Manipur News

IMPHAL, November 5: A minor girl around 10 years of age was found dead this evening at around 8:30 pm at Tharoijam Maning Leikai under Patsoi Police Station, Imphal West District.

According to sources, the girl left her home at around 3:30 this afternoon to serve tea to her family members who were engaged in harvesting work at the paddy field, around 500 m away from home.

The sources continued that frantic attempts were made by the locals when the girl did not turned up either at the field or at home. Searches were taken out using PA system and traditional methods of playing Pung, Jhal and Moibung by the locals, until the lifeless body of the girl was found at the western periphery of the village.

The face of the girl was found covered with her own phanek, stained with blood, sources added.

At the time of filing this report, a team of Patsoi Police Station led by its officer in-charge had arrived at the location where the body was found.

The body has not been collected waiting for forensic experts, added the sources.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/minor-found-dead-at-tharoijam/

IMPHAL, November 5: A witness in the Lungnila Elizabeth kidnapping and killing case was today crossed examined before the court of the District and Session Judge Manipur West K Brajakumar Sharma today.

The prosecution witness who deposed before the court has been identified as Tongbram Gunadhaja Singh, 56, a farmer and son of (L) T Mohan Singh of Naoremthong Laishram Leikai and presently staying at Lamphel Yaipha Leikai.

He submitted a four-page statement on main accused Th Nando Singh alias Nanao to the court.

Today’s deposition is Gunadhaja’s second as he had earlier deposed before the same court regarding the case on October 31, 2014.

It may be mentioned that the Lamphel Police had registered an FIR no 181 (11) 2003 LPL PS U/S 364 A/ 368/ 400 on November 12, 2003 regarding the incident.

However, the State government had handed over the case to a Special Investigation Team on November 12, 2003 for investigation.

On January 27, 2004, the State Home department issued a notification stating that the investigation of the case has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

According to the order, the CBI had registered a case (FIR no RC 5/ S/ 04-Kol-2004.)

The ongoing court case is a follow up to a charge-sheet filed by the CBI in accordance to its investigation.

The CBI was represented by special public prosecutor H Chandrajit Sharma.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/witness-deposes-before-court-in-lungnila-elizabeth-case/

IMPHAL, November 5: The Hills and Plain Contractors’ Association along with the All Tribal Contractors Association have decided against making e-tender bids in reduced rates from the government schedule rates in the 10th phase of PMGSY.

After a meeting of the contractors at Manipur Press Club, Hills and Plain Contractors’ Association general secretary Ksh Rajen told media persons that the contractors of Manipur have applied for tenders at the minimal rate even deducting 20-30 percent to get work contracts in the recent 9th phase of PMGSY.

Now, the contractors are facing problems after undertaking contracts in reduced rates from the schedule rates. Contractors are unable to maintain quality control after undertaking contract works in deducted rates and are working randomly which has resulted in the return of more than Rs 80 crores to the Central government without utilisation, he said, adding that not only this, the Central government has reduced the sanction amount this year due to the work tenders being won in deducted rates the previous year.

He further said that the joint association convened a meeting for all the first class contractors or special contractors, and other contractors to consult on whether the bids for e-tenders of the PMGSY tenth phase should be made at the schedule rate or at reduced rates.

The PMGSY is a policy initiated for the welfare of Indian people through development of better roads in various states but when this project reaches Manipur, it changes its contours, he added. In the context of Manipur, there are three different types of contractors. The first being those backed by gangs, the second being those supported by politicians and the last being normal contractors, Rajen said.

The funds allocated for the tenth phase of PMGSY is huge and there are around 208 contracts works which need to be done but we have only 100 contractors in Manipur and some are new comers, Rajen said, adding If we work together with unity, each contractor will get a contract work and they all can maintain quality control.

The association asked the contractors to co-operate with the association in the tenth phase on the decision taken by the joint association. There should not be district works for the district contractors and if any individual make bids at reduced rates, the joint association will take action against them, he warns.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/contractors-association-decides-to-bit-etender-on-schedule-rate-of-government/

Jiribam, November 5: Locals of Babukhal which is situated north of Jiribam have expressed their dismay at the deplorable condition of the bamboo bridge which connects the area to the National Highway 37 even after repeated appeals by the Jiri Development Organisation through the media. The Babukhal locals have asked the government whether this is the way how elected representative of the State should deal with their citizens.

