Manipur News

IMPHAL, July 10: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh is fully responsible for the death of the student agitator who died in police action, claimed BJP Manipur president Th Chaoba today.

He demanded why the Chief Minister had failed to disclose even before the Assembly that the Governor had not cleared the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015.

Speaking at a press conference held at the party office, Chaoba claimed Robinhood would not have been dead nor any agitation launched if the Chief Minister had disclose the fact.

BJP has been objecting the Bill and its title since it was being drafted as there was clause or provision to safeguard the State`™s land from being sold to the outsiders, he claimed

He reiterated the popular belief that the Bill is in total favour of the outsiders.

The Chief Minister has claimed in the House that all political parties had agreed to the Bill, which is totally wrong as after the final draft of the Bill was finalised, no copies of the Bill were circulated to the members of the All Political Parties committee on ILPS, he claimed.

The government had forcibly passed the Bill even though the Opposition MLAs asked for the drafted Bill to be sent to a selection committee for further discussion, Chaoba claimed further.

The House has been cheated and a student was killed, he said.

He continued that even though a student was killed when a police fired tear gas shell hit him on the chin, the Home minister continues to claim that there was no mistake on the part of the police.

Home minister Gaikhangam has lied and misled the House, he continued.

The JCILPS was scheduled to agitate and the police were aware of it, but no preparation to control the agitation peacefully was taken up, he continued.

He continued that there was also no order from the district administration to fire directly at the agitators.

He said the BJP will meet the Governor and seek extending the Assembly session for another couple of days so that the members could further discuss the issue of ILPS demand.

BJP will also consider a new Bill with police parties of the State excluding the Congress, he said.

Imposing curfew will not bring any solution, he further observed.

Ousted Thangmeiband MLA Kh Joykishan who joined the BJP recently also said during the last sitting of the Assembly session, he was the only MLA objecting to the Bill.

However, Okram Ibobi who considers the Opposition to be weak had forcibly passed the Bill in the House, he claimed.

A State BJP team led by its president Chaoba also met the Governor and submitted a memorandum apprising the Governor of the present situation in the State.

Following their return, the team said the Governor had noted the issue seriously and assured to call the Chief Minister and the deputy Chief Minister to discuss the matter.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/bjp-holds-cm-for-students-death/

IMPHAL July 10: The six members of the Joint Committee Inner Line Permit System who were picked up by the police yesterday have been released this evening.

The members are identified as Khomdram Ratan, convenor in charge; BK Moirangcha, co-convenor in charge; Md Kheiruddin Shah, co-convenor; co-convenor Pukhrambam Arjun, Thokchom Somendro member, Soubam Rajen Singh, member.

Speaking to media persons somewhere in Imphal following their release, Ratan said they were picked up from the Wangkhei Thangapat area yesterday around 9pm and released this evening around 4pm.

He said after they were picked up they were taken to the Imphal East SP office where minister Moirangthem Okendro, minister Govindas, MLA RK Anand, MLA Ng Bijoy and MLA Dr I Ibohalbi were waiting for them.

The ministers and the MLAs asked them for talks on the present issue, but they turned down the invitation citing that they were in police custody, Ratan told media persons.

Following the brief meeting, they were again taken to the Chief Minister`™s bungalow, where again they were met by several ministers and MLAs, he said.

There again the Chief Minister asked what their demand on the issue was, he said.

He said they replied that since they were under police custody they cannot negotiate and that their objective is what the public desires.

Ratan also said that no police case was registered against them.

The JCILPS convenor incharge also said that the imposition of curfew and the closing down of schools will not bring any good and it would be better to re-open the schools and lift the curfew.

He further appealed to the people not to spread rumours of the death of a student of the TG Higher Secondary School.

Meanwhile, it may be mentioned that the Indigenous People`™s Assocation of Kangleipak has urged the government to release the leaders of the JCIPLS in a press conference held earlier in the day.

Speaking to the media persons, at the IPAK, head office Keishampat, Sapamcha Jadumani chairman IPAK also founder of JCILP stated that arresting leaders of the agitation will not prevent the public from continuing with the movement.

He said the movement will continue until the demands are met as the ongoing agitation demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in the State is not only for the joint committee but for the whole people of the State.

The Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill 2015 which was passed by the government omitted the recommendations submitted by the All Political Parties Committee and the joint committee and was made not according to the interest and welfare for the people he asserted.

The situation would not have turned this bad if the government had shown some concern and understanding of the people`™s sentiment, he continued.

