Manipur News

IMPHAL, May 7 MNS NNN : Seijang Progressive Youth Club Tuesday accused the Tangkhul Katamnao Long, Imphal (TKLI) and other NGOs of misjudging the people of Seijang village through the media, terming it as ‘unfortunate.’
Heikrujam Tombi, president, Seijang Progressive Youth Front while addressing the media at the Manipur Press Club here, said that Hongprang, headman of Silent village must be held responsible for the unwanted incident that took place in his village on May 3.
He insisted that the Seijang villagers have neither communal feeling nor ill feeling toward the Silent villagers while firmly maintaining that Seijang will never object the villagers of Silent while settling down in their village so long as they do not impinge upon the land given by the Manipur state durbar.
Urging the NGOs to avoid making unneeded statements on the Silent village incident, Tombi requested them to work on ending the land dispute on the basis of records or documents at the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kangpokpi and Gauhati High Court.
Acknowledging the long time peaceful co-existence of the two villages, he mentioned the existing inter-marriage practice there and added that Seijang men got married seven Kuki women and another three Tangkhul women.
However, he alleged that the Silent village chief has allowed building of new houses by encroaching disputed land area after taking Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 per house and used the money to fight the case in the court that led to the unwanted incident.
Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTA) has said that the recent Silent village arson incident was due to the communication gap between the Silent village and that of Saijang village. COPTAM however, blames the state government of Manipur for the incident saying had the government done what COPTAM had suggested on district boundary issue the May 3 incident would have been averted.
COPTAM general secretary Thangkam Lupheng along with his team visited Silent village and donated 20 bags of rice to the villagers. He said the leaders of Silent and Saijang villages ought to sit down and resolve the misunderstanding. “No room should be given for any vested interest element to communalise the May 3 incident but better sense should be allowed to prevail,” said Thangkam Lupheng while talking to the Silent villagers.
Terming it as very unfortunate, Thangkam Lupheng said COPTAM strongly condemns the incident but suggested, “The best move is to hold dialogue between the two villages.”
Meanwhile, Saikul Area Naga Peoples’ Organisation (SANPO) has also donated 5 bags of rice to the Silent villages where 36 houses were razed to ashes by the Seijang villagers on May 3.
UNC said in a press statement that Silent village with about 60 households was attacked by a large number of well armed people from the neighbouring Saijang village at about 10.30 am of 3rd May, 2013 and 36 (thirty-six) houses were burnt down. Properties worth crores of rupees was reduced to cinders and hundreds of villagers were rendered homeless.
The nearest Police station, Lamlai P.S. , located just a few kms away was informed at 11 AM but the Police arrived at the spot at only 1.00 PM. Some of the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons which were fired in the air and many of them were masked. Some of the Silent villagers were locked up from outside by the attackers before setting the house on fire. They escaped being burnt to death fortunately by breaking open the doors of the houses as the fire engulfed the houses.
It also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/help-condemnations-pour-in-over-seijang-incident/

MNS: In a major breakthrough on the IED incident of 26 Feb 13 at Torbung, troops of 1/11 GR under Red Shield Division nabbed one of the prime accomplice of the incident. A swift
and precise operation was launched by troops of 1/11 Gorkha Rifles and apprehended 27 years old Amit Kumar Singh resident of Kakching District, presently staying at Loklaiphai
village, District Churachandpur on 01 May 13. The individual is an ex PREPAK cadre, who later joined PLA . On 24 Feb, Amit Kumar, along with other six cadres, hatched the plan of planting IED on the IT road. His role in the planning was evident as he indicated, on ground, the site where the IED was placed and had organized dinner of UGs at his residence on 25 Feb 13. One 7.62mm pistol with two live rounds of 9mm & ten live rounds of 5.56 mm were recovered from the individual said a PIB(DW) press hand out issued today.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ied-blast-accused-apprehended/

Mail News Service
Imphal, May 7 : The Special Judge for CBI Cases, Hyderabad has convicted Dandu Ravi, then Welfare Inspector, South Central Railway, Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) in a bribery case and sentenced him to undergo three years Rigorous Imprisonment with a fine of Rs.25,000/-each for the offence punishable U/s 7 and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of PC Act, 1988. The Court also gave a finding that out of the total fine amount of Rs.50,000/-, an amount of Rs.20,000/- is to be paid to the Complainant.
The investigation revealed that the accused had demanded & accepted a bribe of Rs.5000/- from the complainant for processing of application for appointment in South Central Railway on compassionate grounds.
The Trial Court found the accused guilty and convicted him.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Cardiologist of Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital & Research Centre, Bhilai(Chhattisgarh) for demanding & accepting a bribe of Rs. 10,000/- from the complainant.
A case was registered in CBI U/s 7 of P.C. Act, 1988 against a Cardiologist of Jawahar Lal Nehru Hospital & Research Centre, Sector-9, Bhilai (managed by Bhilai Steel Plant, Bhilai under SAIL) on the allegation that the accused demanded a bribe from the complainant for referring the father of the complainant, who is a retired employee of Bhilai Steel Plant to Chennai / Delhi based hospitals for cardiac treatment.
A trap was laid and the accused was caught red handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.10,000/- from the complainant.
During searches, Gold biscuits; jewellery and heavy amount in the form of FDs & Saving amount were recovered besides immovable properties at Bhilai, Jodhpur and Bhopal.
The arrested accused was produced before the Court of Special Judge, CBI, Raipur. He was remanded to Judicial Custody till 10.05.2013.
Further investigation is in progress.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/three-years-ri-for-officials/

