Manipur News

IMPHAL | July 15

AYUSH director and Trevo India, Manipur branch jointly donated Rs. 1 lakh to the chief minister’s relief fund to extend help to the flood affected people today. JNIMS Outsource also donated Rs. 14,000 to the fund.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 15

The working committee of the Apunba Lup today welcomed the ruling of the Supreme Court of India ordering investigation into 83 cases of fake encounter cases perpetrated by the state police, army and para-military forces in Manipur.

Speaking to Imphal Free Press, Phulindra Konsam said the ruling of the apex court although late has given a glimmer of hope to the people that justice has not entirely eluded.

The people of strife torn Manipur gradually have lost faith in any form of probe and investigation conducted by various agencies including the CBI for the fact that none of the perpetrators involved in extra-judicial cases were held accountable for punishment and that justice is often delayed, he said.

It appears that any enquiry or probe constituted by SC or CBI enquiry or likewise are often rendered ineffective in the case of Manipur, said the Phulindra Konsam.

Nevertheless, he welcomed the ruling of the SC stating that it has reassured the people.

The Apunba Lup co-ordinator, disclosed that the Apunba Lup will closely monitor all the follow up action pursuant to the Supreme Court’s order and its progress.

However, if the investigation agency fails to take up the direction given by the apex court in time the Apunba Lup will be compelled to launch people’s movement, said Konsam.

Stating that the Apunba Lup was formed with the agenda to end state sponsored terrorism, he pointed out that its (Apunba Lup) demands to bring perpetrators to justice and repeal of AFPSA remain unchanged.

Against this backdrop, Konsam also expressed his optimism that the present government will also take initiative in the interest of the people of Manipur.

IMPHAL | July 15

A woman of 85 years from Imphal East district tested positive for Japanese Encephalitis.

According to a source, the woman was admitted on July 3 midnight at Raj Medicity. When her blood sample was sent to JNIMS hospital and her blood sample was found positive. The test result was known yesterday.

For immediate measure district malaria Imphal east rushed to the area and fogging has been done in the area. District malaria officer, Imphal East, Dr. S Priyokumar said fogging has been done in the area of 1.5 km radius. In order to protect from this disease, people should use anti-mosquito items such as creams, mosquito coil etc.

IMPHAL | July 15

Thousands of people turned up to highlight their grievances to the chief minister N. Biren Singh on the third “Meeyamgi Numit” held at CM’s Secretariat today. The chief minister attended to as many as about 800 complaints personally and met nearly 3000 people from 8:30 am to 5:10 pm.

Biren Singh said such interaction gives an opportunity to know how the people are living in our society. He stressed that among several grievances, he is deeply concerned with the problems especially faced by differently-abled persons, widows, and old-aged people of the state.

He further said that the government would try to find remedial measures or solutions for the problems faced by the people of the state. The new government’s objective is not just to enhance infrastructure development and construction of roads etc. but to help and serve the people of the state at its fullest extent, he added.

Chief minister mentioned that streamlining various welfare schemes and programmes is the need of the hour so as to have an effective and result oriented schemes. He assured that the government will conduct a comprehensive review of all the existing welfare schemes so that it can reach out to the needy people and genuine beneficiaries.

Maintaining that the state government is putting in effort to solve the problems faced by the common people at the micro level, the chief minister said that banks such as Manipur State Co-operative Bank has been entrusted to do the needful including providing loans to the needy people and to encourage the Self Help Groups for sustainable livelihood, generation of employment etc. so that they could bring pride and laurels to the state.

Acknowledging that there is a gap between the agency and beneficiaries in the implementation process of any welfare schemes Biren informed that he has written side-notes or marginal notes on the applications submitted by the people to monitor and take up necessary action by the concerned commissioners/secretaries.

Speaking to the media persons, he said that the government welcome the recent Supreme Court verdict on the alleged fake encounter cases. “Life is meaningless if we don’t respect and violate human rights of the people and the government is totally against human rights violations,” he said.

He assured that the government would extend full co-operation and assistance for a smooth investigation.

