Manipur News

AIZAWL, Oct 25 NNN: The integrity of the Mizos has been the priority for the Young Mizo Association (YMA), the largest and the most influential non-governmental organisation in Mizoram
During its general conference, the YMA has re-affirmed that it would thwart any element that is a threat to the Mizo unity and integration.
This year’s YMA general conference which began from October 23 has decided that its theme for the next one year wil be “Safeguarding the land and the nation.” This theme was the repeat of the previous year. Every year YMA hold its general conference and a theme of the out for the coming year is coined.
Gracing the occasion, chief minister of Mizoram lauded the YMA saying the outfit is the most suited one for the Mizo society. “It is most suited that we have YMA which is typical of the Mizo nature. It is a much valued NGO by other communities also. It gives integration to the Mizos, for which YMA is very important and respectful”, Lal Thanhawla said.
In his speech, Lal Thanhawla said to protect ones land and nation, the foremost thing a person needs to do is to protect himself from all evils such as the use of intoxicants and shuns anything that questions morality. “We need to take active steps in preserving the flora and fauna, and in order to execute such tasks, we need to abstain from all kinds of intoxication,” the Mizoram chief minister exhorted. Lalthanhawla also stressed on the skill development and quality education and invites the youths to be industrious in the field where they are good at and to work laboriously and with sincerity”, said Lal Thanhawla while citing that other communities are more advanced than the Mizos in terms of industry and manual labour. “Other Zo tribes outside the state also regarded Mizoram as their home and the ‘supreme house’. So, we need to have a broad mind regarding this,” he advised while adding, “We have to fight back courageously to those who attempt to destroy the integrity of the Mizos in Mizoram, and this is truly what is meant by ‘protecting the land and its people.’”
Meanwhile, the resolutions that have been taken in the conference are to fight against any move which threatens the Mizo integration; cleanliness drive to cover the whole state; proper supervision of all village level development works for creation of durable assets for the society; non issue of birth certificates to the foreign nationals; new initiatives for prevention of human trafficking and steps for preparation of error free Electoral Rolls.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/yma-pushes-for-integrity-of-mizo/

AIZAWL, Oct 25 NNN: The integrity of the Mizos has been the priority for the Young Mizo Association (YMA), the largest and the most influential non-governmental organisation in Mizoram
During its general conference, the YMA has re-affirmed that it would thwart any element that is a threat to the Mizo unity and integration.
This year’s YMA general conference which began from October 23 has decided that its theme for the next one year wil be “Safeguarding the land and the nation.” This theme was the repeat of the previous year. Every year YMA hold its general conference and a theme of the out for the coming year is coined.
Gracing the occasion, chief minister of Mizoram lauded the YMA saying the outfit is the most suited one for the Mizo society. “It is most suited that we have YMA which is typical of the Mizo nature. It is a much valued NGO by other communities also. It gives integration to the Mizos, for which YMA is very important and respectful”, Lal Thanhawla said.
In his speech, Lal Thanhawla said to protect ones land and nation, the foremost thing a person needs to do is to protect himself from all evils such as the use of intoxicants and shuns anything that questions morality. “We need to take active steps in preserving the flora and fauna, and in order to execute such tasks, we need to abstain from all kinds of intoxication,” the Mizoram chief minister exhorted. Lalthanhawla also stressed on the skill development and quality education and invites the youths to be industrious in the field where they are good at and to work laboriously and with sincerity”, said Lal Thanhawla while citing that other communities are more advanced than the Mizos in terms of industry and manual labour. “Other Zo tribes outside the state also regarded Mizoram as their home and the ‘supreme house’. So, we need to have a broad mind regarding this,” he advised while adding, “We have to fight back courageously to those who attempt to destroy the integrity of the Mizos in Mizoram, and this is truly what is meant by ‘protecting the land and its people.’”
Meanwhile, the resolutions that have been taken in the conference are to fight against any move which threatens the Mizo integration; cleanliness drive to cover the whole state; proper supervision of all village level development works for creation of durable assets for the society; non issue of birth certificates to the foreign nationals; new initiatives for prevention of human trafficking and steps for preparation of error free Electoral Rolls.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/yma-pushes-for-integrity-of-mizo/

New Delhi, Oct 25 (ANI): Launching a fresh attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in connection with the graft charges against party president Nitin Gadkari, Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said on Thursday that though the main opposition party is continuously defending its president, the truth has come out in the public domain.