`It would be best if the government withdraw the previous bill and fulfill the demand made by the people as this is the only means to safeguard the indigenous inhabitants of the people and to live peacefully in the state` he added.

The chairman also mentioned that in the year 2012 and 2013 on the same date on July 13 during the Assembly session the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Bill, 1873 was passed altogether in three states Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

When other states government fights for its people to safeguard and protect its own people why is our state government so weak to do something for the welfare of the state he question.

This could be easily and peacefully done if the people and the government work hand in hand for the welfare of the state.

But the situation now has turned so ugly that even student was killed doing the agitation which hurt more the sentiment of the people.

It also shows that the present government inability to govern the people in the right way and also lack the leadership quality in them.

On the other hand the state police personal were acting as the anti people or the enemy to the people of the state but the police should also understand the fact that the ILP is not only for particular organisations or community but for the whole including them and the government, he said.

Most importantly he also appealed to the people of the state to understand minutely the demands made to the government to implement the ILP in the state and should not turn our frustration to the Non-Manipuri by torturing, beating or threatening them as they are not responsible in fulfilling the demands made by the people of the state.

If the government at the earliest understands and makes a law or permit system on this, the people worried about losing its indigenous inhabitants could be protected he added.

The increasing illegal influx also could be stop only by the law and not by any civil organisations and that is the reason why the people of the state is unsatisfied with the previous bill and continue the agitation until the said demands are met he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/cm-proposed-talks-during-brief-arrest-claims-jcilps/

IMPHAL, July 10: Admitting that the demands by the JAC of All Manipur Trade Union Congress (AMTUC) and All Manipur Government Employees Organization (AMGEO) to the government are legitimate, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh who also holds the portfolio of Finance appealed to the JAC to bear for some time with the government regarding fulfilment of their demands.

The CM was replying to a calling attention motion raised by opposition MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi Singh and L Ibomcha Singh during the last sitting of the 11th Session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

The calling attention motion was raised by the MLAs on `to call the attention of Chief Minister on the reported threat by AMTUC & AMGEO to launch cease work strike from July 20, 2015`™.

While moving the motion, MLA Dr I Ibohalbi Singh said that reiterated that the JAC had launched a 14 days long cease work strike in pursuance of its demands in 2010 after which it inked a MoU with the government on May 19, 2015.

Under the MoU which have six-point agreements, it was agreed that employees under the JAC will be provided with the 6th Pay Commission scale. However, the government failed to abide with the agreement, which led the JAC to launch cease work strike from July 20 to press the government to fulfil its 28-point charter of demands, said the MLA drawing the attention of the House.

Responding to the motion, Ibobi clarified that the demands of the JAC could not be fulfilled as of now due to the unstable financial position of the state though 7th Pay Commission scale for employees of Central Government is in the pipeline.

He said that employees of the Secretariat mainly of the Finance Department do know clearly about the total amount of the state Budget, how much have spent, where and for what purposes.

If all the demands made by the government employees are given without considering the state Budget then a situation will arise when vehicles issued to Commissioners/Secretaries under Government of Manipur, Ministers and MLAs have to be forbidden, the CM expressed.

It is not that the government is sidelining Muster Roll, Work Charge and Casual government employees who have working for the last 30 years. The fact of the matter is that the government does not have enough fund to fulfil their demands, he added.

Requesting the concerned government employees to bear with the government for more time regarding fulfilment of their legitimate demands, Ibobi assured that the government will hold discussion to fulfil some of the demands at the earliest.

However, it will be impossible to fulfil the all the demands on a one time basis, he stated.

Explaining that it will be a hard task to mitigate extra-financial expenditure given that the financial status of the state is unstable, the CM made a fervent appeal to the JAC to call off its proposed cease work agitation in the interest of the state.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/impossible-to-fulfill-demands-of-govt-employees-on-one-time-basis-cm/

JCILPS will be consulted during discussion of fresh bill, Ibobi tells House

IMPHAL, July 10: Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly Th Lokeshwar has adjourned sine-die the 11th Session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly which had begun from July 26 after the end of its last sitting today.

In the 11th Session of the House, which had eleven sittings including today`™s sitting, there were two Obituary References, adoption of Motion on Governor`™s Address, five Short Notice Questions, withdrawal of two Starred Question out of the total 67, presentation of seven papers with having 29 Un-starred Questions, presentation of six House Reports and ten calling attention motions with one converted as Short Duration Discussion.

