Manipur News

IMPHAL, August 17: Warning to launch agitations against the Manipur University from the midnight of August 23 if it doesn’t implement the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission Amendment Act), 2012 this year, the All Tribal Student’s Union of Manipur president Maun Tombing stated in a press meet at the students’ body’s office in Nagaram this evening that MU authorities must stop admission procedures until the reservation issue is settled.

Central universities in Manipur like MU, ITI and CAU must all follow the new reservations norms led by Central Educational Institutions Act, he said, and if the authorities don’t issue an order for implementing the Central University Admission Reservation Amendment Act by August 22, ATSUM will launch various forms of agitations like stopping national projects and enforcing blockades on the State from the midnight of August 23 with the support of All Manipur Tribal Union.

Appealing the transporters and commercial vehicle owners to understand the reasons behind enforcing a blockade, he also urged all the brothers in the hills to cooperate in the agitation until they get their rights.

Tombing added that ATSUM, MUTSU and AMTU have submitted a joint memorandum to Human Resource Development minister Smriti Irani Minister, National Commission for Schedule Tribes chairman Dr Rameshwar Oraon and University Grants Commission secretary complaining about the non-implementation of Central Educational Institutions Act, 2012 in MU and requesting for their prompt intervention before the entrance tests for various subjects.

The memorandum says that the university has worked out the detailed data for admission of SC/ST/OBC and unreserved students. The same was approved by the concerned Head of Departments and Deans on July 23 after being intimated by the Union HRD ministry to implement the new reservations norms.

On July 24, the Assistant Registrar by virtue of being the head of a special cell for SC/ST students of the University issued an official press release which reads “in regard to reservation in admission for the academic year 2014-15, as stipulated in the gazette notification dated June 20, 2012, Central Educational Institution Reservation in Admission Amendment Act, 2012, the seat reserved for STs, SCs and OBCs shall be 31%, 2% and 17%”, Tombing said.

He said but on August 14 the academic council without the assistant and deputy registrar of the University in a meeting has abrogated the resolution of July 23 and resolve to keep the Act in abeyance on the pretext of some pandemonium in the University.

Reservation is one of the tools for preserving the interests of the tribes, Tombing said.

However, Manipur University is disregarding the Act with the intention of keeping it in abeyance, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/atsum-warns-of-agitations-against-mu-from-august-23/

IMPHAL, August 17: Various Umanglai Committees, the Umanglai Kanba Apunba Lup (UKAL), civil societies along with several Amaibas and Amaibis have opposed the Govindaji Temple (Third Amendment) Bill, 2014 passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly on July 25 by terming it “unacceptable”.

The decision to oppose the bill was taken at a meeting convened by UKAL at the Iboyaima Sumang Leela Shanglen.

Some of the resolutions taken during the meeting were: not allowing the enforcement of the provisions of the Amendment Bill in the areas under Umanglai by amending section 2 and section 17 of the Bill, to urge the Governor to reject the Bill within September 10, to take up various steps against the said Bill if the Bill is not rejected or repealed within the given deadline, to preserve and protect Umanglai and to observe July 25 every year as Umanglai Kanba Numit.

UKAL convener Mutumcha Nganba Mangang said that the Umanglai faith can likely to lose its followers after the passing of the Bill during the Manipur Legislative Assembly budget session.

The Govindaji Temple Board is only there to look after the properties and gifts offered by the people and bringing the more ancient Umanglai under it is totally unacceptable, he said.

The said Bill will disturb the peace and tranquility among the communities in the state, Nganba said, not only causing disunity and vitiating our ancient traditions, culture etc but may cause unwanted incidents in the State.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/umang-lai-lups-oppose-govindaji-temple-board-amendment-bill/

IMPHAL, August 17: The joint organisation ZYF, AZSU and ZSUM has stated that the 24-hrs bandh on national highways called in protest against the police department for not arresting the accused Hingba Mathew, Warden of Josephine Girls Hostel, Maram for attempted murder and physical assault of a student had ended peacefully with the support and cooperation extended by the people.

