Manipur News

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 15

The report on the alleged rape case of a minor by a founder of North eastern Children’s Home Renkhai submitted by the investigating officer of the case, Sandy Lalningsangi Tonsing, was cross examined today by the special judge POCSO, Imphal West.

The accused, Timothy L. Changsan, 55, son of late Thangzakhan of Renkhai village Churachandpur was arrested by police on July 24, 2015 in compliance with the High Court order related with a petition filed by the parent of the victim on alleged charged of molesting and repeated rape of their child at the children home.

On July 6, 2015 the High Court of Manipur had stayed the bail order of the accused passed by the special judge POCSO, Churachandpur stating that the bail order of the accused is null and void and release of accused person during the very stage of trial is likely to hamper the investigation.

Later on January 2016 the trial of the case was transferred to special judge POCSO, Imphal West from special judge POCSO, Churachandpur following an order passed by the High Court of Manipur.

The investigating officer of the case who appeared as prosecution witness before the court submitted that the statement of victim minor girl was recorded by the police during which she disclosed that she had been repeatedly molested and sexually assaulted since December 2014 by the accused person.

Moreover during the investigation they had collected swab samples and other relevant materials from both victim and accused, added the officer.

The statement of the officer was recorded in the presence of the accused person who is still under the judicial custody.

IMPHAL | Nov 15

In line with the State Government’s popular slogan, ‘Go to the Hills’, a State Cabinet meeting was held at Tamenglong district headquarters today.

Tamenglong became the third hill district which hosted a Cabinet meeting after Churachandpur and Chandel.

The State Cabinet meeting held at Multipurpose Hall, DC Office Complex with Chief Minister Shri N. Biren in the chair, approved the revision of existing terms and conditions of the Advocate General of Manipur. The revision was necessitated as the existing terms and conditions which were fixed about seven years ago do not commensurate with the current price index. The existing terms and conditions of the Advocate General were revised in 2010 vide Law Department’s Order No. 8/1/2007-AG /L dated 24/05/2017.

Among others, the revision of terms and conditions included enhancement of monthly retainer fee payable to the Advocate General of Manipur from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 1,00,000.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to appointment of 37 former Contract Veterinary Officers (VOs), who are still available and willing to work. Their service was reinstated considering their past service, and also to comply with the Court’s directive.

These VOs were inducted into service on Contract basis on May 5, 1999 following a State Cabinet decision taken on March 16, 1999. Their contract engagement was extended from time to time till February 28, 2003.

The Cabinet also approved one-time relaxation of recruitment rules for promotion in the Electricity Department, which has already been unbundled and corporatized into two companies namely, Manipur State Power Company Ltd and Manipur State Power Distribution Company Ltd.

Later, the Cabinet also reviewed different developmental works and projects being taken up Tamenglong district. Tamenglong DC Shri Armstrong Pame presented a PowerPoint presentation before the Cabinet and Administrative Secretaries concerned.

IMPHAL | Nov 15

Governor of Manipur Dr. Najma Heptulla said that the land of Manipur is very fertile not only in biodiversity but for future development of the youths which is why she is totally involved with the young children and youths of the state. She stated this while inaugurating the 2-Day National Conference on ‘Promoting Business Opportunities in North Eastern India and India’s Act East Policy’, to be held on 15th and 16th November, 2017, today, at the Centenary Hall of Manipur University organized by the Manipur Institute of Management Studies, Manipur University in collaboration with Centre for Global Management and Responsible Leadership, XLRI, Jamshedpur.

Governor Dr. Najma Heptulla addressing the gathering said that the  Prime Minister of India is sincerely concerned about the issue of backwardness in the NE region. His look east policy also includes work east policy. Clarifying on the notion that the government has never been bothered about the NE Region, she said the problem is the distance (accessibility) from the rest of the country.

Dr. Najma Heptulla said after taking charge of the State her first suggestion was to improve the conditions in the hill region as many areas lack basic infrastructures including medical facilities. Due to difficult terrains, doctors and medical staffs are unable to provide even the basic medical facilities.

Villagers residing in remote areas are also unable to reach to the nearest medical facility due to lack of transport facilities including bad road conditions. Deeply concerned about the issue, the Governor requested the Prime Minister for ‘flying doctors’ to treat the people. The Prime Minister and NE council accepted the allocation of fund for flying doctors.

She said that she is pleased to learn that since its inception in the year 1995, the Manipur Institute of Management Studies has been imparting management education in the region and striving for growth with quality.