Reacting to media reports about the false addresses of 18 companies holding 80 percent stake in the Gadkari owned Purti Group, Alvi said the BJP has had a history of protecting the corrupt.
“Every party has a certain character and a specific ideology. The chief of that party represents that party and is the party’s face. Gadkari is the chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party. If he is neck deep in corruption and the BJP still allows him to hold the president post, then we can also recall that Bangaru Laxman, a former BJP chief whom the BJP tried continuously defend, was punished by the court,” :said Alvi.
Media reports show that those 18 companies are not located at the addresses mentioned on the Purti Group’s website. However, the Managing Director of Purti Group, Sudhir Dive, has out rightly dismissed the corruption allegations against Gadkari, saying he had resigned from the company 14 months ago.
Recently, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding a probe into fraud charges against Gadkari.
Congress leader and Minister of State for Telecom Sachin Pilot also said that a detailed investigation into the allegations should be carried out.
“The federal agencies should initiate the probe at the right time.If there are malafide intentions or irregularities, then appropriate action should be taken. The law will take its course, there are very well laid down procedures on how to proceed on this front, but I think, Mr. Gadkari, even though he has offered himself up for a probe, I do not know yet whether the probe is on or not, but if there is any allegations being made, I think an investigation is required, and it must be done,” said Pilot.
Earlier, India Against Corruption (IAC) members Anjali Damania and Arvind Kejriwal accused Gadkari of a ‘political quid pro quo’ for acquiring 100 acre of farmers’ land through dubious means for his private trust.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/congress-condemns-bjp-for-defending-gadkari/

New Delhi, Oct 25 (ANI): Launching a fresh attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in connection with the graft charges against party president Nitin Gadkari, Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said on Thursday that though the main opposition party is continuously defending its president, the truth has come out in the public domain.
Reacting to media reports about the false addresses of 18 companies holding 80 percent stake in the Gadkari owned Purti Group, Alvi said the BJP has had a history of protecting the corrupt.
“Every party has a certain character and a specific ideology. The chief of that party represents that party and is the party’s face. Gadkari is the chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party. If he is neck deep in corruption and the BJP still allows him to hold the president post, then we can also recall that Bangaru Laxman, a former BJP chief whom the BJP tried continuously defend, was punished by the court,” :said Alvi.
Media reports show that those 18 companies are not located at the addresses mentioned on the Purti Group’s website. However, the Managing Director of Purti Group, Sudhir Dive, has out rightly dismissed the corruption allegations against Gadkari, saying he had resigned from the company 14 months ago.
Recently, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding a probe into fraud charges against Gadkari.
Congress leader and Minister of State for Telecom Sachin Pilot also said that a detailed investigation into the allegations should be carried out.
“The federal agencies should initiate the probe at the right time.If there are malafide intentions or irregularities, then appropriate action should be taken. The law will take its course, there are very well laid down procedures on how to proceed on this front, but I think, Mr. Gadkari, even though he has offered himself up for a probe, I do not know yet whether the probe is on or not, but if there is any allegations being made, I think an investigation is required, and it must be done,” said Pilot.
Earlier, India Against Corruption (IAC) members Anjali Damania and Arvind Kejriwal accused Gadkari of a ‘political quid pro quo’ for acquiring 100 acre of farmers’ land through dubious means for his private trust.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/congress-condemns-bjp-for-defending-gadkari/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Oct 25 :  The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure today approved the proposal of Ministry of Railways to extend the new broad guage line from Imphal Road (Tupul) to Imphal and the updated cost of the entire project as Rs.4444 crore to be funded as per the funding pattern of 25 percent from General Budgetary Support (GBS) for Railways and 75 percent from the Ministry of Finance.
The project will be completed by March 2016. An expenditure of Rs.682 crore was incurred till 31st March, 2011.
This project will cover Imphal East, Tamenglong and Senapati districts of Manipur.
This Jiribam-Imphal new line project on completion will provide rail connectivity to Imphal with the national mainstream. It would also make possible direct movement of freight/passenger from this region to other parts of the country.
The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh  laid foundation stone of 97.9 kilometre long Jiribam-Imphal Road (Tupul) new broad gauge line railway project at a function at Jiribam on November 20, 2004.
