Manipur News – Page 13882 – www.manipur.org/news

Man found dead, family smells foul play

IMPHAL, April 15: A man, who went out of his house to take part in Thabal Chongba on the eve of Cheiraoba on April 14, was found dead in suspicious

IMPHAL, April 15: A man, who went out of his house to take part in Thabal Chongba on the eve of Cheiraoba on April 14, was found dead in suspicious manner at the premises of his friend at Khongman under Irilbung Police Station, Imphal East this morning around 4.30.

The deceased has been identified as RK Diamond Singh, 24 son of RK Gambhir Singh of Singjamei Wangma Kshetri Leikai, Imphal West. He was found dead at the premises of his friend identified as Hidangmayum Rocky son of H Amujao Sharma.

Meanwhile, suspecting foul play over the death, locals of Singjamei Wangma Kshetri Leikai staged a sit-in-protest at the locality today demanding to nab the culprit (s) involved in the killing at the earliest.

According to the deceased`™s family members, the death of Diamond is highly suspicious as there were injury marks on the neck of the dead body. Moreover, the manner in which members of the family where the dead body was found came to pass the information to the deceased`™s family instead of admitting Diamond to a nearby hospital is also not justified.

They pledged that the dead body will not be accepted till the concerned authorities nab the culprit (s) involved in the killing.

Police have registered a case in connection with the incident .The dead body has been preserved at JNIMS morgue.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/man-found-dead-family-smells-foul-play/

10,448 VDF personnel threaten to resign

BISHNUPUR, April 15: Altogether 10, 448 VDF personnel posted in the nine districts of the State have decided to resign from their job and return home in case the government

BISHNUPUR, April 15: Altogether 10, 448 VDF personnel posted in the nine districts of the State have decided to resign from their job and return home in case the government fails to fulfil their demands within 48 hours with effect from April 14 midnight.

Announcing the call to this IFP correspondent, L Deban, president of All Manipur VDF Welfare Association said that the association was compelled to call a 24-hour general strike from yesterday midnight, as the government has utterly failed to address their demands despite repeated request made.

He questioned the government as to how VDF personnel with monthly pay of Rs 4000 could sustain livelihood of their families.

Cautioning that the association will also resort to launch indefinite economic blockade along the National Highways if the government fails to give a positive response to their genuine demands within the set deadline, he made it clear that the government should held sole responsibility if any untoward incident arises thereof.

He expressed gratitude to those civil society organizations which extended co-operation to the association in pursuit of its demands.

Regretting that 24 vehicles in Senapati, 12 in Kangpokpi and 15 in Ukhrul were damaged during the course of the strike imposed by the association, he admitted that a heated scuffle broke out between supporters of the strike and IRB personnel at Nungba Bazar after which two VDF personnel were held captive.

Business establishments in Moreh were downed shutter during the strike. Private including inter-city passenger service also came to a grinding halt. There were reports of damage of many vehicles in different parts of the state, he said.

Referring to a programme aired in ISTV Network yesterday wherein it stated that the legitimate demands of the VDF could not be fulfilled for the time being, the president of the VDF association said that the government should take up necessary steps to fulfil the demands at the earliest instead of without waiting patience of the VDF personnel to run out.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/10448-vdf-personnel-threaten-to-resign/

Shedding Insecurity

It is said only about three percent of the state`™s work force are in the private sector. This is indicative of a very deep malaise. The all India average is

It is said only about three percent of the state`™s work force are in the private sector. This is indicative of a very deep malaise. The all India average is far above Manipur`™s but at 21 percent it is not too good either. Obviously, despite all the disinvestment and the bold thrust of the Indian economy towards the Capitalist road, a greater majority of the country`™s job seekers still shun the private sector, and prefer to work under the security cover of the state`™s mantle. Indeed, in states like Manipur, till only a few years ago, somebody does not have a government job is considered unemployed and would command very little attention in the marriage market. The person himself would also most likely consider himself thus, and register at the employment exchange of the government, thereby projecting a somewhat deceptive picture of unemployment status in the state periodically published by the employment exchange. While those who do not have a government job long for one, the irony is those ensconced deep within the government cocoon, routinely swear by the ideology of free enterprise. In the ultimate analysis then, the free enterprise doctrine remains a prescription for the neighbour`™s children. As for one`™s own, there can be no alternative to government jobs, so one would beg, borrow or steal to bribe and win them these secure stations in life. Can societal ambition be more narrowly circumspect than this ever?

One other thing is clear. The advertised shine and confidence of the Indian private sector it seems is localized to basically the metropolises. The cliched divide between India and Bharat has still not been bridged convincingly, leaving the new bevy of sleek, expensive motor vehicles and the primitive bullock carts together to paradoxically constitute the Indian reality. We can vouch little or none of India`™s supposed new shine have not reached the Northeast, definitely not Manipur. Here we are still reeling under power shortage, pot-holed highways, drinking water paucity, piling garbage bins, unsalvageable governmental fiscal crunch, unmanaged or unmanageable law and order situation, paralysing and widespread insecurity etc. At least in the case of Manipur, we can again vouch it`™s train is hopelessly derailed at the moment and it is going to need nothing less than a superhuman effort to lift it back on track. The question we have to ask ourselves is, who but the people of Manipur would ultimately care or commit to put in this effort? And if this readiness does not come about, what else can be said then that we are condemned to an extended future of uncertainty and ignominy.

