Manipur News

IMPHAL, October 20: The Tangkhul Naga Long has ex-communicated two Tangkhul Congress MLAs for not complying to a declaration made during a public rally which had called for their resignation.

The two are 45 Chingai AC MLA MK Preshaw and 43 Phungyar MLA Victor Keishing, ex-communicated by Tangkhul Naga Long.

The decision was arrived at during a public meeting called by the apex Tangkhul Naga Long in Ukhrul today.

The declaration reads, `Based on the strict directive of United Naga Council dated October 19 and the TNL consultative meeting on the same day, the following three declarations are hereby publicly announced.`

MLA MK Preshaw and MLA Victor Keishing have refused to respect the decision of the TNL taken during a public rally on September 9 hence they will now cease to be considered a part of the Tangkhul and will not be allowed to set foot in Tangkhul areas again, it said.

It said 44 Ukhrul MLA Samuel Risom is requested to clarify on his resignation status within 15 days, failing which he will be subjected under the same penalty.

`Further course of action will be decided duly by the TNL leadership.`

It might be mentioned that on September 9, a massive public rally was held in Ukhrul under the aegis of TNL and several declarations were made including condemning the silence of the three Tangkhul representatives during the passing of the three anti tribal bills in the State Assembly on August 31 and being party to the resolution against the Indo Naga peace treaty.

The TNL had issued an ultimatum for their resignation citing their failure to safeguard the public interest of the people they represent.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/tnl-excommunicates-thangkhul-mlas-for-disregarding-resignation-demand/

IMPHAL, October 20: The Sanjenthong will be opened to the public well ahead of the Sangai festival and repairing of the roads in the vicinity of the festival venue has already been initiated.

This was stated by Chief Secretary O Nabakishore answering to media persons at a press meet held in connection with the upcoming Sangai festival 2015 this afternoon at the conference hall of Old Secretariat Building.

The Chief Secretary said like last year, this year also a chartered flights of the Golden Myanmar with a seating capacity of around 75 persons will land at the Imphal Airport twice.

The first flight will land on November 21 in Imphal and return back to Mandalay on the same day and come back on November 26, he said.

In the process, the flight will bring 75 tourists from Myanmar to Manipur and 75 from here will visit Myanmar. This will help promotion of tourism and developing relationship between the two countries, he added.

Secretary Tourism Nidhi Mani Tripathi, who was also present at the press meet, informed that atleast 15 Ambassadors and High Commissioners especially from South-East Asian countries and South Asian counties have been invited for the upcoming Sangai Festival 2015.

`A couple of them have shown interest also and they are inquiring about the programme,` she said.

She further said the Ministry of External Affairs have come forward to assist the Tourism Department this time.

`They (Ministry of External Affairs) have also arranged for an interaction meeting with the High Commissions and diplomatic houses in Delhi of these 15 countries on October 23.`

`And our Resident Commissioner, Commissioners of Commerce and Industry, and Tourism departments will be interacting with them,` she said.

`We will be making a brief presentation on the Sangai Festival. We want to explain to them that what kind of art form, culture, our rich history and heritage we are going to showcase and how it is going to strengthen our ties with these South Asian countries,` she said.

As it is also going to strengthen the Act East Policy of the Government of India, the Ministry of External Affairs of India has come forward this time showing keen interest, she said.

She said the Embassy of Japan has also shown interest and are inquiring about the programme details of Sangai festival.

`We have also invited Indian ambassadors of Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Thailand and Cambodia as these countries are very close to India and we are sharing our cultural and ethnic identities.`

The Chief Secretary said this time the Thailand delegates have made a special request to the State Government to allot 25 stalls for their products.

`Thai products are definitely popular in Manipur and so there will be 25 stalls earmarked for Thailand,` he said.

Myanmar will have about five stalls where they would sell their products like precious stones and semi-precious stones and other items, he informed.

Other attractions of the upcoming Sangai Festival include cultural programmes, exhibitions of dance forms of all the nine districts of the State, MMTA`™s adventure games and sports, Horticulture department`™s horticulture products like flowers etc.