The  line, at an anticipated cost of Rs. 727.56 crores, will terminate at Tupul, which is about 25 kilometres short of Imphal.
Jiribam-Imphal (Tupul) new line project assumes National importance as it would provide connectivity to the state capital of Manipur besides facilitating transportation of essential commodities to the State.
Jiribam-Imphal (Tupul) new line project is in pursuance of the policy of the Government of India to provide Rail connectivity to far off places of the North Eastern Region.
Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) on April 5 last said it has bagged a Rs 162-crore order from North Frontier Railway to develop a rail tunnel.
Under the contract, the leading infrastructure company will build a tunnel between Kambiron Road and Thingou stations on the new railway line coming up between Jiribam and Tupul in Imphal, Manipur.
HCC will be developing the tunnel with its Hyderabad- based JV partner Coastal Projects, in which it holds 60 per cent stake. The project is expected to be completed in 28 months, HCC said in a statement here.
The scope of the project involves construction of a single line 3.3km long tunnel, RCC portal walls, permanent tunnel support, rock supporting system and ancillary work, it said.
This is the third order HCC has received from North Frontier Railway on Jiribam-Tupul rail line. In 2010, the company was awarded two contracts worth Rs 197.06 crore and Rs 312.82 crore for construction of two tunnels of 3.25km and 4.69km lengths, respectively.
The government has been taking up the project to make people in Manipur avail facilities provided by the Indian Railways. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2016.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/extension-of-jiribam-imphal-line-approved-rs-4444-cr-approved/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Oct 25 :  The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure today approved the proposal of Ministry of Railways to extend the new broad guage line from Imphal Road (Tupul) to Imphal and the updated cost of the entire project as Rs.4444 crore to be funded as per the funding pattern of 25 percent from General Budgetary Support (GBS) for Railways and 75 percent from the Ministry of Finance.
The project will be completed by March 2016. An expenditure of Rs.682 crore was incurred till 31st March, 2011.
This project will cover Imphal East, Tamenglong and Senapati districts of Manipur.
This Jiribam-Imphal new line project on completion will provide rail connectivity to Imphal with the national mainstream. It would also make possible direct movement of freight/passenger from this region to other parts of the country.
The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh  laid foundation stone of 97.9 kilometre long Jiribam-Imphal Road (Tupul) new broad gauge line railway project at a function at Jiribam on November 20, 2004.
The  line, at an anticipated cost of Rs. 727.56 crores, will terminate at Tupul, which is about 25 kilometres short of Imphal.
Jiribam-Imphal (Tupul) new line project assumes National importance as it would provide connectivity to the state capital of Manipur besides facilitating transportation of essential commodities to the State.
Jiribam-Imphal (Tupul) new line project is in pursuance of the policy of the Government of India to provide Rail connectivity to far off places of the North Eastern Region.
Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) on April 5 last said it has bagged a Rs 162-crore order from North Frontier Railway to develop a rail tunnel.
Under the contract, the leading infrastructure company will build a tunnel between Kambiron Road and Thingou stations on the new railway line coming up between Jiribam and Tupul in Imphal, Manipur.
HCC will be developing the tunnel with its Hyderabad- based JV partner Coastal Projects, in which it holds 60 per cent stake. The project is expected to be completed in 28 months, HCC said in a statement here.
The scope of the project involves construction of a single line 3.3km long tunnel, RCC portal walls, permanent tunnel support, rock supporting system and ancillary work, it said.
This is the third order HCC has received from North Frontier Railway on Jiribam-Tupul rail line. In 2010, the company was awarded two contracts worth Rs 197.06 crore and Rs 312.82 crore for construction of two tunnels of 3.25km and 4.69km lengths, respectively.
The government has been taking up the project to make people in Manipur avail facilities provided by the Indian Railways. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2016.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/extension-of-jiribam-imphal-line-approved-rs-4444-cr-approved/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Special Judge for CBI Cases, Saket Court, New Delhi has convicted Kulwaran Singh, the then Assistant Commissioner (Imports), ICD, Customs & Central Excise and seven other persons. The Court has sentenced Kulwaran Singh to undergo three years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs. One Lakh; his wife Kulwant Kaur to undergo one year Simple Imprisonment with fine of Rs.10,000/-; Mool Chand Sharma to undergo two years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.80,000/-; Santosh Kumari to undergo one year Simple Imprisonment with fine of Rs.10,000/-; Devender Kumar Sharma, Subhash Chand, Harish Kumar Arora & Balwant Rai to undergo two years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.20,000/-each.