Nongpok Chingkhei Kanba Development Committee president M Harikumar Singh said the bamboo bridge is the only bridge that connects to the main road for both the villagers of Babukhal and Sabhughat. The concerned authorities of Jiribam have turned a blind eye to all our woes even as we suffer a lot as the condition of the bridge is worsening, he said, adding that all their appeals have fallen into deaf ears.

He further stated that the pradhan of Hilghat Gram Panchayat, M Bina Devi, after being urged by the locals had the bamboo bridge constructed and paid for its construction. But as the bridge is frequently used by the locals, it needs repair and the locals are facing a lot of difficulties in using the bridge, he added.

Speaking to media persons, Hilghat GP pradhan M Bina Devi said she has rendering help to the villagers within her capacity but has not been able to meet their needs.

However, the concerned MLA will be urged to help construct a bridge for meeting the demands of the villagers soon, she added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/babukhal-locals-still-await-a-proper-bridge/

By R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, November 5: Even as health care services in Ukhrul District have seen considerable improvement with the recent establishment of District Health Mission under the National Health Mission, the culture of dereliction of duty by medical officers and staff continues to put constraints on various objects of the mission.

Disclosing this to Imphal Free Press, an official of the District Health Mission, Ukhrul said that since District Health Mission (DHM) was set up in the district on July 10 this year, various spheres of health care here including Immunisation, organisation of health camps under different DHM projects have been streamlined by bringing rural populace under its major targets.

The official, however, rued that the prolonged absence of doctors and staff nurses who could not be immediately identified has severely constrained the unit from achieving its potentiality.

Alleging that these doctors and staff nurses attend/report only once in a while, the official said that “no matter how hard other staff try, continued absence of the concerned medical officers and nurses affect the overall functioning of the department.

“The Chief Medical Officer, Ukhrul already apprised the State Health Directorate of the matter umpteem times, but so far there has been no response”, the DHM official lamented.

Meanwhile, DHM, Ukhrul has expressed its desire for the government to designate local medical officers in all important positions so as to prevent dereliction of duty by doctors and also in the interest of provision of universal health service to the public of the district.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/prolonged-absence-of-doctors-staff-affects-dhm-service-in-ukhrul/

IMPHAL, November 5: A wreath laying ceremony for lance naik Jagga Singh of the 107 Engineer Regiment of the 165 Territorial Army who was killed in a grenade attack at the Old Airport, Koirengei TA post on the night of November 3 was organised today at the Imphal Airport.

The body of the lance naik deployed at the Territorial Army under the Red Shield Division was today flown to his native place in Bhatinda, Punjab.

The State Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam led other civil and military dignitaries including director general of police Shahid Ahmed and General Officer Commanding, Red Shield Division major general P M Bali in offering homage to the soldier with full military honour.

Speaking on the sideline of the ceremony, the Chief Minister said the incident is unfortunate and should be condemned in the strongest term by all sections of the society.

It is too soon to point any finger on a single terrorist group, but it is a matter of time before it will be ascertain, he said.

Violence will not bring any peace or development instead it will only create unnecessary disturbances, asserted the Chief Minister.

Strongly voicing his disapproval of the incident, the Chief Minister said such anti-social activities will never succeed.

He appealed to all not to repeat such anti-people activities in the future.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/lance-naik-killed-in-grenade-attack-flown-home/

IMPHAL, November 5: The Akaba Memorial Journalist Award will be presented on the first foundation day of the eveninger “Pandam” and the 70th birth anniversary of the late MEELAL leader on November 9 at Hongmang Tankhul village in Saikul, Senapati district at 11 am.

While speaking to media persons at a press conference at the Pandam office, organising committee convenor and Pandam executive editor N Tomba said that the award will be divided into two categories: Editorial Award and Reporter Award.

The Editorial Award for promotion of Manipuri language and script will be conferred on Huieyen Lanpao editor Hemanta Nigombam and the Reporter Award for promotion of Manipur Integration and communal Harmony will be conferred on Sangai Express reporter Sapam Aruna.

A sum of Rs 20,000 for Editorial Award and Rs 15,000 for Reporter’s Award along with a citation and memento would be presented.

N Tomba during the press meet narrated that Akaba was born in a poor family and he accompanied his father to the hill to extend help and most of his life was spend with the hill people.

Akaba was the head general contractor while building the Hongmang Tankhul village and in his memory the observation will be held in the village, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/akaba-journalist-award-to-be-presented-soon/