She said that she is happy to learn that the Institute is focussing on the quality of the young minds, reminding of her late grandfather, the first Education Minister who laid the foundation of quality education in the country. She said the Manipur Institute of Management Studies is a fast growing Institute with a mission to instill potential and practicing managers with analytical skills, leadership qualities, achievement motives and a vision, all so crucial to the steering of enterprises.

She expressed her belief that policy makers, researchers and practitioners from different parts of the country participating in the Conference will explore ways and means to promote business opportunities in the North Eastern States. The abundance of natural resources in the region presents a huge investment opportunities and growth of enterprise in the region.

However, the region is facing innumerable challenges like sustained conflicts, geographical isolation, militarization and migration, lack of economic and social development which has led to a drying up of industries and investments in the region.

The Act East Policy of the Government of India is opening up many opportunities in this part of the country. Apart from the commitment of the Central and State Government, the capacity building needs of the people in the region have to be acknowledged and addressed.

After discussion with  Prime Minister on skill development called the Livelihood Programme, Workshop on skill development has been organized at the Raj Bhavan, Imphal in collaboration with the Central Ministry.

She also announced that a livelihood mission project has been approved by the State Government which will be launched soon. Manipur is a powerhouse of energy and have enough people to be developed and trained in small scale industries in organic farming. We can really develop a large scale of export of the products. Of late, great initiatives have also been taken up by the Government of India with regard to the Act East Policy which includes tri-lateral highways passing through Imphal and connecting to ASEAN countries, railway lines up to the border town of Manipur, bilateral and multilateral agreements with the ASEAN member countries, trade negotiations and many more.

However, few issues and challenges too need to be focused and they are law and order, political will, internal conflicts, physical infrastructure like road, telecommunication, banking and so on, she added.

Terming the conference as a platform for policy makers, researchers and practitioners to present their understanding on how business opportunities can be promoted in the region she said she is fully confident that the practitioners and experts will present papers for deliberation on how business opportunities could be promoted in the region. She also said that she would like to look up the recommendations of the conference which could be beneficial for the development of the state.

Prof. Adya Prasad Pandey, Vice Chancellor, Manipur University; Prof. N. Lokendra Singh, Dean, School of Social Sciences, Manipur University; Prof. P. Venugopal, Chairperson, CGMRL, XLRI, Jamshedpur; Mr. Nakib Ahmed, Advisor, NE Initiative, Indian Chamber of Commerce, Kolkata; Prof. Ch. Ibohal Meitei, Director, MIMS, Manipur University, delegates, entrepreneurs of the state and students attended the inaugural ceremony.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 15

Former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh today came out to join the chorus of charges in the present times that whatever the BJP government is claiming to be their achievements are all works that the Congress government initiated.

“The BJP government is merely continuing with what the Congress government began, but are making loud noises now that it was they who conceived of, and pushed for initiatives for the development of the economy of the country”, he said.

It may be recalled that another central Congress leader, Shashi Tharoor, had mockingly pointed out that most of the development initiatives claimed by the new BJP government are actually schemes designed by the Congress government, but given a new name.

He said that BJP has come to power only very recently, even the Central government has only 3-4 years of governance behind it, and that all their achievements are made easy because of the painstaking foundations laid by the Congress government for decades beginning from Jawaharlal Nehru time.

He challenged both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state Chief Minister N. Biren, to not only take credits for the development work, but also to work for peace and harmony of all people and not to fragments the country and the state for their political gains.

Ibobi was speaking at the sit-in-protest today held at Mayang Imphal demanding the BJP government to disclose the contents of the Framework Agreement that was signed between NSCN-IM and BJP government in August 3, 2015.

The sit-in-protest was organised by Mayang Imphal Block Congress Committee and was attended by big names of state Congress party including MPCC president T.N. Haokip and former deputy chief minister Gaikhangam and MLA of Khundrakpam constituency Thokchom Lokeshwor Singh

He urged the government to disclose the contents of the Framework Agreement to all public so as to allay fear, curiousness and confusion among them.

The former chief minister also said that the BJP government have been talking about transparency in governance all along. He urged the BJP government to show transparency by disclosing the Framework Agreement.

He also said that “he respect the brotherhood with Nagaland, but asserted that peace and harmony of the state should not be disturbed by demands of their ‘Greater Nagaland’ and disintegrate this small state.” The indigenous people of the state and the territorial integrity of the state should always be preserved by the government, he added.

The boundaries of all North-eastern states were set after independence, but for places like Manipur and Assam the histories of their boundaries go back much longer, he said.