As so very often happens, a great piece of thought is remembered, but not the mind that first thought the thought. Here is one we definitely feel would provide a clue as to where we can begin the effort to steer our society back into course: `there is no greater fear than the fear of fear itself.` We interpret this to mean that if we stop fearing fear, there will be little left to fear. This also would have to be the perfect recipe for courage and calibre, qualities which are increasingly on the wane in our society. The spirit of taking life as an adventure, so much the feature of the most successful societies and civilisations in the history of mankind, has today become virtually nonexistent in our society, although it must be said, the private sector is showing some signs of stirring in certain fields, but continues to be overshadowed by those which have remained stunted because of lack of tertiary sector support. In the meaningless hunt for educational degrees without bothering to first honesty acquiring the knowledge and skills the degrees certify, this same moral vacuum is stark. In the willingness of the people to bribe to secure undeserved government jobs, we again see this same weakness. In the inability of our intellectuals to honestly speak out their minds on vital matters of life in the state, we see this same malaise. Insecurity has indeed become a millstone hanging around our necks. We have to begin standing up to say that we can cut and shed this dead weight. We must begin debating honestly the issues of our lives without fear. For all we know, we may happily discover, there was nothing to fear after all and that by thus deciding to assert ourselves, we had nothing to more to lose than our incapacitating fears and insecurities. For the sake of our future generations, let us do just this. Urgently!

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/shedding-insecurity/

Bandhs in queue in Manipur – Nagaland Post

Bandhs in queue in ManipurNagaland PostWhile the 24-hour state-wide bandh called by All Manipur VDF Welfare Association passed off peacefully, a local joint action committee has called another 24-hour bandh from Wednesday midnight after a 24-year-old y…

Bandhs in queue in Manipur
Nagaland Post
While the 24-hour state-wide bandh called by All Manipur VDF Welfare Association passed off peacefully, a local joint action committee has called another 24-hour bandh from Wednesday midnight after a 24-year-old youth was found dead in a suspicious …

Mob goes on rampage after missing teenager found dead, accused`s home vandalised

IMPHAL, April 15: The partly decomposed body of 16-year-old Thangjam Kelvin was recovered yesterday around noon from near the Ngariyan Catholic Teachers`™ Training College under Andro Police Station, Imphal

The house of the accused razed to the ground by a local mob.

Thangjam Kelvin son of Yambung alias Premjit of Ukhongsang Mamang Leikai under Nongpok Sekmai Police Station had gone missing since March 29 after leaving with a friend on his motorbike. The motorbike is yet to be recovered.

Police accompanied by forensic experts had picked up the body and deposited the same at the mortuary of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences for post mortem.

Meanwhile, enraged by the news, locals formed a mob and set ablaze the house of 20-year-old Longjam Dhojo alias Oken son of Ibochoubi of neighbouring village Nongpok Lourembam yesterday around 3pm. Dhojo, a friend of Kelvin, is suspected to be involved in the case and had already surrendered before the police.

Strongly disapproving the police interrogation and demanding the police to hand over Dhojo to them, the mob also attacked the Nongpok Sekmai Police Station. The mob damaged the police sentry post and the gate of the police station by pelting stones.

In their bid to control the rampaging mob, police also indiscriminately fired tear gas shells, mock bombs, rubber bullets. They also blank fired several rounds.

Two women were injured in the resulting police action while another identified as Th Sanajaobi 28 wife of Roben of Ukhongsang Mamang Leikai fainted due to the explosion of a mock bomb.

Oinam Bimo Devi, 58 wife of Ngobi of Nongpok Sekmai Lilakambong received head injuries and is said to be in critical condition at RIMS. W Bembem, 24 wife of Tomba of Ukhongsang Mamang Leikai was injured on her leg and has been discharged from the Thoubal District Hospital where she received first aid.

The commotion was brought under control only after additional police teams led by Thoubal SDPO Sukhdev, Yairipok SDPO Hemant, Thoubal OC (cdo) Anandkumar arrived at the scene.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the body had started to decompose raising concerns that the body might have been dumped there some days back after the boy was killed. The head was also found severed from the body, suspected to be due to insect and animal bites.

Later, the JAC formed in connection with the death of Kelvin organised a mass public meeting the same day at Ukhongsang ground and demanded the arrest of all those involved in the case before April 16.

In case the government fails to bring out the culprits by the stipulated time, the meeting decided to call a 24-hour state-wide general strike the next day on April 17.

According to Kelvin`™s father, the boy was a Class XI student of HRD Academy.

He said Kelvin and Dhojo were good friends and that on March 29, Kelvin had received a message from Dhojo on his phone following which the two left together on Kelvin`™s R 15 motorcycle bearing registration number MN 04 B 2158.

