Manipur News

MNS: Naga Women’s Union (NWU) has condemned crimes and violence against humanity. Rape cases, torture and killing have become almost a daily occurrence in our society which have shocked and appalled us all said a NWU press hand out. NWU denounced the merciless killing of two innocent hunters of Kongkan village area under Kamjong sub-division of Ukhrul District by the UNLF on 28 December 2012, the brutal killing of Laishram Ibohanbi by the miscreants at Hatta Village near Finch Corner in Ukhrul District on 29 December 2012, the abduction of Shankarlal Swamy (59) from Kangla and subsequent murder on 3 January 2013 by the three miscreants including two IRB personnel and one driver by profession and Gongsingam Dangmei (18 years) former ZUF cadre s/o Gonbi Dangmei of Longmai (Noney) Bazar who was killed by 10 Assam Rifles in the evening of 30 December 2012 at Sangji Village.
NWU condemned the beastly act of rape of a minor girl, 4 years and two months by one Soren Raju, from Jharkhand who is a JCB driver working for a local contractor along Maram – Peren road near Tamphung Village on 25 December 2012 evening on the pretext of taking her for a walk. Another rape victim a young housewife who was allegedly raped by her neighbour at Thoubal District locality on 28 December 2012 and the alleged victimization of the victim by the police remanding her in the police custody.
All these unfortunate happenings are attacking the very fabric of our society. Apart from the failure of parents in parenting of their children which have led to worse situation of moral degradation, the present state government has also miserably failed to maintain law and order that is a matter of great concern now.
NWU extends its solidarity to all the victims’ families of these heinous crimes and demands to deliver fair justice to the victims’ families.
The Naga Women Community raises its voice against the police officer in-charge of Khoupum Police Station for not filing its charge sheet to the court till today against the accused Latjanthai Kamei who was arrested and jailed in Sajiwa Jail for kidnaping, gang-raped and attempted murder of four minor school girls of Khoupum Don Bosco School on 5 October 2012. In the Delhi gang rape case of a 23 years old, paramedical student, Delhi police has filed its charge sheet in a court against the five men arrested in the case within 18 days. Stern action against the police officer in-charge of the Khoupum police station should be taken by the government immediately for failing his due responsibility by not filing charge sheet against the offenders even after three months now.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/nwu-wants-swift-action-on-rape-cases/

IMPHAL, Jan 8 UNA : Tongjei Maril District Demand Committee (TMDDC) has come up with its demand for creation of a separate district by bifurcating the existing districts of Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Jiribam (Imphal East) and Senapati after remaining silent for the last around one year and set January 30 deadline to fulfill its demand.
A statement of the TMDDC signed by its convener, Abon Kamei said that memoranda had been submitted four times regarding its demands to the state government to the Chief Minister. However, government was yet to give a response to this effect.
The TMDDC had for the first time submitted a memorandum to the government on July 11, 1998 and another the memorandum submitted on August 30, 2011 had reminded the government about the demand.
The demand for creation of Tongjei Maril was among the five such similar demands for creation of full fledged districts. Others pending demands include creation of Phungyar (to be formed curving out Phungyar sub-division of present Ukhrul district, Sadar Hills (to be curved out from present Senapati district, Jiribam to be bifurcated from Imphal East district and Tengnoupal district (to be curved out from present Chandel district.
An area of 952 sq km encompassing Lower Lukhambi of Tamenglong district in the north, Churanchandpur district’s Tuangtu and Tuiphai, Thanlon-Nungsei Kolhen Chothe Munpi of Henglep subdivision to the south, Senapati district’s Sadar Hills’ New Keithelmanbi and Chini-Inkhol to the east and Imphal East’s Jiribam’s Gularthol and Tousem subdivision’s Kaiphundai to the west, comprising of 150 villages and one of the most underdeveloped area of the state have been proposed to be created into a full fledged district, noted the statement.
The statement further went on to say that the approximate population of the proposed district is one lakh composing of Aimol, Gangte, Chiru, Baite, Meitei, Bihari, Bengali Neisel, Haokip, Kipgen, Paite, Zou, Sitlhou, Singsit, Samte, Simte, Vaiphei, Singson, Kharam, Khasi, Hmar, Kom, Nepali, Zeliangrong Zemei, Liangmai, Tongmei, Puimei, all indigenous to the area in question.
Kamei observed that all essential commodities from Silchar were once traditionally brought in through a narrow conduit along the Tongjei Maril by villagers on foot that required several days hiking.
The Zeliangrong people carried the palanquin of King Charairongba in 1704 AD when he went on his pilgrimage to Brindavan through Tongjei Maril and onto Silchar, he said.
He said that the people of the area had extended support by enlisting as soldiers during the reign of King Bhagyachandra and King Gambhir Singh whose sacrifices and martyrdom are still fondly remembered to this day.
He said that healthcare delivery services are pathetic with no doctors and nurses to attend to the healthcare needs of the people.
Many women have died while giving birth, not to mention deaths due to snake bite. The only means of reaching the area is by tracking through the forests for 3-4 days.
There is virtual no education system in the area, Abon said in the statement, adding that the development deficit of the area could only be addressed with the creation of a full fledged district.
If no positive response could be get from the state government regarding its demand on or before January 30, TMDDC will launch a series of agitation with the supports of the people and other civil organizations extending support to its demand, the statement threatened.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/tongjei-maril-district-demand-committee-sets-jan-30-deadline/