There will be an improvement in the layout at the festival venue as we are consulting various experts on the issue, he said.

Huts showcasing the lifestyles and culture of every community and every tribe residing in Manipur will be exhibited as a heritage village. This is going to be the main attraction for this year, he added.

`We expect a huge success in the upcoming Sangai festival 2015. We are also getting co-operation from all the State government departments,` the chief secretary added.

Secretary Tourism said we are following the traditional practice of having MMTA for eco-tourism and adventure sports, and the cultural evenings as we have doing in the past.

This time Shumang Leela performances have also been proposed and at the same time we have proposed for Asian theatres where China, Japan and obviously something from India and Manipur will be participating, so that will be an international theatre festival during the Sangai festival, she added.

We (Tourism Department) will be organizing Myanmar-Manipur heritage conference in which the culture of Myanmar and Manipur would be presented and there will be academic sessions also on the performances.

Commerce and Industries Department is also planning to have a couple of conferences, she said.

On October 22 or 23rd they will be having a food processing conference because it has lots of potential, she added.

This time we are also trying to showcase our culture thought traditional exhibition huts, the process of preparing it has already started.

This is a new adding in an aim to showcase the rich and diverse culture of various communities who are residing in the State, she added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/chief-secretary-assures-sanjenthong-reopening-ahead-of-sangai-festival/

IMPHAL, October 19: The Joint Students Coordinating Committee (JSCC) today locked the administrative blocks of Nirmalabas High School, St Joseph`™s School, Litter Flower School Imphal and Zenith Academy against the schools`™ failure to comply with the committee`™s appeal to charge only 30 percent school fees for the month of July and August.

The appeal was made considering the closure of educational institutes in the valley districts during the said period in the wake of ILP agitations in the State.

Speaking to media persons, JSCC media coordinator Manjit Saranghtem said the administrative blocks of the private schools have been locked after the schools authorities failed to comply with the committee`™s repeated appeal.

At the same time, he said, some schools have complied with the appeals for deduction of school fees and teachers`™ salaries for the said months.

He reiterated the committee`™s appeal to school authorities to refund the fees for the month of July- August, if they have already collected the same.

He said government schools are not made mandatory to follow the appeal as the school month fees collected there is considerably low as compared to the private schools.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/jscc-locks-administrative-offices-of-four-schools/

IMPHAL, October 19: A woman died last night at the Shija Hospitals and Research Institute during childbirth along with her newly born child leading to the JAC formed in this connection demanding cancellation of the involving doctor`™s licence.

The woman has been identified as Salam (o) Meenashwari Devi wife of Salam Sanjoy and the doctor involved as Dr Subodha.

The doctor`™s and the attending nurses`™ negligence led to the tragic loss of lives, JAC president S Babuthouba Singh said.

He demanded the government to fulfil six demands which include cancellation of Dr N Subodha`™s practicing license, restriction of all doctors and nurses involved from working in the medical field, Rs 50 lakhs compensation for the negligence of the Shija Hospital and Research Institute and for the State government to monitor the mushrooming private clinics in the State.

He also said that the JAC demand that the State Medical Council should initiate an inquiry against Dr Subodha and reward befitting punishment.

Speaking at a press conference at the Manipur Press Club today, Salam Snajoy said his wife has been a patient of Dr Subodha since the detection of her pregnancy.

The doctor, he said, had advised for normal delivery on October 18.

Acting on the doctor`™s advice, Meenashwari was admitted to the hospital on October 17 and around 9:30pm of October 18, she went into labour pain and was admitted to the delivery room, he said.

Further according to husband, no doctor was present and Meenashwari was kept waiting for Dr Subodha who arrived around 11:45pm.

Soon on seeing the woman`™s condition, the doctor said it was critical and provided oxygen for 10 minutes after which she was declared dead after giving birth to a boy child.

Around 45 minutes past midnight, the child was admitted at the NICU, he said.

He continued, although the child looked already death, she was kept in the NICU till 6am and was declared dead only today.

Unfortunately, doctors claimed that Meenashwori died due to a cardiac arrest, he said.

