Manipur News

IMPHAL, February 17: Mapari Ningshing Lup organised the Sixth death anniversary of Dr Th Kishan, Y Token and A Rajen at Maparee Ningshingkol near Cheirap Court today.

Speaking at the function, PDA chairman T Mangibabu Singh said Hopeson Ningshen, who killed the trio and has been put under life imprisonment at Tihar jail, will now realise that what he had done was wrong.

Meanwhile, MANIL chairman S Tekendrajit Singh said the main motive of organising the anniversary was to promote the ideas of late Dr Kishan for developing the State with the help of various communities as well as to spread knowledge to bring about a corruption free state.

He also said that the association considers that killers don`™t have a community and the organization does not differentiate between communities.

As a part of the anniversary function, floral tributes were paid to the late Dr Th Kishan, Y Token and A Rajen. Singers of the Roop Raag orchestra party dedicated their songs to the trio while Laihui also gave a tribute to them.

At the function, PDA chairman T Mangibabu Singh and MANIL chairman S Tekendrajit Singh attended as presidium members and Center for Human Rights and Duties Education faculty`™s members Dr Gaikhamching Riamei and Senior Citizen L Sadananda attended as special invitees.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/manil-organises-death-anniversary-of-kishan-token-rajen/

KANGPOKPI, February 17: With the commencement of the High School Leaving Certificate Examination, 2015 conducted by Board of Secondary Education Manipur in the state the examination has also begun at Kangpokpi Centre which is one among the 67 Private Centre (Outer Manipur).

According to the Officer-in-charge of the Kangpokpi Centre, 380 students from 13 different schools within Kangpokpi area participated in the Examination held at Elite Higher Secondary School, Kangpokpi Centre this morning from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon under the strict attention of Micro Observers, Flying Squad of BOSEM and commendable invigilators.

Speaking to media person at the examination centre, one flying squad member on behalf of the team and BOSEM lauded the manners and standard of examination in the centre while adding that such sound and excellent manners has never been expected in this centre comparing to the past examination.

`We never expected the standard and quality manners of the students in this centre and also the hard struggles, dedication and enthusiasm of the invigilators as well as officials involved in the examination in this centre`, he said.

He continued that if both the students and invigilators and other officials continued to maintain such manners in the whole examination it will definitely brings positive changes in the town, society and Manipur as a whole.

There are no reports of malpractices, impersonation, etc and expel during the examination today, he said.

HM. Higher Secondary School, Keithelmanbi Centre where 301 students from five schools appeared the English paper in the examination today also received similar praises.

Meanwhile, Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills and KSO Sadar Hills also paid a surprised visit at Kangpokpi Centre and expressed satisfaction on the quality and standard maintained during the examination.

`We are truly satisfied with the manners, standard and dedication of the students as well as the officials involved in the examination`, lauded Lamcha Chongloi, General Secretary KSO Sadar Hills.

He continued that the student body also appreciated the humble efforts and enthusiasm of District Administrators Jacintha Lazarus, DC Senapati and DK. Thangboi Haokip, Addl. DC Kangpokpi in bringing quality changes in the district.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/bosem-exam-begins-flying-squad-lauds-kpi-centre/

IMPHAL, February 17: As the policies of the State government have totally paralysed every department, the BJP Manipur Pradesh strongly demands a white paper of the annual plan budget by February 28, stated BJP Manipur Pradesh general secretary (Administration) M Asnikumar.

During an exclusive interview with IFP, M Asnikuamr alleged that the Congress government has continued to fraudulently siphon off funds from the annual plan budget during the last 13 years. It has never followed the norms laid down by the Finance Ministry till date, he added.

Further stating that during the UPA government, the Department of Expenditure of the Union Ministry of Finance issued an office memorandum about guidelines of the utilization of annual allocated State plan budgets. The memorandum order 7(2)/E coord 2013 on September 18, 2013 says that only 1/3 i.e. 33 percent of the Annual State budget can be used during the last quarter of every financial year, with only 13% of the plan budget allowed to be used in the last month, i.e. March.

Every State should submit monthly report of the expenditures from the month of April till the end of the financial year to the Ministry of Finance as per the norms. Unfortunately, the State government hasn`™t submitted its monthly expenditure report transparently but has omitted the anomalies in the annual budget allocations for 13 years with the help of the UPA government at the Centre, he said.

It may be mentioned here that the annual budget allocation of 2014-15 was only 29 percent by the end of January, 2015. And it is astonishing as to how the remaining amount of the annual budget was reportedly used in the last few days by the government. If it is used forcibly, it will be against the norms of the Central finance ministry, alleged M Asnikumar.

