Manipur News – Page 16573 – www.manipur.org/news

Mid day meal program covers 247 schools in Thoubal distt

MNS:- On the concluding day of the three-day Bharat Nirman Campaign held at Mini Secretariat Conference hall at DC complex Thoubal the second session in the morning focused on mid-day meal. The main speaker was H. Priyokumar DI, Hqrs. Zonal Education office Thoubal.
He said mid-day meal was first launched in August 1995 across the country. Earlier dry grains were provided to the lower primary and upper primary level students. Now cooked foods are provided to the students. To provide cooked foods to the students cooks too have been appointed.
Mid-day meal programme covers 234 schools in Thoubal Distt having students in the group of class I to V and 23 schools in the same district having students from class VI to VIII. 310 cooks are used in Thoubal district he also said.
The programme, which is a component of the flagship programme was launched by the UPA Government at the centre keeping two sections of the society in view. They are weaker section and disadvantaged group. The disadvantaged group consists of SC/ST, OBC and minority. The weaker sections are those whose annual income does not exceed Rs 40000.
The aim and objects of the programme are to attract young students to the Government and Government aided schools and also to enhance nutritious status of the students. Too many young students come to the school without taking food so they cannot remain till the end of the school hour. If they are given food at half time they will be able to remain till the end of the school. Based on this guiding principle mid day meal programme was launched he also said.
A Government employee wanted to know the criteria adopted in the allotment of food grains to the schools, because some of the schools have minuscule number of students and others are packed to the full. Priyokumar said the food grain is allotted considering the number of students in a school. Another asked the wisdom of including disadvantaged group in the extension of Government programmes. Giving reply he said not all belonging to this section are as better off and wealthy as you see them to be.
Later questions were asked to the participants and winners were given prizes.