IMPHAL, May 7 NNN: Saying that many airports in India were named in honour of the national leaders, the Indo-Myanmar Association, Manipur Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister urging him to rename the Imphal Tulihal Airport, which is being upgraded to an international airport status, in honour of one of the freedom fighters or patriots of Manipur.
Disclosing this to the media here, LC Ruhinikumar, secretary, Indo-Myanmar Association, Manipur, said that the it is the long time dream of the association that the Imphal Tulihal Airport become an international airport because it would bridge between Yangon in Myanmar and Manipur making them more closer.
However, the association wants the airport rename in honour of one of the freedom fighters of Manipur in line with other states of India, he said.
In the memorandum to Chief Minister O Ibobi, the association said that Imphal Airport is located 8 km south of the capital of Manipur and it offers regional commercial airline service as well general aviation and charter service. The terminal houses a post office and variety shop and there is also a reception counter of Tourism Department, apart from wheelchair accessibility, child care room, and assistance to physically challenged, aged and infirm are available, the memorandum highlighted.
It said that now, it is humbly requested that many airports in India were named in honour of the national leaders except Imphal Airport adding that this airport being located in Manipur, which has a number of freedom fighters .“This will facilitate to pay homage and gratitude to the one who had sacrificed with valour for our future and we, being the sons of the soil should have the privilege of the pride of the one having been born in our motherland,” the memorandum further added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/renaming-of-tulihal-airport/

Mail News Service
Imphal, May 7 : A sit in protest against the attack on Mala Lisham Chairperson child welfare committee, Thoubal was held at Palace compound today.
A protester said, it is very unfortunate as an uniform attempted to murder a woman who is fighting for orphans. The govt should convey those who involved in the incident.
She also demanded life imprisonment. Condemning the recent life attempt on Mala Lisham, chairperson, Child Welfare Committee for Thoubal district by a gunman, who happens to be a police constable attached to Narcotic Cells, Imphal West, the AZSU, ZUF and ZSUM accused that the act was another glaring example of some police personnel working at the behest of anti social elements.
NNN adds the Zeliangrong Youth Front, All Zeliangrong Students’ Union and Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Manipur, said the police should reveal to the general public in details about all information extracted from the accused Md. Basir Ahmad without concealing even an iota of facts on the reasons behind and circumstances leading to carrying out the gun attack on a lawful citizen who works for the welfare of children.
They also said the duty of a police man is to protect and secure the life of citizens but attacking innocent person with gun is strongly condemned by ZYF, AZSU and ZSUM.
Alleging that accused Md. Basir Ahmad is a mere constable drawing meager amount as monthly salary but owns assets which are not commensurate to his known source of income, the Zeliangrong bodies demanded for a probe into his properties and make it public.
They further demanded that Government of Manipur prove the basis and background on granting of licensed gun to a constable like Ahmad.
In Manipur, most of the crimes such as killing of innocent persons, raping women, drugs smuggling are involved and committed by security personnel like the police commandos, personnel of India Reserve Battalion, Manipur Rifles and sometimes by other Central forces, AZSU, ZYF and ZSUM further accused.
They also alleged that such crimes have clearly indicated that some of the security personnel are working as paid hire men for killing innocents in connivance with anti social elements and asked if it is because of ineffectiveness of the State Government in dealing with such cases that involved security personnel in the criminal activities.
Paying compensation after killing innocents is not what the citizens want from the government but putting an end to such criminal activities, the Zeliangrong bodies said and demanded the government act strongly in accordance with the law of the land to avoid such criminal activities in future.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/protests-galore-over-attack-on-child-welfare-chairperson/

IMPHAL, May 7 NNN : Federation of All Tribal Youth Clubs, Manipur (FATYCM) has on Tuesday strongly condemned the recent life attempt on Chingai constituency MLA Preshow Shimray and the two separate incidents that took place in Chadong and Silent villages where several houses were destroyed and displaced hundreds of people by their neighbouring villages over land disputes.
FATYCM said that the whole thing can be settled by means of talks and concession, citing that everybody can access to anything for bringing about solution.
Criticising the Government of Manipur for not taking any concrete step to address the issues, the federation noted that mere providing relief materials to the victims and visiting the there cannot solve such issues since they need a tangible settlement.
A lawmaker like Shimray should not be a target for any motive as he represents the people of Chingai, the federation said and stressed that negotiation is the only civilized mode of ending any particular standoff.
Heavily armed unknown persons launched an attack by indiscriminate firing against the convoy of MLA Shimray on April 30 in Ukhrul district. His convoy came under heavy fire on its way while returning toward Imphal after attending a fair at Tolloi in the district however Shimray escaped the attack unhurt.
At the same time, FATYCM said that it cannot tolerate any longer what had happened in the villages of Chadong in Ukhrul district and Silent in Senapati district.
On May 1, a large number of villagers from Thawai and Reha villages attacked the village of Chadong destroying more than 50 houses.
The federation also condemned the incident and called for a long lasting peaceful settlement among the neighbouring villages. It also condemned the recent arson attack against the village of Silent by villagers of Seijang over a long standing land dispute on May 3.
Urging the state Government and the concerned district administrations, particularly the Deputy Commissioners of Imphal East and Ukhrul districts for the settlement of the issues at the earliest, it warned that the Government and the DCs should be held responsible for any future untoward incident.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/fatycm-condemns-attack-on-mla/