding communities is very much required, she said.

DGP L.M. Khaute, ADGP P. Doungel, head of Gender Training Institute Juthika Bannerjee, Project Coordinator, Centre for Social Research Priyanka Londhe and police personnel of the college attended the function.

IMPHAL | Sept 18

Considering the inconvenience being faced by the people due to scarcity of cooking gas, chief minister N. Biren inquired the CAF and PD officials about the cause of the shortage of LPG supply.

He made the inquiry while speaking at a review meeting held at CM’s secretariat to discuss the targets of the developmental projects or schemes undertaken by different government departments to be completed in the current year 2017-18.

After he was briefed on the present situation by the officials concerned, the CM directed the officials to do whatever possible to address the problem immediately.

He also instructed them to convene a meeting at CM’s secretariat if necessary on the matter.

The meeting was conducted in continuation of the earlier meetings held on September 13 and 16 last.

Further in the meeting, he directed the officials concerned to expedite works regarding opening of a police station at Behiang, under Churachandpur district.

He also directed to constitute a committee and conduct a field visit across the State to find out the exact number of condemned vehicles of sate police department. All the repairable vehicles could be auctioned while un-repairable vehicles should be disposed as scraps, he said.

Developmental activities and welfare schemes being taken up by home, finance, MAHUD, MOBC and labour and employment departments were mainly deliberated in today’s meeting.

Chief minister’s cabinet colleagues, chief secretary, DGP, additional DGP, administrative secretaries, HoDs and other top level officials were present in the meeting.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 18

In a bizarre incident an eleven year old girl, identified as Toijam Ronita got ill after getting free vaccination of Tetanus toxoid (TT) from Yairipok Community Health Centre on September 7.  

Toijam Sobita, aunt of Ronita told reporters at Manipur Press Club today that she along with her nine-month old infant daughter and Ronita went to the said health centre on September 7 to get the infant’s routine check-up. 

She recalled that at the CHC the nurse curiously asked about her niece’s age and when she told the nurse, one Thoithoi that her niece was eleven, the latter suggested getting her niece an injection of TT and iron tablet.

Sobita and the child even hesitated to get the injection, but as the nurse was insisting that it will be beneficial to health in the future, she gave in and was given the injections.

Sobita recalled that her niece has been a very healthy child and never had fallen so sick till date, but the morning after getting the injection, the child cried in pain. “Ronita started developing breathing difficulty and certain uneasiness in her body and could not even eat and sleep”, Sobita added.

She then took her to the CHC and told one Dr. Miranda about the case. She was given medicine to get better. Sobita took Ronita back home but after a while the pain started again, so they admitted her in Thoubal hospital. The Thoubal hospital staff cooled down her pain but only temporarily and Ronita started crying in pain again, Sobita said.

Thereafter Ronita was admitted again in JNIMS, after the pain subsided she was discharged the following day. But after two days Ronita started experiencing the same pain again. Consequently Ronita was taken to RIMS. 

She said that the doctor of RIMS said that the effects of the medicine or vaccination (TT) given by Yairipok CHC hurt Ronita’s stomach and has caused allergy.

Sobita alleged that the nurse (Thoithoi) was a substitute of one Ashalata. She also alleged that 2-3 patients had similar experiences with nurse Thoithoi. Further she urged the authorities concerned to look into the matter and make sure that qualified medical staffs are stationed at the public health care centre.

It is learned that Ronita is feeling better at the time of filing this report.

IMPHAL | Sept 18

 Union minister of state, heavy industries and public enterprises, Babul Supriyo today inaugurated exhibition cum seminar of ‘Naya Bharat – Hum Karke Rahenge’ and pledged for a new India at Manipur State Film Development Society Hall, Palace compound, Imphal.

The chief guest of the function, Babul Supriyo administered Sankalp Se Siddhi (New India Pledge) together with all the participants.  The pledge and programme was in tune with the mass campaign started by the Prime Minister to take the six resolves to make the country- free of corruption, free of poverty, free of filth, free of communalism, free of terrorism and free of casteism.

The focus of the exhibitions was on India’s freedom movement from 1857 to 1947 showing the various activities initiated to attain the freedom from the British rule. The first war of Independence, 1857, the Champaran Satyagrah, the Non-cooperation movement, the Dandi yatra and the Quit India Movement.

Besides, the period of five years from 1942 to 1947 which would reflected to show how the movement of India’s struggle for freedom transformed the entire country into one to fight for the freedom from the British rule and in the end, the vision of new India from 2017 to 2022 will be showcased, when we celebrate the 75 years of India’s independence. 

The exhibition will continue till tomorrow.

The programme is being organised with the purpose of spreading Prime Minister’s message amongst the people of the country to help in achieving the vision of New India.

‘To commemorate the 75 years of Quit India Movement and forthcoming 75 years of Independence in 2022’, the event was conceptualised by ministry of parliamentary affairs, government of India, designed and organised by directorate of advertising and visual publicity, ministry of information and broadcasting, and sponsored by oil and natural gas corporation Ltd, under the ministry of petroleum and natural gas.

The function was also attended by deputy secretary, Parliamentary Affairs, Suman Bara, director, DIPR Meghachandra Kongbam, field exhibition officer, DAVP Imphal, Premlata Loitam, Kashyap  Joshipura, chief manager of ONGC and many students and teachers from various Institutions amongst other.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 18

The High Court of Manipur today extended interim bail period for three former chief secretaries who were also the former chairmen of Manipur Development Society (MDS) till September 21 on the case of alleged embezzlement of funds.  

The interim bail period of the former chief secretaries of the state, D.S. Poonia, P.C. Lawnkunga and O. Nabakishore Singh were extended as the state government counsel failed to furnish the bail objection report.