Education, labour and employment minister Th. Radheshyam met as many as 300 people at his residence at Canchipur and office at New Secretariat. On the occasion, the minister rendered financial assistance to students gearing up for an industrial visit outside the state.

Officials from the concern departments of the minister came for the meeting highlighting certain issues pertaining to the functioning of the office.

CSOs submitted memoranda to the minister concerning education department including the infrastructure requirement of the Motbung High School. The increasing number of drop out students in hill districts was also brought up during the meet.

Several labours approached the minister to enquire about the labour smart card specially meant for the workers of both unorganized and organized sector. Through the card, the workers could benefit insurance and pension to have social security.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 15

A woman has lodged a complaint with the Sekmai police station in connection with a child trafficking case against her own husband.

The man, against whom the human trafficking case was lodged, is identified as Yumkham Premjit alias Ibomcha (30) son of (L) Manithoiba of Awang Likinthabi, Imphal West district.

Premjit was alleged by his wife, Elangbam Chanchan (24) daughter of E. Rajen of Sadu Yengkhoman, near Saikul that he sold two of the couple’s children.

The couple now separated had three kids including two sons and one daughter (youngest child).

Chanchan was driven out by her own husband, who allegedly had affairs with a woman then. Chanchan left the home leaving behind her three kids. Her husband allegedly sold the couple’s eldest son, who was two and a half years old to a contractor at Nagamapal at Rs. 7 lakhs.

But four days later the boy was returned to the father by the contractor, identified to be one Chandras, as the child was still under suckling period.

Again in October 2016, Premjit allegedly sold his daughter, one and a half year, to one Khondongbam Premkumar of Heirok Part-II.

According to Chanchan, she heard about her daughter through some relatives but had no idea how much money was taken by her husband for the daughter.

Unable to cope with the news, a desperate Chanchan initially called the helpline number of Childline (1098) and later lodged an official complaint with the ChildLine Thoubal on July 1 last.

Following the complaint, the matter was entered in the general diary of the Heirok police station on July 2 and the case was forwarded to Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Thoubal the following day.

Subsequently, CWC referred the case to the Manipur Commission for Protection for Child Rights (MCPCR).

The MCPCR heard the case on July 10 and directed Premjit to produce the child before the commission.

Failing to do so the child was rescued by the Heirok police and kept under the custody of Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA) Bal Bhawan.

In this connection Chanchan has also lodged a complaint with the Sekmai police station against her husband.

IMPHAL | July 15

Chief minister N. Biren Singh made an aerial survey of flood affected areas of the State today. He was accompanied by works minister Th. Biswajit, chief secretary R.R. Rashmi and additional chief secretary (home) Dr. J. Suresh Babu.

The team took off from Kangla helipad at around 9:30 am and surveyed the flood affected areas for over one hour.

The central government team, who has come to the state to take stock of the present situation arising out of the recent spates of heavy rainfall and subsequent flood, also undertook an aerial survey along with the top officials of the state government.

While speaking on the sidelines of ‘Meeyamgi Numit’ Biren said heavy rainfall and flood have severely affected the state and many areas are still submerged under flood water. He said that the central team is presently in the state to gather a first-hand account of the losses created by the calamity.

Biren said the state government had not only announced the present situation as a ‘state calamity’ but also requested the central government to declare it as a ‘calamity of severe nature’.

Expressing hope that the central government would provide all possible help to tackle the situation and rehabilitate the affected people Biren said the government would build houses for those whose houses had been damaged by the flood.

Andro flood

Forest minister Th. Shyamkumar inspected paddy fields submerged under flood water at Andro, Imphal East.

Shyamkumar said around 78 percent paddy fields in the constituency are presently submerged under flood water and all crops have been completely damaged.

He pointed out that all the river beds in the state have risen upto 20 feet due to silting resulting in the water overflowing causing the flood in the valley.

He opined that the silts are deposited due to debris brought down from the hills and other areas due to continuous exploitation of nature.

He further said that the state government under chief minister N Biren Singh is committed to take up steps to avoid such kind of flood situation in coming years.