Manipur News

IMPHAL, December 21: The Deputy Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, MK Preshow Shimray has greeted the people of the State on the occasions of `Christmas`™ and `New Year`™. In a public message, the deputy speaker has extended his best wishes on the joyous occasion of Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

In his message, he asked people to love one another and put aside their differences like Christ who loved and forgave our sins for peaceful co-existence and development of the State.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/dy-speaker-greets-state-on-xmass/

IMPHAL, December 21: Troops of 26 Assam Rifles reportedly gunned down a militant suspect during a fierce gun battle last night along the Indo-Myanmar border, Churachandpur district.

Sources said that the shoot-out between 26 Assam Rifles and some cadres of an armed group occurred yesterday evening at Suangphu, Behiang under Singhat police station and lasted till this morning.

According to a PIB (Defence Wing) statement, a border patrol party comprising of troops of Red Shield Division was moving towards BP 39 to carry out routine border patrol.

It said at around 6:15 pm hours when the party was near Suangpho village, approximate 1.7 km south west of Beheng, the patrol party came under effective fire of the insurgents.

The party returned fire and killed one insurgent, it said adding that subsequently the area was cordoned and a search was conducted.

The dead insurgent was wearing a combat dress and a Rifle Grenade MG-2, fired rounds of AK-47 and an HD cartridge were recovered from him, it said.

Meanwhile, it is also learnt that a powerful IED exploded at the Hiangtam area when reinforcement team of the AR was heading towards the encounter site.

However, no human casualty was reported during the blast.

A team of the concerned police station led by its OC had also rushed to the spot till the filing of this report.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/militant-gunned-down-during-gunfight-with-security-forces/

IMPHAL, December 21: A set of three books written by Professor Gangmumei Kamei `A History of Modern Manipur (1826-2000 A.D): A Study of Feudalism, colonialism and Democracy` was released today by former Chief Minister Rishang Keishing at the auditorium of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Porompat, Imphal.

The retired professor of History, Manipur University who is also a former National Fellow of Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla said it was Padmashree (L) MK Binodini Devi, a member of the erstwhile royal family of Manipur who committed him to write a book on feudalism during a meeting and that he was waiting for the opportune time.

He said on getting the national fellowship at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla from 2010 to 2012, he chose to write on the subject.

If the (L) MK Binodini Devi was alive today, she did be pleased with the book, observed professor Gangmumei Kamei.

The three books have 199, 195 and 215 pages respectively and are published by MP Misra CMD Akansha Publishing House, New Delhi with the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla owning the coprights. The set of books is priced at Rs 6000.

Chief guest of the function Rishang Keishing said that Manipur is a small State comprising of many tribes and its population is divided into small groups of tribes and communities.

Today`™s politics is creating a chaotic environment rather than call for unity among the different tribes and communities which has only resulted in souring the relationship between the people and the State losing its history.

Prof Gangmumei Kamei with his books is reviving this lost history, he asserted.

Meanwhile, the former Chief Minister of the State while showing solidarity to Irom Chanu Sharmila said he has submitted his views to the government to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Later after the end of the book release function during an exclusive chat, Rishang Keishing said he has also submitted to the State government to implement the Inner Line Permit System or any other similar Act to safeguard the indigenous communities of the region and at the same time to repeal AFSPA.

Speaking at the book release function, director, Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University prof N Joykumar Singh stated that the prof Gangmumei Kamei is a social worker who contributes to the society through his pen.

He said prof Gangmumei Kamei`™s earlier book `A History of Manipur: Pre-colonial perid`™ is one of his remarkable contributions to the State.

Professor of Anthropology, Manipur University prof MC Arun said that prof Gangmumei Kamei is an eminent historian and writer of the State.

He said the set of books released today will also contribute a lot.

Prof MC Arun also wittily noted that he is lucky to witness the `birth`™ of new book in a hospital, referring to the release of the book in JNIMS.

PWD Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh and Professor of History, Manipur University prof Lal Dena also attended the function.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/former-cm-rishang-keishing-releases-prof-gangmumeis-book/

IMPHAL, December 21: Reacting to the blast, the deputy Chief Minister during his visit at the blast site said the incident is an act of terrorist.

He said the attack on the civilians is unfortunate, and at the same time expressed confidence that the police will soon track down the perpetrators like in the case of MG avenue blast.

Further questioning the logic of killing civilians, he claimed that the attack on civilians is a sign of desperation of the particular group with no future.

He said that most of the insurgent groups operating in the north east burn public properties or attack innocent civilians, until recently this was not so in Manipur.

When enquired about the URF (Lalheiba) faction who had recently abandoned the peace process, Gaikhangam maintained that the State government did its best to sustain the agreement adding that he alleged that the outfit walked away only to cover up the killing of its own cadres.

