Manipur News

IMPHAL, October 9: Volunteers of the Joint Students`™ Coordinating Committee today locked the administrative offices of four private schools for not complying 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.

The four schools are Heritage Convent Uripok, Shishu Nistha Nekatan Mayaikoibi, North Point Higher Secondary School Achanbigei and RK Sanatombi School Pangei, JSCC convenor Jayentakumar Khuman said.

Speaking to media persons, Jayentakumar said the committee had held two meetings on August 16 and September 1 with the All Manipur Recognised Private Schools Welfare Association and the All Manipur Van Drivers Association during which it was agreed that the schools in Imphal and its surrounding areas will charge only 30 percent of school fees of the total amount for the months of July and August.

Further, the school van services had also agreed during the meetings that the services will charge only 50 percent of their fees and teachers will receive only 50 percent of their salaries for the two months.

He said the decisions were arrived at considering that the schools had remained closed for the entire two months due to the ILP agitations.

However, he said, most schools have failed to follow the agreement which was already announced through the media on August 16 and September 1.

As such, the JSCC had warned the schools through the media that starting October 8, the administrative blocks/ rooms will be locked down if the schools fail to comply with the instruction, he said.

He continued a team of the JSCC volunteers led by its convenor Jayentakumar Khuman, media coordinator Sarangthem Manjit and JSCC member Maibam Bidyaraj visited five schools in Imphal and its surrounding areas to check whether the appeal has been complied with.

Of the five schools, only one was found complying with the instruction and as such the administrative blocks of the four others were locked down, he added.

Only Maria Montessori Senior Secondary School was found complying with the instruction during the visit, he added.

`Schools are not meant for profit making, it is a place of learning so the agreement was quite reasonable considering the turmoil faced during the ILP agitations,` said JSCC media coordinator Sarangthem Manjit.

He appealed to those schools that have already collected the full fees to refund it to the students at once.

He said those schools which have been locked down today can only re-open their administrative block/rooms only after giving an assurance that they will follow the JSCC`™s instruction.

JSCC will take further course of action against those schools who have failed to comply with this instruction, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/jscc-locks-admin-sections-of-schools-for-not-complying-with-30-pc-fees-appeal/

IMPHAL, October 9: The Indo-China Combined Military Training Exercise HAND-IN-HAND 2015 will be conducted from October 12 to 23 at Kunming Military Academy, Yunnan, China, according to a PRO (Defence) Imphal statement.

`The exercise will bring together troops of an Infantry sub-unit and a formation headquarter of the Indian Army and similar participation from the Chinese Army for the joint training.`

It said this will be the fifth exercise in the Hand-in-Hand series, which started in 2007.

This exercise will strengthen and broaden interoperability and cooperation between both the Armies as well as complement a number of other exchanges between the two forces, it said.

Over the years, the two countries have decided to progressively increase the scope and content of the combined training, the PRO (Defence) Imphal statement said.

The 12-day exercise will lay emphasis on joint handling of insurgency at sub-unit level and related issues, while the aspect of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief will be discussed at formation headquarters level, it continued.

Commanders and staff officers of both sides will work in close coordination to receive and collate intelligence and to issue suitable operational orders to the combined field training components, who in turn will execute these orders on ground, it said.

The exercise curriculum has been planned progressively where the participants will initially be made to get familiar with each others organisational structure, weapons, equipment and tactical drills. Subsequently, under Joint Tactical Exercises Battle Drill of both the armies will be rehearsed, it said.

A Consolidation and Validation Exercise will be witnessed by senior officers and observers of both Armies at the end of the Joint Training, in which troops of both nations will carry out sub-unit level counter insurgency operation training, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/india-and-china-to-conduct-joint-military-training-exercise/

IMPHAL, October 9: People of Andro constituency living downstream of the Thoubal Dam Multipurpose Project and Thoubal Barrage are facing acute shortage of drinking water, said Apunba Nupi Kunai Lamjing Meira Lup Andro Kendra president, Asem Ibetombi drawing the attention of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and local MLA Th Shyamkumar to provide potable water for people.

She said the villages from Moirangpurel, Tumkhong till Yairipok are facing much problem in getting potable water.

Speaking at a press meet at Yairipok Top Chingtha Village, Ibetombi said the people of the constituency welcome any developmental work undertaken in the area which would benefit the entire State, however, the people living downstream have been facing the acute shortage for long.

She said the dam water is released only during the rainy season, and blocked during the dry season; as such there is no water in the Thoubal River for the downstream population to use.

At present the river water level is running low due to the closure of the dam shutter, she said.

Even the little water left is polluted due to the washing of red sand in the river, she continued.

Unfortunately, the water supply schemes located in Andro areas pump water from the river, but since there is not much water, all the schemes have failed to supply water, she said.

She further appealed to Chief Minister and the other MLAs to provide drinking water to the people at the earliest.

She also lamented that the roads around the project area are in deplorable conditions due to the frequent movement of heavy vehicles for the project.