When Kelvin failed to return even till late, they started searching for him and found that his phone was also switched off, Yambung said.

Dhojo`™s phone also remained unreachable, he continued.

Failing to find his son, the family filed a missing report with the Yairipok police on April 1 and provided the phone numbers of the two to track them, he said.

However, the police rejected the plea stating that the phones were already switched off and cannot be traced, he lamented.

Yambung said later, they acquired Dhojo`™s new mobile number from one of his friends; however they were still unable to track him.

He said Dhojo was handed over to the Yairipok Police by his family on April 9, but his family members rejected his appeal to join in the search for missing Kelvin, Yambung continued.

In the meantime, a missing report was also filed with the Nongpok Sekmai Police Station which was recently inaugurated as a full-fledged police station, he continued.

Yambung has also claimed that since Dhojo`™s brother in law was in the police department they were trying to cover up the case.

Meanwhile quoting a reliable source, he said Kelvin was killed on April 1 by hitting twice on his head with a log.

It is also learnt that the JAC convened a similar public meeting today and reaffirmed the resolutions taken last evening. The meeting also decided to staged sit in protests in the locality until those involved are brought out and revealed before the public and to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister and informed not to accept the dead body until the culprits are produced before the general public.

Candle march organized by NEFIS condemning the three woman raped by army personnel in Karbi Anglong

NORTH-EAST FORUM FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY (NEFIS) Correspondence Add: 2/21, Double Storey, Vijaynagar, Delhi; Ph: 7838983871; Email: nefis.delhi@gmail.com ______________________________________________________ PRESS RELEASE Date: 14.04.15 Today large number of students, teachers and working

NORTH-EAST FORUM FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY (NEFIS)

Correspondence Add: 2/21, Double Storey, Vijaynagar, Delhi; Ph: 7838983871; Email: nefis.delhi@gmail.com

______________________________________________________

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 14.04.15

Today large number of students, teachers and working people from different communities of north east gathered at Arts Faculty at around 5:30pm in the evening and took out a candle march in solidarity with three women raped by army personnel in Karbi Anglong district of Assam. The candle march was taken out from Arts Faculty to Vishwvidyalay metro station. Chatra Marg resounded with the slogans of ‘Repeal AFSPA’, ‘Arrest the rapists’ and a small public meeting was organized after the candle march at the Vishwvidyalay metro station.

It is to be noted that AFSPA(Armed Forces Special Powers Act) is imposed in Karbi Anglong district of Assam under which Army officers have legal immunity for their actions. There are serious chances of putting even this rape case under the carpet as done earlier. Police can not take any action against the perpetrators unless the Home Ministry gives permission for the same. Such provisions clearly stand against common masses as such cases are gross violation of human rights and justice.

Hem Chandra Brahma, member of NEFIS said during the meeting, “This is not the first case of brutality. People across the communities from the north east have to unite againt the draconial law of AFSPA”. Maya John, noted women rights activist also joined the public meeting in solidarity with the issue raised by NEFIS. During her speech she said, “Even in Justice Verma Committee report there is an emerging concern that AFSPA leads to condition where democratic rights can be violated with impunity. Armed personnels have been using this impunity to sexually assault women”. Chinglen Khumukcham, convenor of NEFIS also raised the issue of AFSPA being extended to Arunachal Pradesh. He added that NEFIS will be raising this issue at national level.

We request your esteemed daily to cover the news so that lakhs of people get justice and they can live a peaceful life.

Thanking You

Hem Chandra Bramha

Media Coordinator

North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS)

Contact: 7838983871 Email: nefis.delhi@gmail.com

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Manipur hold Karnataka in opener – Deccan Herald

Manipur hold Karnataka in opener
Deccan Herald
Hosts Karnataka were held to a 2-2 draw by Manipur in their opening pool encounter of the Hockey India Junior Men’s National Championship (Div A) here on Tuesday. After two quarters that yielded nothing, the match suddenly sprang into life when Mani …

Manipur hold Karnataka in opener
Deccan Herald
Hosts Karnataka were held to a 2-2 draw by Manipur in their opening pool encounter of the Hockey India Junior Men's National Championship (Div A) here on Tuesday. After two quarters that yielded nothing, the match suddenly sprang into life when Mani …

?NCM member Capt Praveen Davar reviews minority welfare schemes in Manipur – TwoCircles.net

TwoCircles.net

NCM member Capt Praveen Davar reviews minority welfare schemes in Manipur
TwoCircles.net
Imphal: During his three day visit here, Capt Praveen Davar, member of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) and member in-charge of Manipur, reviewed the implementation of the PM’s New 15-Point Programme for the welfare of the minorities and …

TwoCircles.net

?NCM member Capt Praveen Davar reviews minority welfare schemes in Manipur
TwoCircles.net
Imphal: During his three day visit here, Capt Praveen Davar, member of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) and member in-charge of Manipur, reviewed the implementation of the PM's New 15-Point Programme for the welfare of the minorities and …

PUDR Condemn Targetting of Democratic Rights Activists’ Team inquiring into Seshachalam Killings

