Manipur News

IMPHAL, October 1: Civic action programmes of the Assam Rifles are deceitful attempt to hoodwink the people of Manipur, public must be careful not to fall into their trap, said a release of the proscribed Revolutionary People`™s Front signed by its secretary publicity, Roben Khuman.

It said civic action programme is an offshoot of `Operation Good Samaritan`™, which was started in June 1995 under army development group of 3 Corps, Indian Army. Its first budget was Rs. 100 million, but it gradually increased manifold and now has been continuing as civic action programme.

Further, it said AR has been on the other hand exposed by Tehelka newspaper on Sept 25, of their involvement in percentage cuts of money from contract works, which only shows how corrupted the Indian army and its allied forces have become.

The statement further said that it is a well-known fact that Indian army, including all ranks and files, who are posted in Manipur have been earning money by wrongful means. For instance, the National Highway No 39 has become AR`™s favourite route for harvesting money. The AR in cohorts with some groups has been looting the trucks plying along the said highway.

It added that AR has been using the surrendered outlawed cadres for kidnapping, extortion, and the public are already aware of its involvement in illegal trades like drug, ganja and alcohol.

The statement elaborated that AR`™s has been committing inhuman atrocities, like a true colonial army in Manipur. It said on August 26, 3 AR terrorised the people of Old Somtal under Chandel District, near Myanmar border after a bomb blast had occurred in that area. The villagers including women and infants were detained at the community ground from early morning till late evening in the rain.

Major Suter, commander of 3 AR post alleged that the bomb blast was carried out by the villagers, and they were not allowed to go outside their village, the statement further charged, adding that three of the villagers were severely tortured.

It maintained that innocent villagers of Yaingangpokpi and Joyland, near Sabungkhok were tortured by AR on Sept 26, following a bomb blast. These atrocities being carried out by the colonial army is to wipe out the indigenous peoples from their own land. The only solution is to strengthen the anti-colonial movement, the statement added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/rpf-cautions-public-against-ar-civic-action-programme/

IMPHAL, October 1: Former president of BJP Manipur Pradesh Dr H Borbabu has appealed to party members to end the ongoing internal conflict in the party immediately and to concentrate on winning the Hiyanglam AC by-poll.

In a press release, the former Speaker of the Manipur State Assembly said the party needs to win the by-poll election as a gift to the new BJP led NDA government in the Centre.

Immediately stop levelling charges and counter-charges against one another and concentrate on the Hiyanglam by-poll, the BJP Manipur senior leader told his party men.

Desist from levelling any charges and counter-charges against each other both in the media and elsewere, he appealed.

He said the BJP Manipur needs to work harder and campaign in a united manner for the party candidate Maibam Dhanabir.

This is a very crucial and important by-poll from the BJP`™s point of view, he said before adding that winning this by-poll will establish a firm BJP base in the State.

However, the frequent bickering between party men made public through the media has not only damaged the party`™s image but has also unnecessarily exposed the weaknesses of the party, he said in his statement.

He said according to the party`™s constitution and tradition, show-cause notices against any party member should not be published in the media until a competent national authority makes the final decision.

Surprisingly, official copies of the expulsion orders of members from the party`™s primary membership had not reached even the concerned members and the national office, but was published in the media, it said.

Borbabu further questioned as to why so many members were expelled, suspended or threatened with suspension in such a short time that also through the media without issuing any formal order.

He continued that expelling senior leaders of the party who are archrivals of the Congress will not only weaken the party but also facilitate the smooth sailing of the Congress.

The national office is the final authority in taking any kind of disciplinary action against any members and that it has assured that no one is expelled from membership of the party in Manipur.

Therefore, in order to win this Hiyanglam Assembly by-poll, he appealed to all the members of the party to stop throwing charges and counter-charges in the public or in media immediately and to work hard and campaign together, said the press release.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/borbabu-appeals-for-an-end-to-state-bjp-infighting/

IMPHAL, October 1: Children must respect their parents who are like `Gods` in human form and should not abandon them when they grow old, stated Social Welfare minister Ak Mirabai speaking at the observation of the International Day for Older Persons at Ima Ibema Khunthokhanbi Sanglen in Thangmeiband near the DM college gate today.

The day was observed by the State department of Social Welfare under the theme `Leaving No One Behind: Promoting a Society for All.`

Mirabai said the trend of ill-treating elderly people by their sons and daughters which is widespread across the globe has reached the State due to the degradation of human values, moral character.

However, love and respect can change the trend of mistreating the elderly, she added.

Speaking as the chief guest, Social Welfare principal secretary S.K. Dev Varman said the traditional system of joint families in the country is falling apart as one wants to escape from the responsibilities of looking after their elderly parents.