IMPHAL, Jan 8 NNN: Showing anger against Manipur Government over its apathy on repairing of road stretch from Wahengbam Leikai to Oriental College, local residents of the area blocked National Highway-37, Imphal Jiribam road for several hours on Tuesday.
The agitating local residents were later pacified by the Additional Chief Engineer, Executive Engineer and Superintending Engineer of National Highway Division, Public Works Department and the contractor entrusted with the road repairing work. Following that, they (agitators) withdrew the road blockade just after midday. They blocked the highway section from 7 am- noontime.
The official assured the local residents who were protesting after joining hands with the Joint Coordinating Committee for Development that the road repairing work would be finished by April. They also said the NH-2 is now being repaired in full swing in view of the forthcoming Asian Car Rally that will pass through the route.
Bikramjit, special contractor entrusted with the repairing work of the road section from Wahengbam Leikai to Oriental College along NH-37, said the work has been delayed due to the tender process and non-release of the amount for the purpose by the Centre. But, It would be completed by April, he assured.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/nh-37-road-blocked/

IMPHAL, Jan 8 MNS NNN : Two imposters, including a woman who had allegedly contrived to make seven youths to join in a “surrender drama” allegedly orchestrated by 42 Assam Rifles have been taken into police custody even as the victims reportedly fled the Assam Rifles camp after they came to know the whole ploy.
The matter came to light after the seven victimized youths along with their parents disclosed it at a press conference held at the Manipur Press Club here on Tuesday.
They identified themselves as Elangbam Muhindro, 20, son of E Leirang, Nongthombam Johny, 21, son of N Kumar, Moirangthem Oken, 30 and Moirangthem Premkanta, 21, sons of M Kunjamohan, Thokchom Milan, 25, son of Th Rameshwor, Ningthoujam Herojit, 21, son of N Jiten and Moirangthem Thoiba, 21, son of M Shanta, all residents of Heirok Part-II Maning Leikai in Thoubal district of Manipur.
Moirangthem Thoiba said one Sagolsem Ongbi Purnima Devi aged 38, a resident of Andro Kharam Dam Mathak in Imphal East in collusion with another man named Thokchom Rameshwor from Heirok Part-II Maning Leikai allegedly took them away (the seven youths) to the 42 AR post, Chandel on the pretext of recruiting them in the post.
Purnima Devi, wife of Sagolsem Gambir, a surrendered People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and Rameshwor involved in the fraud, never revealed the true identity of Gambir while collecting them for the recruitment, Thoiba said.
When they reached the AR post, Chandel on January 4, Gambhir was found there clad in AR uniform. Then, a Major at the post recorded their particulars, he added.
Then, another man, a Meitei also recorded their particulars and later gave them a form asking them to sign on it, but the form was found writing with “MDF (KYKL)”, he added.
The man with the AR post then assured them that they would be recruited in the AR free of cost and that the Government would pay Rs 4000 each to them every month, apart from paying another few lakhs of rupees after around 3 years of joining even if they missed the chance to become AR men, he said.
Feeling suspicious on the nature of the AR officials, they told the whole thing to their families over phone while staying at the post. Then, the families told them to leave the AR post in any case. They then, left the AR post the next day, that is, on January 5, he added.
Purnima and Rameshwor, the two persons involved in the cheating were handed over to Thoubal Police Station on January 5 after being questioned them on the incident by locals at the local club of Heirok-Part-II Maning Leikai.
Meanwhile a press hand out released by HG IGAR S said the story is incorrect and baseless. 42 Assam Rifles authorities did not approach any locals for joining insurgent groups for peace process / surrenders. All cadres brought by leaders of KYKL (MDF) for the ongoing peace process are verified at multiple levels. Youths namely N. Herojit (21), Th. Milan (25), M. Premkant (21), N. Johny (21), E. Muhindro (20), M. Thoiba (21) and M. Oken (25) approached 42 Assam Rifles for surrenders. However, after preliminary investigation at battalion level they were not found part of the group. Thus, these seven youths were returned.
PRO, HQ IGAR (S) further stated that the press release was aimed at defaming the Assam Rifles and interrupting the ongoing peace process between Government of India and KYKL (MDF). He assured that cadres are being enrolled after deliberate verification process by Assam Rifles and Police Authorities and only genuine cadres will be brought forward for the ongoing peace process it was added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/two-held-for-forcing-youths-attend-surrender-drama/