Manipur News

IMPHAL, July 29: Asserting that the ongoing mass movement for enactment of a new bill in interest of the indigenous people of the State is nearing its goal, the All Manipur United Clubs Organization (AMUCO) has accused the government of not showing keen interest in safeguarding the indigenous people.

According to a statement signed by its secretary Information & Publicity, the government decided to pass a new bill acceptable to the people within the ambit of the Constitution of India only after witnessing public outcry and death of Sapam Robinhood who was killed in police action while taking part in a protest demonstration.

The Congress government in the State is taking lightly the public demand for implementation of Inner Line Permit System or any similar law to serve the purpose, it said.

Time has come for the people to identity those who are trying to create rift amongst the ILPS protestors by adopting certain ways, it stated.

Pledging that the committee in unison with clubs and organizations will face those who are trying to suppress the mass movement whether they are MLAs or ministers, the statement appealed to the people to continue supporting steps taken up by JCILPS and JAC formed in connection to the death of Sapam Robinhood due to police action for the sake of the indigenous people.

The government could have passed an effective bill in the interest of the indigenous people earlier, but instead waited for the people to revolt first, it said.

The five-Member Drafting Committee constituted by the government to draft a new bill is just an eye wash as the committee was formed only to appease the enraged protestors, it said.

The AMUCO in its statement asked the members of the Drafting Committee to step back if they are not going to draft the proposed bill within the set deadline.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/amuco-vows-support-to-ilps-movement/

IMPHAL, July 29: Smoke filled the skies in Imphal and sounds of smoke bombs and tear gas shells filled the air, as protestors came out to the streets with full force on the second day of the 38-hour general strike demanding punishment for the police personnel involved in the death of Sapam Robinhood.

Unlike in the first day of the strike, the second day witnessed violent eruptions with police-agitators confrontations reported from several parts of the valley districts today.

The JAC formed in connection to the death of the young class XI student Sapam Robinhood had called a 38-hour general strike in the State expressing dissatisfaction against the State government`™s failure to suspend and punish the police personnel involved and provide justice to the boy`™s family.

The general strike came into effect at 5am of July 28 and concluded at 7pm July 29.

Sapam Robinhood succumbed at the hospital where he was taken after being hit by a tear gas shell fired by the police in their bid to control a student rally on July 8 demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in the State.

In the meantime, the boy`™s body continues to lie in the JNIMS mortuary as the JAC has denied accepting the body until the government fulfills the demands for punishment of the involved personnel and implementation of the ILPS or a similar law.

Protestors burnt tyres and tree branches to block roads while police personnel fired tear-gas shells and smoke bombs in their bid to disperse the protestors.

The general strike affected inter-district and inter-State passenger services bringing the State to a standstill.

Supporters came out in full support and blocked roads by burning tyres and logs on the road. Boulders were also used to block roads at difference places. Women`™s clothing were hanged at several localities blocking roads.

General strike supporters including both men and women of all ages came out to the streets in several localities to join the agitations including formation of human chains, staging sit in protests, taking out rallies or blocking roads.

A brief confrontation between womenfolk and the police were reported near the Ramlal Paul High School at Keishamthong area after the police personnel tried to pick up some youngsters for allegedly pelting stones at the security forces.

A 65-year old man who was standing at the balcony of his house was hit by a police fired tear gas shell injuring his left leg during the commotion. Family members rushed him to a hospital in their family vehicle.

Agitators and bandh supporters were also seen coming out on the Tiddim Road starting from Keishampat junction and till Kwakeithel bazaar and sat on the road barricading traffic as part of the strike.

They also shouted slogans demanding punishment for the personnel involved in the death of Sapam Robinhood and implementation of the ILPS or another similar.

Three youngsters were also picked up by the police for allegedly using catapults.

Air passengers arriving at the Imphal airport from outside the State had to walk the entire stretch upto the Keishampat Junction on foot with their baggages as the entire road stretch remained blocked for the day.

Similar confrontations and demonstrations were also witnessed at Sagolband, Uripok, Thangmeiband, Chingmeirong, Wangkhei, Singjamei and Kakwa areas.

Womenfolk of Keishamthong Moirangningthou Leirak also staged a sit in protest at their locality demanding punishment of the personnel involved in the killing of Sapam Robinhood on July 8.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/protest-escalates-on-second-day-of-jacs-38hour-general-strike/

IMPHAL, July 29: The water level in Sangaiyumpham area which had been flooded owing to overflow of Wangjing River following incessant downpour in the past few weeks, has receded.

However, residents of Tentha area have been pushed to the wall as more than 2000 acres of their paddy fields and 300 residential houses remain inundated.

The residents are finding it hard to accommodate themselves in the present scene.

Many of the fish farms in the area have also been submerged in water. The overflowing of water from the Wangjing River is caused due to the breakage of the river pavement following the heavy shower of rain in the last couple of days, according to locals.

Notably, a large portion of the river pavement had already caved in on June 9, thereby inundating many residential houses and paddy fields.

MLA of Wangjing-Tentha Constituency Paonam Brojen had visited the affected areas yesterday and tried to stop the water from further entering residential houses and paddy fields using JCB and Tata Dipper vehicles.

Today also, locals along with labourers brought from other places tried to repair the broken portion of the river pavement from where water is flowing out.

Former minister Moirangthem Hemanta also sent additional vehicles and labourers to do the needful.

As the overflowing water from the river could not be stopped, fishes reared in ponds and farms in different areas, have also vanished, claimed locals.

Social worker from Wangjing Haobam Roben Singh came in and provided drinking water to the affected people.

A team of government officials led by AE of IFCD, Thoubal Division L Arunkumar also arrived and took part in the effort to block the overflowing water.

According to the flood victims, the frequent breakage of the river pavement is due to lack of digging of the river bed during the Wangjing River Flood Control Project.

Unless the river bed is properly dug out, pavement of the river may collapse anytime and people of the area will witness more flood, the aggrieved victims said.

Meanwhile, a one-day free health camp was organized by District Health Society, Thoubal today for people of Sangaiyumpham area under Khangabok Constituency in Thoubal district, whose residential houses and paddy fields have been inundated due to overflowing of water from Wangjing River following incessant rains for the last few days.

Around 335 people who have been affected by the flood were done health check-up during the camp.

Along with availing facilities of ultra sound and laboratory test, free medicines were also provided to the people.

The camp was organized under Health department with support of representatives of Panchayat, club members and villagers.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/flood-in-sangaiyumpham-recedes/

IMPHAL, Jul 29: The Tribal Youth Council Manipur has said that the bandh imposed on the Dingku Road by the JAC formed in connection to the death of Sapam Robinhood has caused much inconveniences to the public.

A statement of the council said it is deeply saddened by the death of Robinhood, but the indefinite blockade at Dingku Road has caused a lot of inconveniences to the public, mainly the people from Ukhrul district and people residing along the roads.

It has further appealed to the State government and JAC and also the well-known valley based civil organisations to look into the matter.

It further charged that the hill people were not consulted for the ILPS movement.

As such, hill people should not be forced to join the agitation for ILP, it asserted.

It should not construe hill people as pro-ILP or anti-ILP movement, but the fact is that, valley people have never consulted the hill organizations on this issue.

As per our customs, an individual or groups cannot join such movements without the prior consent of the apex bodies, it claimed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/dingku-road-blockade-causing-inconvenience-tycm/