Sanjoy said his wife entered the delivery room on foot and after some time her health became all of a sudden critical.

If the Shija Hospital management had arranged to call the doctor a little early, my wife could have been saved, the husband rued.

The hospital management had informed the doctor late, he said.

She could have been happy with the new born son as they already have a daughter, he said.

Various agitations will be launched soon if the government fails to response positively to the agitation, the JAC president said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/woman-dies-during-childbirth-in-manipur-jac-demands-doctors-licence-cancellation/

IMPHAL October 19: Two groups of students broke into an intense confrontation at the Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School today over the recent students`™ election which was held on October 17.

Police and local meira paibis had to assist the teachers in controlling the students after the altercation went beyond their capacity to control.

Meanwhile, the school principal Kh Somola declared closure of the school ahead of normal time today and that the school will remain close for the next two days as a precautionary measure.

According to a student of the school, the commotion among two groups of students started around 1pm over disagreement regarding the vote counting.

She said `The election was held on October 17 and there had been much disagreement and allegations during the counting. Those allegations and counter allegations persisted today with some even alleging that the Principal had sided one of the parties.`

Mention may be made that the dispute intensified since the students were supported by AMSU and DESAM on each side.

Both these student bodies had expressed their opinions through the media earlier on the issue.

Principal Kh Somola said a report has been submitted to the director of the Education department and `The final decision on the recent election will be decide by the department.`

The principal narrated that the election for six secretaries to represent the students`™ body was held last Saturday.

According to her, `The voting was held very peacefully. However dispute arises during the counting exercise and the matter has escalated beyond our control. Now it will only be decided by the higher authority as the election was held under the department`™s jurisdiction.`

She claimed that, `The gate broke open today thus allowing some outsiders to enter and escalate the fight despite the gate being kept locked with a gate keeper.`

Large numbers of police including women police led by SDPO/IW Ghanashyam Sharma and members of the local meira paibis pacified the students after more than two hours of attempt.

Officials from the Education Directorate also arrived at the spot.

Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School has about 700 students from class IX to XII, according to the Principal.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/ibotonsana-girls-school-students-fight-it-out-over-election-counting/

IMPHAL, October 19: The reported tension which erupted between communities of the Sandangsemba Maring and Andro yesterday was a result of the cultivation activities of the Maring villagers at an area where both the district administrations of Senapati and Imphal East have placed restriction orders under section 144 CrPC.

This was claimed by Andro Khullakpa Ch Gandhar Meitei today at the Manipur Press Club.

He said following yesterday`™s incident, the Maring villagers have threatened Andro villagers that they will not bear any responsibility if any eventualities happened along the road passing through the Maring Village.

He said in case of anyone getting injured while crossing the road considered the lifeline of Andro, the people Sandangsemba Maring Village will be held full responsible.

He claimed that the Maring community in their report which appeared in some local dailies today had wrongly identified the name of the place where the incident occurred as Chonga Loukon. Chonga Loukon comes under the jurisdiction of Huikap Village, whereas the place where the villagers of Andro had gone yesterday is known as Chafu Uppi Laimang where they have been conducting their annual traditional rituals, he said.

He further continued that some months back, villagers of the Sandangsemba Maring Village encroached on the said area for jhum cultivation.

This had led to tension among the two sides resulting in both the DCs of Senapati and Imphal East imposing a restriction until further notifications, he said.

He said the Andro Khullakpa Sana Pokpa Chakpa had served a letter to the DCs concerned, Sandangsemba Maring Village chief and Andro Police on June 6.

However, recently, two villagers of the Sandangsemba Maring Village had violated the restriction and continued their cultivations, he said.

On getting the information, villagers of Andro went to the area and damaged the cultivation yesterday and there was no political involvement, he observed.

The people of Andro will never compromise on the Chafu Uppi Laimang area at any cost as the area has been used since time immemorial for traditional rituals, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/violation-of-government-restriction-order-led-to-tension-andro-chief/

IMPHAL Oct 19: Representatives from four Clans of Chadong village namely Ramthing Kasar, W Linus Mungva, Rockson Kashung and Raymond Mahong, Chairman, held a press meet at Manipur Press Club today.