Discarding the parents specially occurs with the rich families, he said while appealing for putting an end to this trend and going back to the traditional way by showing respect and responsibility towards the elders.

The elderly people present in the function were presented with shawls, and a demonstration of practising yoga was conducted by H Mitreshwar Singh of the Manipur School of Yoga to teach the senior citizens methods of keeping themselves healthy.

The function was attended by Khangabok MLA Okram Landhoni Devi as the president while Kakching MLA Yengkhom Surchandra Singh and Manipur State Commission for Women chairperson Dr L Ibetombi attended the event as guests of honour.

Meanhwile, the Imphal East Senior Citizen Forum also observed the International Day for Older Persons by honouring 11 elderly people of Imphal East. During the observation, 11 elderly people of Imphal East were honoured with token of appreciation by the forum.

The 11 people hailed from Heingang, Khurai, Wangkhei, Kshetrigao, Thongju and Yaiskul respectively. The forum observed the day at the Wangkhei Keithel Ashangbi Awang Leikai community hall. Y Radheshyam, a retired IAS officer, graced the event as the president. Manipur State commissioner (disabilities), Laishram Ibomcha delivered a speech on the topic of teenage and welfare of senior citizens.

Later, eight people who were conferred national awards were honoured with simple gifts by the forum.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/children-should-not-abandon-their-parents-when-they-grow-old-says-ak-mirabai/

IMPHAL, October 1: The Manipur University, Canchipur, one of the premier institutes of the region, is marred with allegations of RTI applicants being denied access to information sought.

IFP has managed to gain access to some information in this regard.

As per information available with IFP, Rajendra Takade, of Somwari Quarter Raghujinagar, Nagpur, under the RTI Act, 2005 had sought information from the university about the professional records of professor in the university`™s Hindi department identified as prof. Devraj.

The RTI application was applied on April 19, 2014, containing eight queries and in response to the application the university`™s deputy registrar Dr RK Joteen Singh mentioned on June 5 that a notice through post has been forwarded to Devraj asking for his consent on the provision of his information.

However, claiming to have not received any response from the professor, the deputy registrar declined to furnish any information to the satisfaction of the applicant.

Professor Devraj had joined the institute in 1985 and resigned on 2009 and is currently teaching at the Mahatma Gandhi University, Maharastra Hindi department.

When IFP contacted professor Devraj, he revealed that as he is no longer associated with the Manipur University therefore there was no harm in providing information on his professional records to any persons.

He said he is willing to give any information on his professional records anytime.

Surprisingly substantiating this report, Professor Devraj also disclosed that two years back he had applied an RTI application with the university regarding to the Hindi department but failed to see any light till date.

Another RTI activist, Joykumar Wahengbam, who is also a member of the Human Right Initiative, reportedly applied for information relating the size of budget of building construction works of Manipur Institute of Technology, which is under the supervision of MU.

On failing to get any positive response he reportedly sent a second appeal but still awaits a response in vain.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/mu-fails-to-respond-in-rti-queries-in-matters-of-its-hindi-department/

IMPHAL, October 1: The all political parties`™ committee has summoned the labour Commissioner to give a detail figure of labourers from outside the State on October 7. A meeting of the committee was held this afternoon at its office at New Assembly Secretariat complex.

The committee formed in regard the implementation of Inner Line Permit system in Manipur, in today`™s meeting heard a report from the deputy Commissioner, Labour. However, the committee was not satisfied with the figure of non-local labourers presently working in the State.

To ascertain a reliable figure in the same regard, the Census department which is under the Ministry of Home Affairs has also been informed to furnish detailed figures of non-local labourers, even though two representatives of the census department presented its report in today`™s meeting of the committee.

The meeting continued till 5:30 in the evening. It may be mentioned that the committee has been consulting various experts to give a substantive finding to the government. For further consultation, a meeting with retired High Court judge, W A Shishak has been scheduled on October 3.

Later the committee will also have consultation with senior politicians like Rishang Keishing, RK Dorendro, O Joy and Dr L Chandramani, according to sources.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/all-political-parties-committee-demands-details-of-labourers-from-labour-and-census-departments/

IMPHAL, October 1: So far no formal intimation has been received by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer: Manipur from the Election Commission of India or from the concerned parties on the reported merger of the Manipur State Congress Party with the Indian National Congress, said O Nabakishore chief election officer, Manipur.

In a press release, the CEO said the MSCP is a recognised party in Manipur as per the ECI`™s notification dated March 10 which was republished in the State Gazette dated September 22.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/mscp-a-recognised-party-in-manipur-ceo/