People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) Delhi Press Statement 12th April, 2015 Condemn Targetting of Democratic Rights Activists’ Team inquiring into Seshachalam Killings Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) strongly

People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR)

Delhi

Press Statement

12th April, 2015

Condemn Targetting of Democratic Rights Activists’ Team inquiring into Seshachalam Killings

Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) strongly condemns the slapping of cases against activists of a team of several civil liberties and democratic rights organisations from across the country who conducted a fact-finding into the recent killings of 20 red sanders “smugglers” in Chittoor district. Members of CDRO (Committee of Democratic Rights) and other human rights groups had visited the two ‘encounter’ sites on 10th April. When the team tried to speak to the forest officials to get their version of events they were threatened with dire consequences. Subsequently several team members were booked by forest officials yesterday, 11th April, for trespassing. Entering into a reserved forest area without authorisation is an offence under Sec 20 of the Andhra Pradesh Forest Act, 1957. Other charges may also have been applied. That this is a targetted, selective, and blatant act of harassment is all too obvious as media teams have been freely visiting the sites since 7th April itself.

Significantly, those booked include Mr Chiluka Chandrasekhar- advocate and General Secretary, Civil Liberties Committee (CLC -erstwhile APCLC) – who filed a PIL into the killings. It was on this basis that the AP High Court issued directives including registration of the case as unnatural deaths, observing the SC guidelines into encounter killings, preserving the bodies and a post mortem by a team of forensic experts.

In a Press Conference held in Tirupati on 11th April the team had released an interim report of their investigation. The team particularly highlighted the cold-blooded killings of 20 persons which are being passed off in the police version as ‘random’ deaths which occurred in ‘self-defence’ when attacked with stones and axes by over 100 red sanders “smugglers”, resulting in the deaths of 20 of the coolies. The rights’ team when they visited the two sites found no other bullet marks, or blood spots except where the bodies fell, as should have happened in a random firing. The bodies were found in close proximity to each other rather than scattered over a large area. Moreover neither of the sites had no stones that the coolies could have hurled. The team questioned as to what happened to the rest of the coolies at least some of whom must have been injured in the “random”, and allegedly untargetted firing.

In the light of the above, the registering of a case against the activists is obviously an obstructionist move intended to pressurise and prevent rights groups from actively pursuing the matter both in and outside the court. The Court clearly believes that the incident merits further inquiry. An independent fact-finding by a civil rights team is a civil society initiative in furtherance of the same. The registering of cases against the activists seems highly motivated and hints that a cover-up operation seems to have been already set in motion.

PUDR demands that:

1. An independent inquiry in which the AP police has no role as they are the accused.
2. The concerned policemen be booked under Sec. 302.
3. The charges against the 12 team members be dropped immediately

Megha Bahl, Sharmila Purkayastha

Secretaries, PUDR (www.pudr@org)

_______________________________________________
CDRO mailing list
CDRO@pudr.org

http://mail.pudr.org/mailman/listinfo/cdro_pudr.org

VDF association calls 24-hr general strike

IMPHAL, April 13: The All Manipur VDF Welfare Association has imposed a 24-hour general strike with effect from midnight of April 14 against the against the government`™s ignorance to its

IMPHAL, April 13: The All Manipur VDF Welfare Association has imposed a 24-hour general strike with effect from midnight of April 14 against the against the government`™s ignorance to its demands.

In a press release, the association also threatened to impose an economic blockade along the Natonal Highways if the government fails to fulfill its demands before April 15.

Religious processions, media and emergency services will be exempted from the purview of the strike, it said.

The release appealed to all shop owners to shut down their shops during the strike and government employees not to go to work during the strike.

The government should bear take responsibility if any untoward arises during the strike, it cautioned.

Meanwhile, the All Manipur VDF Guardian Association has decided to endorse the general strike imposed by the VDF personnel in pursuit of their demands.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/vdf-association-calls-24hr-general-strike/

TNL charges agent of selling off Ukhrul kerosene quota in Imphal

IMPHAL, April 13: `SK oil allocation for UKhrul district has been repeatedly sold in Imphal depriving the citizens of Ukhrul district for months` alleged Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) President, V.

IMPHAL, April 13: `SK oil allocation for UKhrul district has been repeatedly sold in Imphal depriving the citizens of Ukhrul district for months` alleged Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) President, V. Weapon Zimik during a press meet at Press Club today.

After repeated complaints, the matter is now in the High Court of Manipur.

Zimik said `ZV. Napolean Oil Agency authorized workers namely Horleng Zimik and Jotin Sharma from Uripok Huidrom Leikai are responsible for siphoning of the SK oil. The loss is 12 KL in November 2014, 12 KL in December 2014 and 12 KL in January 2015.`

According to him, the first formal complaint for no distribution of SKO by the ZV Napolean Oil Agency for three months, was submitted to the Additional Secretary CAF&PD, GoM on January 6 by TNL.

`But instead of rectifying the anomaly, the department allocated another 24KL in January 2015, and only half of this actually reached the district again,` he lamented.