A case was registered on 06.03.2000 against Kulwaran Singh, Assistant Commissioner(Imports), ICD, Customs & Central Excise and others U/s 109 IPC and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of PC Act, 1988 on the allegations that Kulwaran Singh had acquired huge assets and properties, both movable & immovable assets to the tune of Rs.16,34,000/-(approx.) in his name & in the name of family members which were disproportionate to his known sources of income.
After completion of investigation, charge sheet against accused Kulwaran Singh and 8 other persons was filed on 30.04.2002 in the Court and the charges were framed. After hearing arguments of both sides, the Court convicted 8 accused including Kulwaran Singh. One accused had since been expired during the court of trial. Further, the Court has ordered for forfeiture of amount of Rs.15 lakh recovered from the possession of Kulwant Kaur w/o Kulwaran Singh.
In another case, the Special Judge for CBI Cases, Indore has convicted Harish Panjwani, the then Officer, Bank of India, Tillore, Indore U/s 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of PC Act and sentenced him to undergo two years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.50,000/- for possession of disproportionate assets.
A case was registered on 28.01.2010 against Harish Panjwani, Officer, Bank of India, Tillore, Indore U/s 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of PC Act, 1988 on the allegations that he had amassed huge wealth to the tune of Rs.6.68 lakh(approx) disproportionate to his known sources of income.
After investigation, a charge sheet was filed on 28.10.2010 in the Court of Special Judge for CBI Cases, Indore against Harish Panjwani, Officer, Bank of India, Tillore Branch, Indore for accumulation of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs.5.22 lakh(approx).
The Trial Court found the accused guilty and convicted him.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/nine-accused-sentenced-in-disproportionate-assets-case/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Special Judge for CBI Cases, Saket Court, New Delhi has convicted Kulwaran Singh, the then Assistant Commissioner (Imports), ICD, Customs & Central Excise and seven other persons. The Court has sentenced Kulwaran Singh to undergo three years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs. One Lakh; his wife Kulwant Kaur to undergo one year Simple Imprisonment with fine of Rs.10,000/-; Mool Chand Sharma to undergo two years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.80,000/-; Santosh Kumari to undergo one year Simple Imprisonment with fine of Rs.10,000/-; Devender Kumar Sharma, Subhash Chand, Harish Kumar Arora & Balwant Rai to undergo two years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.20,000/-each.
A case was registered on 06.03.2000 against Kulwaran Singh, Assistant Commissioner(Imports), ICD, Customs & Central Excise and others U/s 109 IPC and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of PC Act, 1988 on the allegations that Kulwaran Singh had acquired huge assets and properties, both movable & immovable assets to the tune of Rs.16,34,000/-(approx.) in his name & in the name of family members which were disproportionate to his known sources of income.
After completion of investigation, charge sheet against accused Kulwaran Singh and 8 other persons was filed on 30.04.2002 in the Court and the charges were framed. After hearing arguments of both sides, the Court convicted 8 accused including Kulwaran Singh. One accused had since been expired during the court of trial. Further, the Court has ordered for forfeiture of amount of Rs.15 lakh recovered from the possession of Kulwant Kaur w/o Kulwaran Singh.
In another case, the Special Judge for CBI Cases, Indore has convicted Harish Panjwani, the then Officer, Bank of India, Tillore, Indore U/s 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of PC Act and sentenced him to undergo two years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.50,000/- for possession of disproportionate assets.
A case was registered on 28.01.2010 against Harish Panjwani, Officer, Bank of India, Tillore, Indore U/s 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of PC Act, 1988 on the allegations that he had amassed huge wealth to the tune of Rs.6.68 lakh(approx) disproportionate to his known sources of income.
After investigation, a charge sheet was filed on 28.10.2010 in the Court of Special Judge for CBI Cases, Indore against Harish Panjwani, Officer, Bank of India, Tillore Branch, Indore for accumulation of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs.5.22 lakh(approx).
The Trial Court found the accused guilty and convicted him.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/nine-accused-sentenced-in-disproportionate-assets-case/