Members of three Financial Committees of the House were also elected by holding election.

General Discussion on Budget Estimates, 2015-16 and Discussion & Voting on Demands for Grants, 2015-16 were also held.

Along with the House members unanimously passing six bills presented by the ruling government, seven bills were also introduced in the House during the session.

One bill was referred to a Select Committee of the House.

During the session, there was a discussion on a matter of public interest and half-an-hour discussion.

On the last sitting of the House today, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who is also the Leader of the House while referring to the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 which was passed during the 10th Session of the House in March, 2015 said that assent of the Governor was sought after the House passed the bill.

He made it clear that the Governor has not totally rejected the bill but it has been kept reserved for consideration of the President of India.

Admitting that plea made by some House members to refer the bill to a Select Committee while the bill was put up in the House for its passage was rejected, the Chief Minister clarified that the bill was passed without referring it to a Select Committee as Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) would be in the belief that the government was not keen to pass the bill if it was referred to a Select Committee.

Any parts of the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 can be modified, he said.

Additional clauses can also be inserted in the bill if need arises in future, Ibobi told the House

He further said that fate of the bill is uncertain as it is not clear whether the President of India will consult with the Law Ministry or the bill will be discussed in the Union Cabinet.

However, there is an unofficial report stating that the Government of India cannot keep a bill sent by a State government for more than six months without its consideration, he pointed out.

Disclosing that threadbare discussion will be held with legal experts whether a new bill should be introduced or not, the CM said that talks will also be held with representatives of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System which is spearheading the collective demand for ILPS implementation in the State in this regard.

The CM made the statements while responding to questions raised by Opposition MLA Dr I Ibohalbi Singh during discussion on the Manipur Appropriation (No 5) Bill, 2015 moved by the Chief Minister in the House.

The Manipur Appropriation (No 5) Bill, 2015 was passed by members of the House after having a threadbare discussion.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/speaker-adjourns-house-sinedie/

LAMKA, July 10: Rape accused Timothy Changsan who is charged under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act of serial raping girls many of whom are orphans in a children home where he was the director, failed to appear before the District and Session Court, Churachandpur today.

The Manipur High Court had recently revoked his bail a few days ago after he was found to be out on bail under mysterious condition last month.

The police have been on the look-out for the accused even to the extent of raiding his potential hide-outs.

However, the brother of the accused was seen loitering around the court complex today and even submitted a petition that his brother is in Imphal and can`™t appear before the court in Churachandpur as he was in Imphal as curfew is imposed in the State capital at the moment.

It is also learnt that the IO of the case, SI Sandy Tonsing had himself delivered the court summon personally long before the imposition of the curfew.

At the same time, the Judge who had issued the summons also failed to turn up due to the curfew raising many eyebrows.

Several sections of the society including the Manipur Alliance and Child Rights- Churachandpur and Action for Women and Child Advancement are convinced about the manner the accused was released on bail.

It is also interesting to note that the accused had hold a press conference announcing legal notice to the MACR-CCpur who champion the cause and the print media of the district through his lawyer advocate MI Sharma.

It may be recalled that Timothy Changsan is charged of raping seven girls while he was the administrator of NECH after the seven girls escaped from the boarding home and complaint to the police.

Any accused under the POCSO Act, which carry a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, in no circumstances, is allowed to be granted bail for six months, however, it this case, the accused was granted bail only after 92 days.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/serial-rape-accused-fails-to-appear-to-court-summon/

BISHNUPUR, July 10: Showing solidarity to the ongoing demand for implementation of the Inner Line Permit System or a similar system in the State to safeguard the indigenous population of the State, a sit in protest was also held at Leimaram today.

The sit in protest was staged at the Leimaram Shanti Bazar, Bishnupur district organised jointly by the Leimaram Yaipha Lamjing Lup, All Manipur Scheduled Caste Students Union, Leimaram branch, Heiroubok Awang Women Welfare Association.

The sit in was held by blocking traffic along the bazaar road.

The agitators also observed a two-minute silence in memory of late Sapam Robinhood who was killed on June 8 in police action.

It was also declared during the protest that the residents of Waroiching, Leimaram and Heinoubok will participate and support all forms of protest and agitations until the public demand is met.

On the other hand around 1000 women also staged a mass sit in protest at Oinam today demanding implementation of the ILPS in the State.

The protest was organised by the 5 Tigers in Manipur and the meira paibis of Oinam.