`TNL resubmit another complaint to the Additional Secretary CAF&PD, GoM on 31/1/2015, bringing the malpractice to his notice with details of vehicle numbers etc, but while we anticipate prompt action against the defaulting agency, we were shocked to learn of another fresh allocation in their agency`™s name this month,` he added.

`Acting on public complaint TNL had also made a submission to the Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul. Following which the Deputy Commissioner had written to the Director, CAF&PD for further investigation into the complaint and to initiate necessary action including registering FIR against the culprits as deemed fit` he said.

`Subsequently the department has initiated enquiry against the two culprits and a case in this regard is also pending in The High Court of Manipur. But overlooking all this ongoing enquiry, another allocation of 36 KL has been issued in ZV. Napolean Oil Agency in April. Who will ensure accountability this time?` he remarked.

`If the concern department continues to ignore public grievances, we will be compelled to forward our complaint to Union Ministry of Petroleum and even file PIL` he stated.

ZV. Napolean Oil Agency is one of the two agencies for the Ukhrul district. Allocation dated April 9, sanctioned 100 KL which should be ideally distributed to meet the prescribed ration of four litres per card holder per month to consumers in Ukhrul.

Cheiraoba greetings

IMPHAL, April 13: Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh has conveyed his heartiest greetings to the people of the state on the auspicious occasion of Cheiraoba festival which falls on April

IMPHAL, April 13: Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh has conveyed his heartiest greetings to the people of the state on the auspicious occasion of Cheiraoba festival which falls on April 14.

In a message, the CM said, “™Cheiraoba, one of the major festivals of Manipur marks the parting of the old year and the onset of new year. With the advent of another New Year, I wished for the people to strive to work for unity and peaceful co-existence amongst all sections of the society in the state,`™`™.

The CM said he will join the people of Manipur in celebrating the festival and conveyed his sincere wish that the New Year will herald an era of peace, prosperity and progress for all.

Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly, Th Lokeshwar and Communist Party of India, Manipur State Unit have also greeted the people of Manipur on the occasion of Cheiraoba.

President of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee President and Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, Gaikhangam has conveyed his warm greetings to the people of the state on the occasion of Sajibu Cheiraoba which falls on April 14.

In his message, Gaikhangam wished for a peaceful co-existence, unity and love amongst the different communities with the arrival of the festival.

Convener of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Manipur State Unit, Th Manihar Singh has greeted the people of the state on the auspicious occasion of Sajibu Cheiraoba which falls on April 14.

In a message, Manihar prayed for peaceful co-existence amongst the different communities and corruption-free state with the coming of the festival.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/cheiraoba-greetings/

Bandh in abduction case called off, but demands remain

IMPHAL, April 13: The JAC formed against the kidnapping of a 17 year old minor girl from Gaikhanam Kabui Village, Imphal West has called off the indefinite bandh scheduled to

IMPHAL, April 13: The JAC formed against the kidnapping of a 17 year old minor girl from Gaikhanam Kabui Village, Imphal West has called off the indefinite bandh scheduled to start on April 15 along the both National Highway of Manipur.

Speaking to media person at a press conference held at Manipur Press Club today, the JAC member Ranjita Golmei said that the indefinite bandh was withdrawn following an understanding between the JAC and the Government.

Giving the background of the agitation, she said after the girl was abducted, the victim`™s parents went to the concern Police Station at Lamphel to file a missing report of their daughter but the police refused to make them lodge their complaint.

Thereafter, the family members accompanied by some locals approach to the Dy Chief Minster Gaikhanagam and complained to him of the matter on March 21.

The JAC has demanded the suspension or transfer of Lamphel PS, OC Dorendro and to take up appropriate action against the involved police personnel in that regard at the earliest, she said.

She further demanded slap PACSO against the allegedly culprit from Khetrigao for raping a 17 years old minor girl within three month.

ATSUM fixes new deadline for govt to honour ROTO agreement

IMPHAL, April 13: The All Tribal Students`™ Union Manipur, ATSUM, said it is constrained to draw the attention of the Government to its agreement with ATSUM on October 22, 2014

IMPHAL, April 13: The All Tribal Students`™ Union Manipur, ATSUM, said it is constrained to draw the attention of the Government to its agreement with ATSUM on October 22, 2014 on various long outstanding demands of the tribal communities.

Speaking to media person in a press meet at office of ATSUM, Maun Tombing president ATSUM said that It is a disgrace and dishonour that the Ibobi-led Congress government is still sleeping over the grievances of tribals to buy more time in spite of continuous pressure from the ranks and files.

Among these is the ST Commission assurance given by the Chief Minister, he said.

The Chief Minister had assured to set up and make this commission functional by New Year 2015, but now it has turned out to be a false promise, he said.

The ATSUM feels compelled to serve another ultimatum to set up the ST Commission on or before June 14, in the interest of the tribal communities and the benefits they would reap by the activation of such a commission, said Tombing.

He further said that the demands were mainly for the regularisation of contract lecturers, bifurcation of power to Additional Director (Hills), Education (S), halt to manipulation and exploitation of tribal quota in the Manipur Legislative Assembly, halt to transfer of land records and special recruitment drive in JNIMS.