He urged the Biren led BJP government in the state and Modi led BJP government in the Centre to understand this and not to affect the territorial integrity of the state.

From Our Correspondent

TAMENGLONG | Nov 15

The chief minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh overwhelmed the public during his visit at Tamenglong district. A large crowd gathered at the Mini Stadium waiting for him under the hot sun.

The chief minister assured gathering that Tamenglong-Khongsang road will be blacktopped by February 2018. He said that he was not happy at the present work progress. However, temporary restoration works of Tamenglong- Khongsang road has been improved after state assembly election and it has been given to NHIDCL with high hopes of speeding up the works, he added.

Numerous of memorandums were passed on to the chief minister, while he appealed all the government officials who are posted in Tamenglong to station at respective work place without fail.

‘If there is no place to stay, stay in rented house. The state government will pay back your rent’, said N. Biren.

He also assured that the state government will soon launch free treatment and financial aid of upto Rs. 2 lakhs will be provided to the BPL family. Another scheme for disabled person and widow scheme will also be launched very soon, he added.

The CM inaugurated the new building of 50 bedded District Hospital, in the presence of cabinet ministers and other dignitaries at Duigailong village. He also visited the patients.

The hospital has been constructed with a budget of Rs. 21 crores by DRDA Tamenglong under NLCPR fund. Construction works was begun in 2009 and completed in 2017. The hospital has already been occupied and atleast 54 patients have been operated successfully few days ago.

Later, the CM and cabinet ministers laid the foundation stone for construction of Transit Hostel for doctors, nurses and teachers. The estimated cost for construction of Transit Hostel is Rs. 10 crores and construction works will be done by Manipur Housing Corporation.

Foundation stone was also laid by the CM for construction of Rani Gaidinliu’s market with a budget of Rs. 10 crores and works will executed by Police Housing Corporation.

Moreover, the CM laid the foundation stone for Water Supply Scheme and 5000 metric tonne FCI Godown at Mini stadium, where the public meeting was held today.

The CM also stated that construction of FCI Godown will be executed by CPWD with total estimated budget of Rs. 27 crores while water supply scheme of Rs. 39 crores.

Biren Singh also said that development package for Tamenglong of Rs. 50 crores has already been sanctioned. He further announced another Rs. 325 crores for Tamenglong and Noney district including Khoupum block, Tamai, Nungba and Tousem for road and connectivity, water supply, electricity and others.

Meanwhile, the Zeliangrong Baudi in press statement appreciated the chief minister and cabinet ministers for visiting Tamenglong district despite of deplorable condition of the road.

The statement signed by chairman of Zeliangrong Baudi Tamenglong zone, Agipou Pamei said that the meeting was supposed to be held at Mini secretariat but due to incomplete construction of the building, it was held at DC Bungalow and the Zeliangrong Baudi has deeply regretted for it.

He further mentioned that PWD minister, Biswajeet had assured that the mini secretariat will be completed by 2018 and the general public is eagerly waiting for it.

IMPHAL | Nov 15

Narcotics and Affairs of Borders police arrested drug sellers from Kiyamgei Imphal East district, along with 820 numbers of Spasmo Proxyvon on November 14, said release by PRO Police

The arrested persons were identified as Md.Mustakim (23), son of Allaudin, Lilong Turel Ahanbi, Thoubal district and Md. Imtiyas (21), son of Md.Ibungo, Wangoi, Imphal West district.

On the same day, another team of Narcotics and Affairs of Borders police arrested Md.Abir khan (22), son of Md.Abdul Gaffar, Irom Chesaba Bazar, Mantripukhri, from North AOC Imphal, along with 1 gram of Heroin powder, 26 numbers of Spasmo Proxyvon capsule worth about Rs.2260 in the local market and other incriminating articles, said the release.

It further said that in a special drive conducted today by a team of Narcotics and Affairs of Borders police, along with the volunteers of Awang Chaokhong Development Club, North AOC Imphal, drug seller Md. Hafi alias Akash (27), son of Md.Jabar of Komlakhong Mayai Leikai was arrested. 18 small paper packages containing Heroin powder weighing 500 gram, worth about Rs.2000 was seized from his possession, it added.

In all the arrests, cases have been registered at Narcotics and Affairs of Borders Police Station, said the release.

Moreover, Cyber Crime police arrested and registered a case against one Ningthoujam Amitkumar Singh alias Danao (23), son of (L) N. Shamabi singh of Arong Nongmaikhong Makha Leikai, Kakching district, on November 13. The said person has been arrested for sexually harassing several women through social networking media, it added.