The representatives insisted on a comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement package that will also safeguard their existing rights over the resources of water and forest.

While sharing their woes that this year there has been no plantation at paddy field and hence the villagers will not harvest anything they said, `In addition to this deficit, even our jhum farms and kitchen gardens were submerged leaving us completely depended on buying from outside.`

Ramthing said, the Rs 14 lakhs compensation was only for house, granary, toilet, kitchen, transportation and rehabilitation grant.

However other terms and conditions included in the approved rehabilitation and resettlement plan of 1998 for rehabilitation and resettlement is a much more comprehensive package, Rockson said.

He added the government schools in Chadong are submerged and there is no school at the new resettlement site hence the children have no option but to migrate even for Primary Education while some have remained out of school for this academic year.

He further said, mere ground leveling does not make a resettlement site. It has to have basic amenities like water supply, electric supply, school, health system etc.

These provisions and full R&R were supposed to be implemented one year prior to the completion of the project and submergence of the habitat, he added.

The members demand implementation of a comprehensive R&R and to make immediate arrangements for food, shelter, safety, health, education, electricity, until their rehabilitation is complete. They also want the arrangement of alternative livelihoods and skill trainings towards that.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/chadong-representatives-insist-on-revised-rr-package/

IMPHAL, October 19: Candidates of the written test conducted in 2013 for recruitment of 221 staff nurses (ANM-200 and GNM-21) by the Directorate of Health Services have made all preparations to launch strong agitations against the failure of the authorities to declare the results of the test till date.

The notification for the recruitment was issued by the then director Health Services Dr A Bijoy Singh on March 13, 2013.

Following the notification, the directorate had conducted the written test for more than 5000 candidates on August 18, 2013.

However, the result of the written test has been left undeclared till date.

On learning that the candidates have made all preparations to launch the agitation, IFP conducted an investigation on the matter.

During the investigation, it was learnt that no one was sure of whether the results will ever be declared or if declared then when.

When IFP tried to contact the principal secretary (Health) Dr J Sureshbabu, the officer was found on leave and out of station.

The director Health Services, Dr O Ibomcha Singh was also found on leave.

However, the IFP managed to talk to one of the two under-secretaries Health Services, who said as of now the government has not cancelled the written test.

However, he was unable to provide more details and asked to inquire the Health Directorate for further details.

At the Health Directorate Office, Lamphel, out of the four additional directors, three joint directors and nine deputy directors meant to be present at the office, the IFP managed to meet only joint director Binata, deputy director (Medical care/ Vehicle) LR Kom and deputy director (Training) Dr Tomcha Khuman.

All the three officers were unable to confirm whether the results will be declared or not.

On the other hand, joint director Binata offered a joint meeting with the director and the concerned deputy director saying that reporting it on the newspaper will bring no solution.

It is also learnt that three candidates of the test had on December 15, 2014 jointly filed a petition to the High Court of Manipur although the case is yet find a legal judgement.

The petitioners had appealed to declare the results of the written test.

Earlier on August 21, 2014, the ANM, GNM Written Test Faced Candidates Association had submitted a memorandum to the health and Family Welfare minister and Health Services Director.

On August 22, 2014, the association submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister demanding declaration of the results.

Again on November 11, 2014, the association had submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/written-test-results-for-staff-nurse-recruitment-conducted-in-2013-remains-undeclared/

IMPHAL, October 19: A one day alliance building programme for survivors of conflict, drugs/ HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, sexual assaults and street vendors etc under the project titled: Humanitarian support to people affected by conflict in Kashmir, Manipur, Telengana and Andhra Pradesh States of India was held today at the Lamyanba Shanglen, Palace Compound.

The programme was organised by the Women Action for Development (WAD) with support of ECHO and Action Aid Association.

Director Prosecution, Government of Manipur Ng Tejkumar, speaking as a resource person on the topic `Access to Justice and its Implication`™, said the armed conflict and drug abuse, during the past few decades, have taken a toll on the male population of the State.