The UPA government had given a free hand to the Congress government in the State but PM Modi led NDA government is strict on financial management and wants transparency, he said, adding such malpractices will not be tolerated anymore. The State government is paralysed in every step of development without being able to take up any developmental works with the annual budget allocations. We see many pending construction works of various infrastructure development projects left unfinished in our State, Asnikumar said.

BJP Manipur has doubts even on the reported utilization of 60 percent of the annual plan budget by the State government till date, he said, adding the government`™s practice of using a common account number 8449 to transfer funds by the end of every financial year during the last 13 years can`™t be found anywhere in any State of India.

He further said that BJP is dead against the manner in which the State government is utilizing the annual plan budget. Every developmental work should be laid down by the Central Public Works department to contractors. But in Manipur, the Chief Minister and other ministers award contract works to their own peoples which means that the PWD in the State is totally defunct.

The State government can`™t provide safe drinking water in the heart of the city, then how can it reached out to the hills area and villages, Asnikumar asked.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/govt-policies-have-paralysed-every-department-in-state-alleges-m-asnikumar/

IMPHAL, February 17: A combined team of 20 Assam Rifles, Narcotics Action Bureau and Police personnel of Chandel PS carried out operations to destroy poppy plantation at four places in Chandel since February 13 till today.

The combined team destroyed poppy plantations at Machi Sita Junction, Tonghlang, Hongjang and T Huimol in Chandel District.

The illicit poppy cultivation of opium plants were burnt and destroyed. The opium yield measured approximately 5040 kgs worth Rs 41 crore approximately, a release of Assam Rifles said.

The opium plantations were spread over an area of 252 acres in the higher reaches. It was clandestinely cultivated far away from the view of the people around the area to avoid detection by enforcement agencies, it said.

The cultivation was not systematic and it was randomly carried out to prevent detection.

The extensive operations undertaken by 26 Sector Assam Rifles, in remote areas led to the discovery of these poppy fields, it said.

Till now 20 Assam Rifles under the aegis of 26 Sector Assam Rifles has destroyed around 576 acres worth Rs 96 crore approximately, it said.

No one came forward to claim the ownership of the cultivation, it added.

NAB Sub Inspector Th Achouba speaking to media persons said 26 acres of fully grown and 17 acres of dried poppy plantations were destroyed at Tonghlang located at 15 Km away from Machi Junction on February 14.

In all 38 acres of fully grown and 7 acres of dried plantations were destroyed at Hongjang, which is 30 Km away Machi Junction on February 15, he said.

Another 38 acres of fully grown and 23 acres of dried were destroyed at T Huimol situated 25Km away from Machi Junction yesterday and 13 acres of fully grown and 19 acres of dried poppy plantations were destroyed today at Machi Junction of Chandel district, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/poppy-plantations-worth-rs-41-crores-destroyed-in-chandel/

KANGPOKPI, February 17: The Joint Action Committee Joint Action Committee on Kadangband killing is set to go ahead with its proposed 5-days Economic Blockade in all national highway from Tuesday midnight.

All the Kuki civil bodies within Sadar Hills have already extended their support to the proposed blockade.

Thangminlen Haokip, Convener of the Joint Action Committee stated that the protest will go ahead as declared since we have no intimation or any positive response from the state Government in spite of the announcement of the protest.

The protest is related to a killing incident where an innocent civilian driver and a CAO of a SoO Signatory of Kuki armed organization were slain in Assam Rifles action suspected to be a case of fake encounter killing.

He continued that the JAC had made it clear to the Government to furnish the magisterial inquiry report on the case within 15 days but the Government has failed to do so.

The Government`™s apathy towards is hurtful maintained Thangminlen Haokip.

We are very much aware of the ongoing HSE and HSLC Examination in the state said the JAC Convener and reassured once again that there will be no disruption either in travels to examination centres or at the centres.

He also urged the general public to enthusiastically lend their support towards the JAC.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/jac-to-go-ahead-with-blockade-tsa-sadar-hills-to-endorse/

IMPHAL, February 17: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, terming Maharaja Priyabarta Singh as one of the founders of modern Manipur has said that his multifaceted personality had contributed towards various aspects of life for the development of the State.

The Chief Minister was speaking during the 104th Birth Anniversary observation of (L) Maharaja Priyabarta Singh at the Lamyanba Shanglen today organised by the Manipur Cultural Integration Conference.

Marking the anniversary a memorial lecture on the life of the late leader was also delivered.

He continued that MK PB Singh also contributed in the political world substantially. Many of us are aware of his yeoman work to bring emotional integrity of the State, a mission to which he devoted his life by visiting various hill areas of the State and interacting with the people there from the 1970s onward.