As per the Government`™s agreement with ATSUM, the Cabinet on September 2, 2014 approved the regularisation of 705 contract lecturers in Higher Secondary School, but nothing has happened since. On October 22, 2014 the Government again reminded to complete the formalities of regularisation before the commencement of the academic session 2015-16.

`On October 22, 2014 during the discourse between the GoM and ATSUM team, Education Minister and Director of Education(s) had given the assurance to ATSUM team that order will be published in a gazette very shortly. Very unfortunately nothing has been implemented till today` the ATSUM president said.

Again, the Additional Director (hills) has been given neither the responsibilities of the hills nor the power to function as given in the order, he said.

To bring about a balance in employment patter in the Assembly secretariat, ATSUM had demanded ascertainment of the number of backlogged posts inclusive of detail information of employees and reservation of quotas against sanction posts. But Assembly secretariat has only furnished a bogus data which does not correspond to the data obtained from MIS, he said.

The government made promises several times but have been breaking them time and again, he said. All the backlogged posts of different grades which ought to be filled after the agreement with the government on October 22, 2014 are still vacant, he said.

Tombing appealed all the units of ATSUM to prepare for agitation.

Bar association cries foul at CM`s alleged recommendation of a junior officer for HC judgeship

By Paojel Chaoba IMPHAL, April 13: Apex legal body of the State, All Manipur Bar Asociation (AMBA) has charged the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi of alleged favouritism in the selection

By Paojel Chaoba

IMPHAL, April 13: Apex legal body of the State, All Manipur Bar Asociation (AMBA) has charged the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi of alleged favouritism in the selection process of a High Court judge.

The Manipur High Court inaugurated in December, 2011 has a present strength of three judges, namely Justice LK Mohapatra, Justice N Koteswor,Justice Kh Nobin Singh. However, the sanctioned strength is for five judges. The matter for deputing five judges was pursued by Ibobi with the Union Law Minister Salman Khursid back in 2012. According to his D.O. letter number 16/2/2012-Law (GHC) – five judges will be needed to dispose of the numerous pending cases and also for the ever increasing number of legal disputes.

The allegation by the AMBA is that Ibobi has recommended a junior judicial officer for the judgeship bypassing six senior officers.

In this regard, AMBA sent a representation to the Union Law Minister; DV Sadananda Gowda, Chief Justice of India; HL Dattu and Justice Ranjan Gogoi of the Supreme Court of India on February 19 this year.

The representation mentions that the Registrar General of the High Court of Manipur, namely Songkhupchung Serto has been recommended for the fourth judgeship bypassing six senior officers.

They are Roland Keishing, A Guneshwar Sharma, Ng Kipgen, M Manojkumar Singh, S Imocha Singh, K Brajakumar Sharma (not listed on seniority basis).

Serto is the junior most judicial officer and is listed in number 7 in terms of seniority, the bar memo said. `This unjustified recommendation is against the directive of the Chief Justice of India that elevation of judgeship should be on seniority basis,` the representation added.

Further, for a judgeship prerequisite, Serto has not been able to deliver and submit 10 contested judgements (5 civil and 5 criminal) and thus having no experience as a Grade-1 officer, it further said. Due to this fact, he was superseded by his junior judge M Manojkumar Singh at the time of Grade-I promotion, the memo further said.

It also said that the manner by which Serto was posted as Registrar General since 2012 is also doubtful as the senior most Grade-I judicial officer should hold the post. Pointing out other facts the memo said since his promotion, Serto has not been able to pass a single judgement, his experience being `more on the administrative side`, it added.

It is also pointed out that in the Trail Courts, there are specific guidelines for awarding grades to judicial officers such as disposal of number of cases, judgement quality after examining 10 cases etc.

Whereas, for the officers posted at the High Court, there is no specific guideline. This is also another problem in grading of the judicial officers, the representation said.

It alleged that S Serto has no experience on the appellate side of a District and Sessions Court. `After his promotion to Grade-I, he has been posted in the registry for the last 4 years, which was continuous from the post of deputy registrar (Grade-II),` it said.

Moreover, this was done without following the convention and practice of all the High Courts of India, i.e. the tradition of senior most Grade-I judicial officer being posted as Registrar General.

Hence, recommending him bypassing two scheduled tribe and four general category judicial officers in terms of seniority and work experience is manipulative and points to gross injustice to the judicial system itself, the AMBA memo said.

The AMBA representation further urged the Supreme Court Justice, Ranjana Gogoi among others to cancel the recommendation of Serto in the larger interest and proper dispensing of justice for all.

Aside of the AMBA, the proceedings of the 31st emergency executive meeting of the High Court Bar Association resolved that the existing vacant post of judge should be filled up from amongst the persons who have held 10 years experience at a judicial office in Manipur according to seniority and suitability, it said.

It may be mentioned that there has been a hue and cry over promotional matters in various state departments, charging seniority and experience is often overlooked.