Further enquired on the reason behind the non-extension of the SoO agreement since August 22, 2014, Gaikhangam clarified that it was due to a misunderstanding. He claimed that the SoO groups demanded the talks to be held in Delhi but the Centre government placed the ball on Manipur government`™s court terming it as a State subject.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/act-of-terrorism-gaikhangam/

IMPHAL, December 21: Locals of Sanjenbam and its nearby villages came out together today to protest the alleged life attempt on a VDF personnel while he was on duty on November 27.

A mass rally was jointly organised by Sanjenbam Apunba Meira Paibi Lup , Social Youth Organisation Sanjenbam, meira paibis and local club volunteers of Kadangband, Heibongpokpi, Lairenkabi, Phayeng, Tera-urak, Lamlongei, in connection with the alleged life attempt on Chandam Ishworjit Singh alias Naoba who was shot at while on sentry duty at the Lamsang Police Station on November 27 at around 7.30 pm.

Around 500 locals came out to participate in the rally.

Subsequently, a public meeting was organised at Sanjenbam community hall, where the locals took certain resolutions.

During the meeting it was decided to demand the concern IO of the case to identify the perpetrator who shot at Ishworjit and to take legal statement of the victim.

The meeting further decided that the IO should seize the material objects such as uniform of the victim that he was wearing at the time of the incident by preparing seizure memos.

Any failure on the part of the IO to meet the demands would result in further demand of constitution of a special investigation team to investigate the matter under a senior superintendent of police, the locals decided.

The locals further demanded that alternatively a judicial inquiry may be conducted by a commitee constituted under the commission of Inquiry Act, 1952.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/mass-rally-taken-out-against-alleged-life-attempt-on-vdf/

IMPHAL, Dec 21: A one day free medical camp for Nephrology, Urology and Orthopaedics were held today at City Hospital & Research Centre Imphal in association with Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj and City Hospital & Research Centre.

Director Nephrology of Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj Dr (Prof) Sanjeev Gulati said during the past seven to eight years, several patients have been found suffering from kidney ailments which is increasing. He said this is a threatening issue.

The main factors for the increase in kidney ailments can be attributed to the lifestyle and eating habits. High consumption of carbohydrate is bad, he said while identifying that the most common kidney ailment in the State are stone cases and diabetic infection of the kidney.

Kidney ailments can be easily treated if it is diagnose early on, the doctor said adding that people should have yearly checkings.

There are many talented doctors and nurses from the State working outside due to lack of proper health facilities in the State, said senior consultant, Orthopedics, Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj Dr Dhananjoy Gupta.

Improving the health sector in the State will certainly encourage them to return and work here, he said adding that this will also help in checking the number of patients going out for their treatment.

MD of City Hospital & Research Centre, (retd) director Health Services, Dr Ch Chandramani said such medical free camp has been held three times in the hospital.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/kidney-ailments-a-major-concern-in-state/

IMPHAL, December 21: A two-day long All India Poetry festival organised by the Sahitya Akademi was inaugurated today at the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipuri Dance Academy auditorium.

Today`™s inaugural function was attended by president Sahitya Akademi Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari, Sahitya Akademi Manipur Advisory Board convener H Behari Singh, eminent English scholar Anisur Rahaman as presidium members.

Other highlights include poetry readings by Sameer Tanti (Assamese), Ranajit Das (Bengali), Dileep Jhaveri (Gujarati), BR Lakshman Rao (Kannada) and Arambam Memchoubi (Manipuri).

Speaking at the function, Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari said the Sahitya Akademi is the largest organisation in literature in the country.

One can find the multi lingual and multi cultural aspects of the North Eastern region in the organisation, he continued.

The two day festival is part of the Akademi`™s 60th year anniversary observation, he said.

People seem to be unaware of poetry`™s contribution to the world, he said observing that poetry helps spread the message of love, peace, and humanity.

H Bihari said Manipur is a small State with a rich cultural heritage.

Organising the festival in the State will help showcase the beauty of the State and its literature before the guests coming from outside the State, he said.

He also said that poetry is the first form of literature which expresses emotion and feeling through words.

Poetry helps in bringing unity and prosperity, he said adding that interacting with the poets from the different States taking part in the festival will be an enriching experience.

The first session of the poetry recital today was chaired by Sirpi Balasubramanian.

Rupa Hazowary, RK Bhubhonsana, Ravi Laxmikant Korde, Bhagaban Jayasingh, Sarabjeet Sohal, PC Muralee Madhavan, Vasdev Mohi and Seetha Rama Rao also read out thier poetries.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/state-hosts-sahitya-akademis-twoday-long-poetry-fest/