A Bishnupur police team led by SDPO Rameshwor and DSP (cdo) John guarded the protest site so that no untoward incidents occurred during the protest.

Similar protests were also held at Keinou Bazar organised by the Mayai Kaba Chinjak Thingba Lup, Keinou, at the Irengbam Kangjeibung Bishnupur organised by Irengbam meira paibis.

Nambol Meira Paibi Apunba Lup also blocked the Tiddim Road at Nambol Bazar demanding the State government to step down if it cannot safeguard the indigenous people.

However, a team of Bishnupur district police controlled the agitators around 4:40pm.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/ilps-protest-staged-in-bishnupur/

IMPHAL July 10: Even as the State continues to burn in the aftermath of the death of a 16 year old student in police action during an ILPS rally, a 17-year old has been brought to the RIMS critically injured by a tear gas explosion.

A police fired tear gas shell exploded among a group of protestors injuring several of them along the Dingku Road this afternoon.

One of the injured has been identified as 17-year old Roshan Haobijam son of H Mani of Khurai Konsam Leikai a class X student of Mangi Higher Secondary School.

He was rushed to the RIMS.

A splinter of a tear gas shell was taken out from an injury on his stomach. A vein was cut open on his wrist, splinters had also hit him on his thigh and shoulder. It is also learnt that he is bleeding from his right ear.

Hospital authorities said he has been given two units of blood already and he has been shifted to the Medicine Male Ward.

Two other injured protestors of the same rally identified as Arun Maibam and Sanjenbam Tamo have been taken to JNIMS.

Meanwhile, an ASI of the Manipur Police commando identified as T Shaym was injured when he mis-fired a tear gas shell at Dingku Road.

Two other minors were also brought to the RIMS allegedly beaten up black and blue by police personnel.

According to the students who are both 15-year olds, they were talking inside their residential gate at Kakwa when police personnel who came from behind jump on them and put them inside their mini-van parked outside.

The two have been identified as class VIII student Alex Thokchom son of Rajan and S Thoibi son of Amuchao.

The two said they were taken to the Kakwa Police Station and accused of using catapults which they had not.

The police then assaulted them using the butts of their guns and stamped all over their bodies with their boots, they said.

They were only rescued by the local womenfolk who stormed the station after learning of their arrest.

The two boys who are now at the RIMS wore lucid boot marks on their necks, thighs, knees and other parts.

Other injured protestors brought to RIMS include 42-year old Hawaibam Sunil of Thangmeiband Lourungpurel Leikai (hit by a rubber bullet on his thigh) and Balson Sharma, 29, of Kangabam Leikai.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/several-injured-in-policeprotestors-clashes-during-ilps-agitation/

IMPHAL, July 10: Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who also holds the portfolio of Home failed to response to a series of queries raised by opposition MLA Dr I Ibohalbi Singh on the death of a student of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy while staging a protest demanding ILPS implementation in the state, during the last sitting of the 11th Session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

The opposition MLA raised his queries while putting up last business of the House on `consideration and passing of the Manipur Appropriation Bill, 2015`™.

The MLA suspected that a Magistrate would have been present at the site where the student was killed in police action and demanded the identity the Magistrate if he happened to be present at the time when the unfortunate took place.

He also demanded the Dy CM the identity of the police officer who commanded the retaliation against the student agitators, claiming that he knows the identity of the police officer.

The MLA then referred to a telecast aired by a TV news channel wherein an IPS Probationary Officer fired shots from his service revolver towards a group of agitators who were protesting the death of the student in police action at Khurai yesterday.

The agitators were just 30/40 foot away from the IPS Probationary Officer, he claimed.

The IPS officer could have achieved his purpose by blank fires alone so why did he fire shots deliberately towards the agitators, the MLA asked, demanding the Dy CM to reveal the identity of the police officer.

Taking part in the heated discussion, MLA Th Shyamkumar Singh pointed out that police personnel were seen entering into kitchen and buildings of agitators who were demanding implementation of Inner Line Permit System in the state and beating them as shown in the local cable networks.

He urged the government to look into the excesses of the police personnel whose duty is to control mob not to beat them.

When Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh was responding to the motion, raised by three opposition MLAs including L Ibomcha Singh, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh suddenly stood up and said that the bill is related with finance so he is the one who should response to the motion.

Though the CM came to the rescue after the opposition MLAs raised the Khurai incident, Dy CM remained silent on the issue.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/mla-ibohalbi-grills-dy-cm-over-death-of-student/