Report on youth killed in mobile explosion refuted

IMPHAL, April 13: Refuting the news report published in some local dailies on April 11 that a youth identified as Thangjam Roshan, 17 of Nambol Mongjing Leikai, Bishnupur district lost

IMPHAL, April 13: Refuting the news report published in some local dailies on April 11 that a youth identified as Thangjam Roshan, 17 of Nambol Mongjing Leikai, Bishnupur district lost his life when his mobile handset exploded, Nambol Mongjing Leikai Students`™ Union Club & Library and family members of the deceased clarified on Monday that Roshan died of electrocution sparked by short circuit of the mobile charger, not as a result of the mobile explosion.

Narrating the unfortunate incident to this daily, they said that Roshan was playing game on his mobile handset while charging when suddenly the mobile charger got short circuited and he died of electrocution on April 10 around 3 pm.

The charger of the mobile was not an original one of the mobile company. There was also no trademark sign on it, they said.

When the charger got short circuited, Roshan suffered severe injuries on his two fingers and the charger exploded with a loud sound leaving him unconscious on his bed. He was rushed to CHC Nambol for treatment but succumbed to the injuries, they explained.

The students`™ union and family members expressed unhappiness on those people for passing the information that Roshan died as a result of his mobile explosion which is not true at all.

There is no shortage of fund for developing hill areas, says CM

IMPHAL, April 13: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi on Monday inaugurated a 33/11 kv Power Sub-Station, police station and an integrated infrastructure complex of BDO Machi Block simultaneously at Machi sub-division

The inauguration function was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam; IFCD Minister Ngamthang Haokip; MLA Tengnoupal Constituency D Korungthang; MLA Kakching Constituency Y Surchandra; MLA Kumbi Constituency S Bira; MLA Hiyanglam Constituency E Dwijamani; MLA Wabagai Constituency Md Fazur Rahim; DGP Shahid Ahmed; IG Zone III S Manglemjao; DC Chandel Robert Singh Khestrimayum and officials of MSPDC Limited and government departments.

The main inauguration function was organized by District Administration, Chandel at the playground of Machi High School.

Speaking as chief guest, CM Ibobi said that there was a palpable gap in equal allotment of basis amenities in the valley and hills when the present government came to power while adding that development in the hills is one of the top priorities of the government.

He maintained that DC Office, Mini Secretariat building and offices of several other government departments in every district including the hills have been built and inaugurated accordingly to ensure collective growth and development.

The government had already launched `Inclusive Infrastructure Development in Hill Areas`™ programme in hill areas under sub-divisional Headquarters to reach out to the people residing in the areas which are saturated from the District Headquarters, Ibobi said.

The CM stated that according to reports of the government, there are 27 Blocks in far flung hill areas where there is no bank facility for which the government is trying to avail the facility including all the basic amenities.

Asserting that there is a plan to invest Rs 12 crore in each of the 27 Blocks under Special Plan Assistance to avail integrated infrastructure in the areas, he informed that that the government has already earmarked a sum of Rs 300 crores for implementing the plan.

The earmarked fund will not be allowed to divert. There will be no shortage of fund for developing far flung areas in the hills, Ibobi vowed.

He assured that the government will provide full-proof security, uninterrupted power supply and required infrastructure in all the banks to be set up in the 27 Blocks.

Referring to a memorandum submitted urging to upgrade Machi Primary Health Centre to the level of CHC; he said that upgradation of the health centre to CHC level could take few years as there is shortage of doctors being faced by the state at present.

Dy CM who presided over the function asserted that there has been notable development in the hills which is due to the sincere efforts put in by the Ibobi-led government.

He said that equal growth in the valley and hills is the top priority of the government and added that people in both the hills and valley have been availed with basis amenities though there is much need to be done in health and education sector.

Gaikhangam further said that various notable developmental programmes taken up in the hills during the last 13 years have proven commitment of the government towards growth and development in the hills.

Appealing the people to regard the infrastructures set up by the government as their own assets, the Dy CM called upon the government employees not to show reluctance when it comes to posting in the hills.

AMWJU throws a gauntlet

That relations between the All Manipur Working Journalists Union, AMWJU, and the relatively recent Editors`™ Guild Manipur, EGM, were not exactly cordial was known all along, but nobody would have

That relations between the All Manipur Working Journalists Union, AMWJU, and the relatively recent Editors`™ Guild Manipur, EGM, were not exactly cordial was known all along, but nobody would have expected things to come a collision course. In a sentence, the EGM tried to forestall the AMWJU elections, and the AMWJU responded by severing all links with the EGM. In an official press release yesterday, the AMWJU said its emergent general body meeting decided to drop all members of the EGM from AMWJU membership, and if any one of the editors individually wants to be member of the AMWJU, he or she can reapply for fresh membership. No breakup could have been more definitive than summarised in the short press statement. The EGM is yet to say anything on the matter.
While the development is extremely unfortunate, nobody who is aware of the politics within the journalist fraternity in Manipur would be surprised at what happened. The rifts between different hierarchies of journalists were growing, and inevitably so as the profession grew in sophistication. There have also been an increasing number of journalist categories. As for instance, today you have correspondents of national newspapers, print journalists working in morning dailies, others in afternoon tabloids, more in weeklies and still others in the relatively smaller news organisations in the districts, especially the hill districts. Then there is the new tribe of Cable TV journalists. All of them have different work pressures to handle, different duty hours, different sources to tap, different salary packages, different bosses to answer to etc. And this is not unique to Manipur. In Delhi for instance, there is the Foreign Correspondents`™ Club of South Asia at a posh residential locality at Mathura Road, and the Press Club of India, Delhi, at the institutional Raisina Road area, where journalists working for Indian media establishments seek membership. The two have very little to share and there is an undercurrent of mutual contempt too. Both also have the resources to have different clubs to fraternise separately.

