Manipur News

IMPHAL, July 30: A truck carrying non-locals was set ablaze by agitators demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), near Koirengei Bazaar, Tuesday.

Sources revealed that the incident occurred around 1.30 pm when the truck carrying 34 non-local labourers was coming from Sekmai side.

The truck bearing registration number AS-14/A-9132 was driven by Ajit Limbu, 32, son of Sher Bahadur Limbu of Kanglatongbi.

The said truck was stopped by some VDF personnel for checking at Koirengei; in the meantime a group of agitators mostly womenfolk from the nearby areas approached the truck and enquired about the non-local labourers.

In response to the query, Ngairangbam Hemakanta, 45, of Nambol Awang Jiri Mayai Leikai, who was bringing the non-locals reportedly identified himself as the accountant of the Credible Construction Private Limited and told the womenfolk that the labourers were engaged in the construction of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University at Makhan.

He said they were returning to the construction site after Eid holidays.

On failing to produced identity or related documents to prove themselves as residents of the State, the womenfolk set the truck on fire.

Ngairangbam Hemakanta was also assaulted by the mob and is currently being hospitalised at the JNIMS.

Sources said, police rushed to the spot and took along the non-local labourers.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/truck-set-ablaze-at-koirengei/

IMPHAL, July 30: Former Member of Parliament and a candidate in the 16th Lok Sabha Election, 2014, Kim Gangte, has submitted a petition to the Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly pleading for disqualification of Dr I Ibohalbi as MLA.

In the petition Kim Gangte, pointed out that Oinam MLA, Dr I Ibohalbi of the Trinamool Congress violated the integrity of the party by taking part in the flag hoisting ceremony of opponent candidate Lamminlein alias Lein Gangte of JD-U and spoke in favour of the candidate.

The ceremony was held on April 1, at Mission Lane, Sanjenthong, she asserted.

Kim Gangte opined that any MLA or MP who share the dais or speak in favour of an opponent candidate against the party’s nominated candidate in public meeting can be treated as voluntarily giving up the party membership.

She further highlighted that during the said election, the All India Trinamool Congress also nominated her as the candidate of the party at the same constituency where JD-U candidate Lien Gangte was contesting from.

Claiming that Dr I Ibohalbi’s act amounts to voluntarily giving up his membership of AITC and joining another political party (JD-U), she maintained that the MLA is liable to be disqualified from being the member of the Legislative Assembly under the provision of the Para(2) and Para 2(2) of schedule 10 of the constitution of India.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/trinamool-conflict-resurfaces-kim-seeks-ibohalbis-disqualification/

LAMKA, July 30: A top functionary of the underground outfit, Zomi Revolutionary Front (ZRF/ KNO) was shot dead yesterday around 11.30pm at B Vengnuam, Lamka.

The slained leader of the ZRF, a signatory of the Suspension of Operation with both State and Central governments, has been identified as Defence director Nengzamuan alias Nicholas, 36, son of (L) Khamzaneng.

He was shot dead inside his rented home at B Vengnuam, Lamka CCpur.

Nicholar is survived by his wife, a son and three daughters.

Soon after getting information of the killing, Churachandpur police led by SDPO, Immanuel Fimate rushed to the spot and inspected the site.

Sources said, the team recovered six empty cases of AK 47 cartridges and another of a 9mm pistol from the site and has registered an FIR no 80 (7) 2014 CCP PS u/s 400/302/34 IPC &25 (1-C)Arms Act.

Nicholar bore four bullet injuries on his body and had died instantly, informed a source.

The assailants numbered around five persons and had guns, sources also said.

According to the ZRF leader’s wife Chiching, a bodyguard of her husband, identified as Mangkhum had come in late that night and called her to open the gate.

When she opened the gate, she found five of them with AK 47s coming in and three going directly to the room where her husband was sleeping with their son.

Chiching continued that she was held at gun-point by one, while another stayed at the gate.

Soon she heard gunshots from inside her husband’s room, then the three came out and along with the two others dashed away in a White Maruti Gypsy which was parked outside the gate, she said.

“When I entered the room, I found the lifeless body of my husband lying, and our son shaking in fear,” she said.