According to a release of the Publicity Wing, the victim, Ringsanbou Newmai from Tamei village, a BA 5th Semester student of Don Bosco College, Maram was detained and tortured in an inhuman manner on July 28. The victim was rescue on July 29 after paying Rs.5000/- and has been undergoing medical treatment for damage of intestine, kidney, liver, broken jaw etc. in the ICU of JNIMS Hospital since July 30.

It further stated that in order to avoid recurrence of such crime on students of Don Bosco College, Maram in the future, the ZYF, AZSU and ZSUM will pursue until justice is delivered to the victim. Any consequences brought by their movement will be the responsibilities of the State Government, it said.

The joint organisation also expressed deep appreciation to all the people for the support and cooperation extended towards the efforts of eradicating crime against humanity, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/zeliangrong-bandh-ends-peacefully/

KANGPOKPI, August 17: The Zeliangrong Union and the Maram Union had resolved the physical assault of Ringsanbou Newmai through the court of customary law, said the two unions today.

A statement of the two unions said that the case that lasted for about 20 days after the incident at Maram was finally settled by the two unions through symbolical meal coupled with customary rites of deciding a good omen offered by the warden of Josephine hostel.

It said during the settlement meal, Champonbou, chairman, ZU, Tamei Zone exchanged the plate of rice on behalf of the victim Ringsanbou with the hostel warden and also fed each other with a piece of pork meat to signify that there is no long any animosity between the two parties as well as to imply that there is no feeling of communism between the two tribes but as brothers.

Though the case was resolved on August 13, the final ceremony was performed today at the Zeliangrong Office, Senapati Zone, below Broadway in the presence of Amu Kamei, Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland) president and his executive colleagues, Raisong, Maram Union, president and his executive colleagues, elders from ZU as witnesses Tumchabou, ex-chairman, Senapati Zone, and G. Namdon, ex-acting president ZU (AMN) from the victims side and RK Peter, former MU, president and Karaihing, Maram Khullen Circle Board, chairman from the side of Hingba Mathew.

Eminent student leaders, social and religious leaders both from ZU and MU were also present to attain the final ceremony, it said.

Prior, to the concluding ceremonial meal, Amu Kamei, president of ZU (AMN), expressed regrets for the absence of the victim’s family and also the interference by the students and youth organizations but strongly reminded that the decision by the two apex unions of Zeliangrong and Maram would be final and binding as it was with lots of meticulous examination and hearing that the verdict was pronounced and published.

The president of the three states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, Zeliangrong tribe also ascertained that the case is closed once and for all. Raisong, president, Maram Union said that it was the first of its kind of physical assault to have set blood between Zeliangrong and Maram tribe, but urged that such ugly event be the starting point to a new beginning of positive relation between the two tribes.

The ceremony concluded with sharing of the meal.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/maram-assualt-incident-already-resolved-zu-and-mu/

IMPHAL, Aug 17: A Chinese hand grenade exploded around 8:10 pm in front of the main gate of m/s Manipur Diesels (MICO), Mantripukhri, an authorised dealer of two wheelers and three wheelers along the National Highway 2 under Heingang Police Station Imphal East.

The explosion damaged the main shutter of the company, however no one was injured in the explosion.

Sources said the attack could have been in relation with a monetary demand.

Concerned police rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/bomb-blast-3/

IMPHAL, Aug 17: The Communist Party of India, Manipur State Council has condoled the death of Ningthoujam Binoy Singh who passed away on August 16 due to a terminal illness.

According to a release of the party, it condoled the death during an emergency meeting held on the morning of August 17. The party also shared the sorrow of the aggrieved family members, it said.

A press release of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has also expressed deep grief the demise of Ningthoujam Binoy Singh, the Founder Member of CPI in Manipur.

The party stated that he was the President of Senior Citizen for Society, Manipur since its inception till his death. It also conveyed condolences to his family members. The funeral procession was also attended by Secretary, Sarat Salam and Secretariat members of CPI (M), Kshetrimayum Santa and Yumnam Ratan, and hundreds of his well wishers, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/left-parties-condole-ningthoujam-binoy/