He added this has only led to an increase in the number of widows and HIV/AIDS affected women.

Tejkumar further expressed the need for an inclusive and stronger effort to abolish arm conflict and drug abuse which the women folk of the State have already initiated.

He also said that the Indian legal system has all the needed provisions to protect women against crimes.

The Manipur Legal Services is one body which is there to provide free legal help to anyone against such crime, he said.

All Manipur Working Journalists`™ Union president Wangkhemcha Shamjai spoke on the topic `Role for media in the present context of Manipur`™.

He said although the door is wide open for any victimised women to approach the media in order to help her restore her dignity in the society, no one should misuse the media by providing misleading stories.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/alliance-building-programme-for-survivors-of-conflicts-drugs-domestic-violence-held/

IMPHAL, October 19: Getting the President`™s assent for the three bill passed by the State Assembly on August 31 is the responsibility of the Congress government, said BJP Manipur Pradesh president Th Chaoba during a one day political conference at Lilando Lampak Thongju Constituency.

He said if the Ibobi government is unable to get the President`™s assent for the three bills, it should resigned on moral grounds and the BJP will bring in a peaceful Manipur

The conference was organised by party workers of 5/1, 5/2 and 5/3 polling stations of the constituency.

It is unfortunate that the Congress government in the State has fixed the responsibility to get the President`™s assent for the three bills and the responsibility for the recent signing of the Peace accord between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) on the State BJP, Chaoba lamented.

It is sad for a party which has formed the government in the State and has three MPs, he continued.

When it should be pressuring the Centre to give assent to the three bills, why has the Congress fixed the responsibility to the BJP Manipur Pradesh, he said.

People are aware that the BJP has no MLA in the State Assembly and no MP in Parliament and that the NDA government had to power in the Centre only a year back, he said.

The BJP demand a detail report of the meeting between Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam and the Prime Minister in connection to the Peace Accord and the three ILP bills, he said.

It is learnt that the Prime Minister had come out with a smile on his face after the meeting, he said demanding the details of the meeting.

Chaoba further asked why the Chief Minister has not replied to any of the statements made by the Chief Ministers of Nagaland and Mizoram on the issue of the bills.

He said, being the Chief Minister, Ibobi must know all the details and needs to face his counterparts from neighbouring States.

As for the NSCN (IM) Accord, when the Centre`™s interlocutor RN Ravi visited the State, he didn`™t meet the BJP leaders but met the Chief Minister, Chaoba claimed.

The BJP State president also alleged that the Congress knows nothing but corruption and that there has been no development in the State during the last 13 years of its rule.

Citing that Manipur is the only State left where the Food Security Act 2013 is not implemented, he alleged the Congress has been cheating the people for long.

He also claimed that the government has been siphoning off development funds of NREGA.

Although all rice loads for the implementation of the Food Security Act have been brought in from the Centre since 2013, the same have been sold off through back doors without providing it to the beneficiairies, he claimed.

Although Gaikhangam has charged Bishwajit the former Thongju MLA of not taking up any developmental work in his constituency, the deputy Chief Minister seem to have forgotten the condition of his own constituency, Chaoba asserted.

He said it is evident from the condition of the roads in Khoupum that no develop works have been undertaken in the deputy Chief Minister`™s constituency although it is his fifth term.

On the other hand, Thangmeiband ex-MLA Joykishan has demanded that if the government is able to provide satisfying answer to a few queries, he will not file nomination for the bye election in his constituency.

He asked as to why only three MLAs were disqualified from among four MLAs in the same case.

He further asked why disqualification of O Lukhoi of Wangoi Constituency was revoked after a case was filed before the High Court

He further demanded as to why the Congress government to take up the case of the merger of five MSCP MLAs into the Congress till date.

Disqualify the five and we will not file nomination paper for the by election, he said.

Former MLA Thongju Th Bishwajit and other BJP State leaders also attended the conference.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/getting-presidents-assent-for-bills-is-congress-responsibility-chaoba-claims/