ZRF c-i-c Lalpu Hangshing has condemned the killing and expressed shock at the manner his right hand man has been killed.

He said “killing” is not the solution to attain any objective, whether it is for “Zogam” or “Kuki” land.

Killing for revenge must stop, he said before urging all to stop such inhumane action.

He added the outfit will look after the family of the deceased leader.

Around 2pm today, the leader was laid to rest at the B Vengnual Cemetry under the Kuki Baptist Association centre church, after KNO and ZRF cadres gave a befitting respect to the departed leader attended by a large crowd.

Meanwhile, the information secretary of CCpur. District Students’ Union (CDSU) has condemned the killing and stated that Nengmuan’s killing is a blot to the district and should never be allowed to happen again, in the interest of peace and harmony in the district.

The KNO has also condoled the killing and said in statement that Nicholas was gunned down in the presence of his wife and 3 years old son by five cadres of Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA).

The void left by his’ death is immense, but his sacrifice for the Kuki nation will not be in vain, said a KNO statement.

His death will serve as a catalyst to fulfill the sacrifices he has made – the entire armed wing of KNO and the Kuki people will leave no stone unturned to fulfill his dream of a fully revived Kuki nation, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/top-zrf-functionary-killed/

UKHRUL, July 30: A heated confrontation between the State security forces and the residents of Ukhrul town occurred in front of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) office amid mounting tensions as the public sought to hold a peaceful mass prayer program at TNL Ground at noon on Wednesday.

Tensions mounted here today when hundreds of residents of different localities in Ukhrul town who turned out at around 12: 10 pm to hold a peaceful mass prayer meeting under the theme ‘Prayer Just for Peace’ were prevented from entering the TNL Ground by the State security forces under the prohibitory order restricting assembly of five or more people, being clamped in and around the town.

A huge contingent of State security forces strategically blocked the route in front of TNL office leading to TNL Ground with female cops in riot gears chaining themselves across the road and restricted public access to the meeting venue. A heated confrontation between the two sides then ensued for a few moments with both sides pushing and shoving each other and in the process a handful of protestors forced their way through to the venue.

Meanwhile, sources said that on learning of the proposed mass prayer, the security forces has sealed the two main entrance of TNL Ground at northern and western sides and kept guarding since 11 am today morning.

The State security forces including police commandos, Indian Reserved Battalion (IRB) and Manipur Rifles (MR) were led by Ukhrul SP S Selvan.

Thereafter, around 12:30 pm a small congregation numbering about one hundred people gathered inside the TNL Ground and held a peaceful mass prayer while the rest of the town residents were dispersed by the security forces.

The mass prayer meeting was organized by the Tangkhul Frontal Organizations in tandem with the Tangkhul Churches Forum (TCF), Inter Churches Forum (ICF) and other Prayer teams of the district.

The congregation sought in unison divine intervention in the prevailing situation in the district. Prayer for an honorable solution to the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process, for the leaders of the Government of India and for the collective leadership of NSCN-IM, while seeking God’s grace in restoration of peace and normalcy in the town marked the highlights of the one and half hour long meeting which concluded with a mass prayer followed by the Tangkhul national enthem “Ili pharasang kahai ngalei” (My birth place).

Speaking at the gathering TNL president Artax A Shimray decried the action of the State security forces in attempting to thwart the prayer meeting while terming the present tense as creation of the Manipur government with a view to vitiate the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process.

Expressing anguish over the indifferent attitude of the State government, he lamented that a total of 17 days has elapsed since the public put up their charter of demands but nothing has been done as yet. He also called upon the public not to get disheartened by such coercive forces but to stay focused on the common objective.

Meanwhile, extending gratitude for public cooperation, Somipem Mungleng, convenor TCF, asserted that there can never be peace without justice.

Referring to the present scenario, he said that we should not give up our hope but continue to cling onto it. “War is being fought and is not lost.” He added.

Later, around 2:30 pm the situation returned to semblance of normality gradually as all contingent of security forces melted away from the scene following the conclusion of the mass prayer meet.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/ukhrul-holds-mass-prayer-amid-strict-restrictions/