He foresaw the misunderstanding which was building up and strove to resolve the differences by interacting not only with the leaders but with common people too. Unfortunately today, except for those steeped in the world of fine art, and are still nostalgic about the grand old man`™s own works, very few still recall his tremendous contributions in other fields, he added.

After learning fine arts from Rajkumar College, Raipur he brought a fresh style of painting in Manipur, he said and added that the younger artists need to study and analyse the styles of MK PB Singh and other senior artists of Manipur to understand the art movement in the State.

The initiative of MK PB Singh to start industries relevant to Manipur could not fructify as the system then was not conducive, but it confirms his belief that without education and industries the State cannot go forward.

His association with the Manipur Cultural Integration Conference in his later life was an inspiring. He made us realize mutual emotional distancing of the various communities of the state.

The Chief Minister said MK PB Singh foresaw it and worked tirelessly towards bringing a better understanding amongst the communities.

He is somebody who believed that we have to share both our difficulties and happy moments for which he toured the hill areas extensively and brought to the notice of those in power the needs of the regions, Ibobi said.

As his effort was without any thought for personal gains, the common men responded to his overtures with enthusiasm and honesty.

An unfortunate accident he met in later life curtailed his movements, but despite his physical pains he continued to paint and write, and showed the moral courage he had, making him a household name in Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/pbs-works-and-campaigns-should-continue-to-inspire-generations-ibobi/

R Lester Makang

UKHRUL, February 17: Tension prevailed in Khangkhui Khunou/Phungdhar after villagers dismantled the house of their village chief allegedly in retribution for double dealing in internal matters and development activities of the village.

Sources on the spot disclosed that around 2 pm today a group of Khangkhui Phungdhar villagers turned up at the chief`s house for a meeting to sort out certain issues besetting the developmental activities of the village. When the chief identified as Samatai Khudai was suddenly found out of station and discussion with his sons turned heated, the enraged mob turned their ire toward the dwelling structure of the chief and destroyed it along with all the household belongings.

In the anger vending act, various household items including a TV set, fridge, almarah, wardrobe sets are damaged by the villagers but no one was hurt in the incident, sources said.

It is worth noting that the villagers of Khangkhui Phungdhar had earlier unanimously endorsed chairmanship after boycotting their headman in 2013 for his alleged act of treachery.

Meanwhile, chairman Daniel Kasar informed media persons this evening that today`s unfortunate incident was compelled by circumstances as the Khudai never mend his ways despite repeated warning.

Kasar further said that Khudai has been involved in various anomalies in the village development activities like PMGSY, MGNREGA, NAMG under IFAD thereby stalling fund for the village while also indulging selling off village resources without public consent.

Consequently, Khudai was notified on February 3 to come clean on all those matters and withdraw his personal complaints to authority to stall fund for community hall construction under IFAD by February 15 last. However, he continued to act on his own whim without heeding the public, Kasar added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/khangkhui-khunou-villagers-pull-down-chiefs-house-in-reprisal/

IMPHAL, February 17: Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Science, Dr Harsh Vardhan, underscoring the abundant natural resources today expressed the opinion that Manipur has the potential to be a model State and move forward thereby help the nation`™s economy.

The Union Minister stated this during the foundation laying stone ceremony of the Technology and Skill Development Centre at the Institute of Bio resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) campus at Takyelpat.

Dr Harsh Vardhan further informed that he had asked the Chief Minister of Manipur to help in developing the IBSD at all cost, which has potential to put Manipur into a better position, and assured to give full support for its development.

Although the institute is apparently small its objective is big, he said adding that its contribution is laudable.

Further underlining the initiatives set in motion under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to push the nation towards an advance country, the Union Minister appealed the people to participate in the endeavour of the government in restoring the nations`™ former glory.

The Union Minister also urged the people not to waste its rich potential, and utilize it for the promotion of the State`™s development in every aspect.

He further suggested that to upgrade an important institute like IBSD which is the need of the hour, it needs not wait intervention from any minister(s).

The Minister further lauded the people of Manipur of its simplicity, determination to learn new thing, and further lauded the faculties and the workers for its effort in turning the IBSD campus, which was once apparently an inhospitable landscape into a welcoming one.

Delivering his speech, the director of IBSD, Prof Dinabandhu Sahoo, drew the attention of the Union Minister that since the inception of IBSD in 2001 not a single minister (Union/state) has visited the campus to take stock of the situation be it plight or achievements.

The institution has wider vision for the development in sustainable way considering the abundant natural resources and eco-system. However, establishing industries in Manipur so far remains impracticable due to its fragile law and order situation, said the Union Minister.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/in-matters-of-skills-manipur-can-be-a-model-state-harsh-vardhan/