Thirty years ago in Manipur, these categories would not have been there, and if they were, they would have been very nebulous. As is the pattern throughout India and the rest of the developing world, in their early days, newspapers were owned by their editors, indicating their activist, rather than commercial beginnings. When Tilak, Gandhi, Irabot started their newspapers, they surely had a mission in mind rather than commerce. The legacy lives on in places like Manipur, but this tradition is beginning to die out, and as is usual during such times of transition, the old culture gets rejected but the new is not totally embraced, leaving rooms for conflicting claims and interests. The current tension within the state`™s journalist fraternity is in many ways a reflection, and physical manifestation, of this tension within.

As the name implies, AMWJU is a union of working journalists, obviously with the aim of promoting and defending the interests of working journalists. A working journalist is defined as a professional who makes a living by full time career engagement in journalism. Editors are journalists too and indeed in the past, though many editors were also proprietors of their newspapers, were members of the AMWJU. About a decade ago, AMWJU sensibly debarred editors with proprietorial interests in newspapers from being its members, after all, the interests of proprietors and their employees will seldom be the same, especially in a commercial organisation. But newspapers today have several editors and not all of them have proprietorial interests and are therefore eligible to be AMWJU members. Still the division within persisted and the EGM came to be a separate organisation. Unfortunately it chose not to work on a different plane than the one on which AMWJU functioned, and therefore began to resemble a parallel body. The clash therefore was already foretold even at very inception of the EGM. Moreover, although editors these days do not necessarily have proprietorial interests, some unfortunately have their proprietors`™ interests in order that their own interests are served. The clash within the state`™s journalist fraternity therefore was predetermined by the changing paradigms of journalism in recent times.

Reconciliation is the best way out. Let the AMWJU be the front of Manipur journalism, therefore have the powers accorded to the status. Within the AMWJU, the EGM can be an autonomous advisory body of senior journalists.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/amwju-throws-a-gauntlet/

Locals of Ningthoukhong Kha decry land acquisition notice

IMPHAL, April 13: Ninthoukhong Kha decried the land acquisition notice of the Government of Manipur and resolved to knock the legal door for justice. Speaking at a press conference yesterday

IMPHAL, April 13: Ninthoukhong Kha decried the land acquisition notice of the Government of Manipur and resolved to knock the legal door for justice.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday at Ningthoukhong Kha, Bishnupur District, former minister Corporation and Art & Culture, Khundrakpam Jibon Singh who is also the president of Khudi Thibi Loukol Sericulture cum Horticulture Multipurpose Cooperation Society said that the land measuring 119.95 acres located at Ningthoukhong Kha is owned by the locals.

Dag chittha of 1968 showed the land is owned by locals separately but is somehow another document, Dag Chittha of 1969, also showed the same land as owned by one individual, Khoirakpam Manikchand S/o Kh Iboton @ Heithumba of Ward No 4.

Jibon said this is ridiculous for according to MLR LR Act 1961 and Rules thereof a person cannot posses a land piece more than 7.5 acres. He said that there is something fishy in the revenue office.

On further query, the revenue office mentioned that yet another dag Chittha was acquired where the whole land was marked as `Khas Land`™ or no man`™s land and notice has been served to acquire the said land by the Government for an upcoming projects.

Former president of the society Sashikumar Singh said that on an earlier notice from the Government, they have submitted the original documents to the revenue office. A few days later, the office was burnt down with the documents in it in the year 2004.

He charged that the office was intentionally burnt down to forcefully grab the land from the ordinary peasants.

On the other side some of the locals are still paying their land tax at the revenue office till 2014, Jibon said.

The confusions over the land ownership has made live miserable for the victimised 64 families of the Ningthoukhong Kha said former minister, elaborating that the locals will plea before the court for justice.

He said that the locals are not in the state of mind to cultivate their farms in the fear that the Government would acquire the land from them.

Violence in Manipur – E-Pao.net

Violence in Manipur
E-Pao.net
There is no dearth of violent incidents in Manipur to refute the misleading claim of Gaikhangam Gangmei on the “improved” law and order situation. He dubs the perpetrators “cowards” and vows to nail them down. It is a mystery how these “cowards …

Violence in Manipur
E-Pao.net
There is no dearth of violent incidents in Manipur to refute the misleading claim of Gaikhangam Gangmei on the "improved" law and order situation. He dubs the perpetrators "cowards" and vows to nail them down. It is a mystery how these "cowards …