Since, Andro is being projected as a tourist attraction, the government should be mindful enough to maintain the road conditions, she added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/thoubal-dam-downstream-areas-reeling-under-acute-shortage-of-potable-water/

IMPHAL, October 9: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today felicitated all officers and ranks of the 165 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) (Home and Hearth) popularly known as the Manipur Terriers on the occasion of the 66th Territorial Army Day today.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said it is a proud moment for the State to felicitate the `Citizens Army`™ once again on the occasion of the Territorial Army Day.

He said the 165 Infantry Battalion (TA) (Home & Hearth) ASSAM is the first and the only Territorial Army unit raised purely from the domiciles of Manipur.

He said it is heartening to know that the unit is performing its task admirably and has set high standards in its performance.

The personnel of the unit, by being present in small detachments in almost all Army and Assam Rifle units in Manipur, is making an immense contribution in helping them to understand the peculiarities of the State and carry out their operational task with a humane face which is quite important for the new units arriving in Manipur, he said.

`This aspect l am sure has helped the security forces in Manipur to gain tremendous goodwill of the local population, which is becoming very obvious presently.`

`I wish all the best to all ranks of the Manipur Terriers in continuing their good work and at the same time, express my sincere appreciation for the good work being done.`

Raising of this unit has given a direction and impetus to gainful employment of youth of the State and further their involvement in the development of the state by taking part in provisioning of security to its citizens, the Chief Minister also said.

As you may be aware, after the attainment of lndia`™s Independence from British rule, the need was felt to have a sizeable reserve force of trained citizens to support the regular army in time of need, it said.

The Territorial Army Act 1948 was passed by the Indian Parliament resulting in the constitution of the present Territorial Army and was formally inaugurated by C Rajagopalachari, the first Governor General of free India on October 9, 1949, he said.

He also said lndia`™s Territorial Army is active in numerous fields; it has Infantry Battalions, the Ecological Task Forces, Railway Engineer Units, the Oil Sector Units, General Hospitals and Home and Hearth Battalions, which are raised and deployed in the insurgency affected states.

Manipur`™s Home and Hearth TA Battalion; i.e. 165 TA Battalion also called `Manipur Terriers`™ since its deployment in state in February 2007, has become an inseparable part of the security setup of the State, the Chief Minister add.

lt has been performing its task of being an interface between the local populace and the Army and Assam Rifles Units with distinction, it said.

`l am given to understand that it is a large unit with a strength over one thousand and its eight companies are spread over the entire State of Manipur under 57 Mountain Division and Inspector General Assam Rifles (South) in Manipur.`

The Territorial Army has unfailingly risen to the challenges whenever it been called upon to act in the security of the nation or for the welfare of our citizens, he said.

Through the commitment, bravery and sacrifice of its personnel, the force continues to provide invaluable support, he said.

`l also wish to once again, extend my felicitations to all ranks of 165 TA Battalion (The Manipur Terriers) and their families.`

The function organised by the state government was held at the 1st Manipur Rifles Banquet Hall and was attended by PHE minister Hemochandra Singh as the president of today`™s function, Dr Th MP Meinya Singh, chief secretary O Nabakishore Singh, DGP Shahid Ahmed, GOC 57 Mtn Division Maj Gen PN Rao, officers, troops and families of 165 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) (Home and Hearth) besides many civil dignitaries of Manipur government.

Lieutenant Colonel S Anup Singh, Officiating Commanding Officer of 165 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) (Home and Hearth) in his vote of thanks assured the Chief Minister of continuing the good work being done by the unit and in bridging the gap between the local populace and the security forces thus helping the security force to gain goodwill of the population.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/cm-praises-manipur-terriers-for-performing-its-tasks-admirably/

CHURACHANDPUR, October 9: The Paite Tribe Council (PTC), the Paite Student Organisation (SSPP) and the Young Paite Association GHQ jointly organised a reception of the family members of the nine who were killed during the recent Churachandpur agitations against the three bills passed by the State Assembly on August 31.

The reception was held at the conference hall of PTC located at Hingham Lamka.

The leaders of the three organisations led by new president of the PTC told the family members of the nine that the sacrifices made by their sons, brothers and loved ones will not go in vain at which they replied that they have also sacrificed the bodies of their loved ones to the leaders of the present movement.

The family members said they were ready to comply with the JAC and other leaders regarding the burial of their loved ones in the name of the ongoing movement in the hills and for the cause of the tribal unity.

Meanwhile, a group of youngsters from the friend circle of the nine offered to clean the surrounding areas of the morgue on rotational basis among themselves, as the morgue where the bodies of the nine are being kept has become an area of mourning for people who arrives on a daily basis to pay their respect.

Meanwhile, JAC sources also informed that the sit in protest duty of local residents will be extended till 8pm from tomorrow from the present 7pm.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/paite-organisations-fete-families-of-tribal-martyrs/