Chief Justice, N. Kotiswar granted the interim bail applications of the three former chief secretaries recently till today after they filed a bail application to the High Court of Manipur.

The bail application was filed after planning joint secretary, Th. Muhindro lodged an FIR on September 1, against the former chief minister, O. Ibobi, former MDS project director, Y. Ningthem, MDS administration officer, S Ranjit and also against the three former CSs to Imphal police station alleging huge financial irregularities of Rs. 185.79 crores of Manipur Development Society.

On the other hand the court will also consider the possibility of extending the interim bail of the former chief minister, O. Ibobi on September 21.

Earlier on September 4, the district and session judge, Imphal West rejected the anticipatory bail application filed by S. Ranjit on the ground that the charged levelled against him was considered as criminal breach of trust, cheating, conspiracy and criminal conduct by a public servant which are of serious offences.

Regarding the case police has raided the house of Y. Ningthem on September 4, but still today Ningthem has not file any bail application to the court.  It may be recalled that the raid took place for four consecutive days at the former project director’s house. Many official files of MDS were recovered by the police during the raid.

‘Transfer and posting of govt employees to be streamlined soon’ 

IMPHAL | Sept 18

Chief minister, N. Biren Singh today minutely assessed the status and issues regarding the various development projects being taken up in Chandel district in a review meeting held at the cabinet hall.

In the meeting he stressed that the district level monitoring committee should look after and monitor for each and every developmental projects for the progress and review of the developmental activities.

Biren said DCs concerned of all the districts should ensure proper governance in their respective districts. He further maintained that we need to make sure that law and order is properly upheld and qualified officers should be posted to deliver good governance in the hill districts of the State.

Further he said road communication, power supply and drinking water supply should be given priority for the progress and development in the State. He cautioned that proper drainage system should be maintained before any construction of roads in hill areas. He directed the administrative secretaries and DCs for time-bound completion of various ongoing developmental projects in the hill districts by 2018.

Biren mentioned that the government has directed the departments concerned to take up remedial measures on the issues and problems faced by the departments in the State and assured that it would be solved by December 31.

Regarding the transfer and postings of government employees, he maintained that streamlining and rationalisation of the transfer and postings of government officials would be done soon.

He stated that separate district cadres of each and every department would be created soon for better governance in the State. Postings in hill districts should be mandatory for 2 years and it should be done on rotation basis, he added.

Discussing the problems faced by differently-abled persons, chief minister said that any talented special person would be provided loans at subsidised rates and would be given a monthly stipend of Rs. 2000.

He continued that the ministry of HRD, government of India has agreed for the construction of the flood affected school buildings in the State soon. Preparations are underway for the inauguration of the 50 bedded district hospital, Chandel district sports complex, Joupi Power Sub-Station in the month of October, he added.

In the three hour long review meeting, deputy commissioner, Chandel Krishnakumar made a detailed power point presentation and highlighted the issues faced by the district administration such as shortage of staffs, shortage of official vehicles of various departments, issues regarding drinking water, health sector etc.

Minister for IFCD and MLA of Chandel A/C, Letpao Haokip, MLA of Tengnoupal A/C, D. Korungthang, chief secretary, R.R. Rashmi, DGP L.M. Khaute, administrative secretaries, DC and SP of Chandel and Tengnoupal district, head of departments and other officials concerned attended the meeting.

From A Correspondent

THOUBAL | Sept 18

Charged mob attacked a team of Kakching police on September 16 at Sora Awang Leikai, while trying to rescue an Amaibi (Shaman), who had been kept detained by some villagers of Sora on charge of involvement in black magic.

Some police personnel sustained injuries in the attack and three police vehicles (Gypsy) were badly damaged. Police fired anti-riot shells and some blank rounds in the air to disperse the mob.

According police report, the police vehicles were blocked by an unruly mob of about 100 to 200 person including women, when they were coming towards Sora Bazaar on the way to Kakching police station.  The mob put boulders, wooden planks fixed with nails, etc. and they attacked the police team with deadly weapons including sticks, stones, spades, knives and slings etc.

It was charged that the rescued woman, an Amaibi (Shaman), was trying to harm Md. Nijamuddin son of Md. Najir Ali of Sora Awang Langejihoubi Leikai, A ZP candidate of Pallel GP, by using black magic.  

The amaibi, namely Sauba Bibi (38), wife of Zakir was allegedly moving around with her face covered while taking part in the election campaign of Md. Nijamuddin who was a candidate in the upcoming 5th Panchayati Raj elections, and later caught by his supporters for being acting in a suspicious manner. She was being detained by the villagers for questioning.  

Upon receiving the information, a combined team of Kakching police Station and CDO unit, Thoubal under the command of SDPO Kakching, Th. Deshorjit Singh rushed to Sora Awang Leikai and rescued her with the help of some villagers.

In the follow up action, combined team of Thoubal and Kakching distirct including CDO Unit Thobal and CDO teams of Imphal west and Imphal east let by SP Kakching and SP Thoubal conducted cordon and search operations at Sora Mamang Leikai on September 18 twice and arrested the accused persons Md. Rameezuddin (37), son of (L) Md. Babuthem of Sora Mamang Leikai, Thoibi alias Mumtaz Begum (44) wife of Badur Rahman of Sora Awang Leikai and Md. Aslam khan (22) son of Md. Nazir Ali of Sora Mamang Leikai.

Upon interrogation, it was revealed that they were involved in the attack on the police on September 16. The police informed that they will take up stringent actions against all the culprits who take law into their own hands, cause damage to government properties, give obstruction to the public servants and indulge in riot and mob violence.

The police further appealed to cooperate in delivering justice to the people and not to take law into their own hands.