Manipur News

IMPHAL, January 5: Grenade attacks at the residences of Congress offices and MLAs as well as candidates and workers of the party continued unabated as at least three bombs were hurled at the residential areas of Congress candidates and workers today.

In the first incident today, unidentified person suspected to be militants lobbed a hand-grenade at the residence of businessman Taorem Dipak, 41 s/o Thambal of Yumnam Leikai Nakrabam Leirak this morning around 5.30am. The bomb exploded however there were no reports of human casualties. Dipak is stated to be a Congress worker.

The bomb which was suspected to be hurled from outside Dipak’s residential wall exploded in the courtyard.

In connection with the bomb attack, residents of the area staged a sit-in-protest today and denounced the bomb attack at the residence of the local businessman.

In the meantime, another hand-grenade was also hurled at the residence of Sapam Ranjan located at Konthoujam. Ranjan is aspiring to be a Congress candidate in the upcoming 10th Manipur legislative assembly election and is the son of (late) Sapam Budhichandra, ex-Speaker of the Manipur legislative assembly.

The bomb exploded near the residential gate of Ranjan but there were human casualties.

In yet another bomb blast today, one IED was found planted near the Old Checkon bazar along Porompat DC road where there used to be a Congress office which has been shifted to another place.

According to police source, the IED was found planted on a small tree near the Old Checkon bazar just opposite to the rows of wooden shops.

As police suspect the bomb to be remotely controlled one, a special bomb squad of the Manipur Police was called in. later after the arrival of the bomb squad, the bomb was safely exploded at the spot around 7.11pm after vacating civilians from the area.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/attacks-on-congress-workers-continue-unabated/

IMPHAL, January 5: The Election Commission of India today instructed the neighbouring states of Assam, Nagaland and Mizoram to intensify their security preventive measures along their borders with the state of Manipur to prevent safe transit of armed militant cadres into the state and disturb the smooth conduct of the ensuing 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly election.

The instruction was given to officials of the three neighbouring states by the Election Commissioner of India during an inter-state coordination meeting held at the conference hall of the old secretariat at Imphal today.

The meeting was attended by DGPs, CEOs of Nagaland, Mizoram and CEO; and commissioner home of Assam, while the state of Manipur was represented by chief secretary, CEO and officials of the state home department.

Speaking to media persons during a press conference, the Election Commissioner of India announced that the neighbouring states should extend their full co-operation to Manipur in the successful conduct of the general election in the state by preventing militant cadres to infiltrate into the state through the inter-state boundaries.

During the said meeting, the officials from the neighbouring states had also officially assured full co-operation with their Manipur counterparts to stop militants from entering the state, he further informed.

Further according to the Election Commissioner of India, the officials had also given their official assurance to intensify their security preventive measures along their boundaries with Manipur.

The ECI has further intimated the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of defence to double the deployment of security forces along the porous international border between Manipur and Myanmar to prevent any unwanted trespassing along the porous border, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/neighbouring-states-assure-security-cover-along-state-border-ahead-of-election/

IMPHAL, January 5: The proscribed KCP (MC), in a statement, has claimed responsibility of the shooting of Khwairakpam ongbi Jamuna of Ngairangbam on her thigh on January 4, 2012.

The KCP(MC) statement issued by its publicity officer  Loyalakpa said the task was performed by a section of the KCP(MC) under the command of revenue officer Nongdrenkhomba.

While clarifying that the outfit had never served any monetary demands to Pradhan of Yurembam Gram Panchayat namely Laishram Ongbi Chaobihal Devi, the KCP(MC) statement said the outfit wished to clarify regarding misunderstanding created amongst the public in the aftermath of the punishment given to Jamuna.

It said the outfit knew about huge amounts of money being misused by Pradhan of Yurembam Gram Panchayat L Chaobihal and the outfit had served repeated warnings to stop misuse of public money and asked to approached outfit. Instead of approaching the outfit, the Pradhan in question acted as reactionary and continued siphoning of huge amount of money under MGNREGS.

The outfit also alleged that some cadres of the outfit who had gone to hold talks with Pradhan Chaobihal sometime back were made to run amok and had nearly fallen in the hands of police commandos when one Khwairakpam Niti of Sagoltongba, who was at the residence of Chaobihal on the day informed police. Luckily, the cadres managed to flee from the area, the statement said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/kcpmc-claims-responsibility-for-jamuna-shooting/

IMPHAL, January 5: The Janata Dal (Secular), Manipur and its rival the Janata Dal United, Manipur have announced five candidates each for the ensuing 10th Manipur legislative assembly election today.

While, JDU announced its first list of five candidates with a press conference held today at its office located at Paona Bazar, Imphal, the JD(S) announced its candidates through a press statement.

Speaking to media persons, president of the JDU Manipur unit M Tombi Singh said the party is expecting to field at least 15 candidates in the ensuing state assembly election.

The candidates announced today were Md Abdul Jhabar for Jiribam, Linjalet Haokip for Chandel, H Simther for Phungyar, Padam Kharal for KPI and Semkholet Haokip for Saitu assembly constituency.

In the meantime, the candidates announced by the JD(S) Manipur are Sitara Begum for Kshetrigao, Khundongbam Ajit alias Ojit Singh for Keishamthong, Sapam Samungou Singh for Patsoi, K Binoy Meitei for Keirao and Chandramani Tarao for Tengoupal assembly constituency.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/candidates-announced/

IMPHAL, Jan 5: A middle aged person who works as mechanic of heavy vehicles has been hit by at least three bullets when a constable of the Manipur Police attached to the Porompat police station, and currently detailed for duty at IFP office accidentally dropped his weapon which bursted in all directions.

The person injured in the incident has been identified as Athokpam Inaocha alias Robindro, 45 s/o (late) Irabot of Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal. He has been hit by at least three bullets, one at his left ankle, another on his left chest and the third one on his left foot.

Initially Robindro was admitted at the JNIMS, Porompat, but was later referred to Shija Hospital, Langol.

The incident happened this morning around 8.15am right in front of the IFP office located along Checkon-Palace Gate road when the security personnel  dropped his weapon (Carbine) while negotiating the road median.

According to eyewitnesses, the weapon dropped by the security personnel went bursting in all directions and at least three bullets hit Robindro who was standing at a workshop (NK & Sons Lathe and Motor works) located just adjacent to the IFP office.

As told to this reporter, owner of the workshop Hijam Nabakumar said Robindro was brought at the workshop by a truck owner identified as Sarangthem Hemanta of Sabal Leikai. He also said that the truck owner and the mechanic were standing at the front of the workshop when the incident happened.

Top officials of the Imphal east police rushed to the spot to make spot verification.

In the meantime, the concerned police station has initiated an inquiry regarding the incident.

The injured is reported to be out of danger.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/constables-accidental-firing-injures-mechanic/