Need to rekindle Indian mind

I. Ramamohan Rao
Book Review: Thoughts for Change by APJ Abdul Kalam and Sivathanu Pillai
Pentagon Press; pages:277; price Rs.495
The year that has gone by has been one of worst in my memory. Every morning when one opened newspapers, the front page was filled with reports of scams and scandals, and demonstrations by people protesting against the government, which created doubts about the system that we have adopted to govern the country.
To crown all the scandals, the year closed with doubts being raised against us as human beings: that we are incapable of respecting women of the country, mothers, sisters and daughters. The gang-rape of a young student that happened in the capital on December 16, cast doubts on the efficacy of the police, the judiciary, including the system of governance.
In such a situation, the need is urgent to renew faith in ourselves. India has inherited a great civilization and it is possible for us to regain the thrust. ‘Thoughts for Change’, a book jointly authored by former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and distinguished scientist Sivathanu Pillai, just seeks to do that.
The very first chapter tells us about the scientific inventions of ancient India in different fields. Between the fifth century B.C. and the fifth century A.D., Indians distinguished themselves in different fields, like mathematics, astronomy and physics, medicine and the concept of aviation. India gave to the world the concept of zero, and five centuries before Newton announced the theory of gravity, Bhaskaracharya had enunciated it.
Varahamihira had told us that the earth was a sphere and had calculated its diameter, which was confirmed centuries later in the west. Aryabhattta, who was born in 476 A.D. had proclaimed that the earth rotates on its axis, orbits the sun and is suspended in space, 1000 years before Copernicus published his theory. Indians had distinguished themselves in various other fields like medicine, surgery and aviation. The list is endless.
Successive invasions, and exploitation by colonial rulers, made India miss the Industrial Revolution and we sank back to a state where we lost faith in ourselves. Mahatma Gandhi rekindled faith in ourselves and our founding fathers, led by leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru charted a path to rebuild India.
What have been our achievements as a nation since Independence? From a nation which witnessed famines which claimed millions of lives and depended on ship to mouth existence, we have become self-sufficient in agricultural production. Our scientists have succeeded in bringing about the White Revolution by harnessing buffalo milk, which has been a pioneering effort by the late Verghese Kurien of Amul fame.
In spite of denials by advanced countries of the world, we have gone ahead and become a knowledge power. I myself have been witness to the jokes made about Rajiv Gandhi when he said that India, which has missed the Industrial Revolution, should not miss the Knowledge Revolution. People laughed when he decided to allow the import of computer hardware without import duty.
The revolution in telecommunications has made India a knowledge-power where advanced countries now outsource their needs to India. Our scientists have successfully trained themselves in the field of space technology and today India has the honour of launching satellites of various countries. I had the privilege of interviewing R. K. Sharma in the Soviet Union before he took off on his space voyage in the early eighties. Today, we are thinking in terms of launching our own space ship.
How many of us know that the first rocket in the world was used by Tipu Sultan in the year 1792 at the Battle of Srirangapatna against the British Army. After successive reverses, the British Army managed to defeat him, and the first thing they did, was to destroy his rocket production plants, capture his artillery and take it to England to be copied and then developed. India has been dependent on British artillery for decades, before we decided to import the Bofors guns, the acquisition of which was attacked by many motivated sources.
In the early eighties, I had the privilege as defence spokesman to accompany the then Defence Minister R. Venkataraman to the Defence Research and Development Laboratory in Hyderabad.
One of the items during the visit was to witness the development of a missile launching laboratory. We had to plug our ears when the experiment was conducted and Dr. Arunachalam , the then Scientific Advisor told the Defence Minister, said that we had great potential in developing it, and that we had a team headed by Dr. Abdul Kalam working on the project. Later, I had the privilege of visiting the Odisha coast to see the development of the launching station there.
The month of January this year saw India launching missiles every week. Today we have ballistic missiles Agni I, Agni II, Agni III, Agni IV, Agni V, with ranges extending from 700 to 5000 kilometres. We have developed Nag, the anti-tank guided missiles which can be launched from infantry vehicles as well as from air.
The Trishul series of missiles can counter enemy aircraft and has a range of 9 kilometres. The Akash surface to air missile can engage targets at tree top-level around 25 kilometres. We have also developed our own interceptor missiles. Indian missile scientists have earned a name for themselves and are collaborating with Russia for the manufacture of the Brahmos missile, which can be launched from ship, land , submarine and silo and has multi-target capability. The development of Brahmos has put India along and ahead of many developed nations.
All this has been has possible through the efforts of our own scientists. We were denied the cryogenic engine under pressure from advanced countries of the West, who evidently wanted India to be dependent on them for its weaponry. Today after achieving the status of a nuclear power, Indian scientists are engaged in the development of new sources of energy, bio-sciences and technology, and nano- technology, the harnessing of atomic energy to reduce our dependence on coal and oil. India is rich in Thorium, and with proper development, we can meet our energy needs for centuries. The authors point out that India has the largest youth power in the world and the ignited mind of the youth is the most powerful resource on earth. They quote the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, as saying ‘men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it. Even if I did not have it in the beginning’.
The conclusion of the authors is that ‘We Can Do it’. The excellently brought out book deserves to be on school and college bookshelves to ignite the minds of our youth. (ANI)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/need-to-rekindle-indian-mind/

National highway roads too narrow

National highway road connecting Imphal and Moreh is dangerously narrow. Driving along this road is not safe. Vehicles drive in full speed as long distance is to be covered. There is no space for swerving the vehicle. Drivers show the tendency to overtake the vehicles ahead. Two wheelers are not safe on this road because the roadside is depressed by around one foot. The two wheelers as they attempt to allow the fast moving four wheelers move ahead of them the vehicles skid on the road. Something needs to be done immediately to widen the road from Kakwa to Thoubal where large number of vehicles ply. Top executive of the state must pay immediate attention and take steps for expansion of the national highway. There is a plan for introduction of Imphal Mandalay bus service as a part of strengthening the relation between India and Myanmar. Which means buses from Myanmar side too will be coming to Imphal. Manipur roads are not presentable to the foreigners. After all roads are the faces of the state. These tiny roads are not worthy of showing. Top priority must be given in upgrading the condition of all national highway particularly Moreh Imphal road. In the past 10 years the number of vehicles in the state had increased manifold. This is indicated by the frequent occurrence of traffic jam, which has happened in town areas. Even in the rural areas traffic jam has occurred. Why it happens? The question is being asked though we know the answer. The state Government’s inability to widen the existing roads has attributed to making traffic congestion. Our Government must know that the state has no means to connect with the outside world except by road. This means that road must receive top priority. If the Government do not have fund for expansion of the road mentioned above it should find some fund for raising the depressed roadside, so that two wheeler drivers will not find handicap in driving on the national highway connecting Moreh and Imphal. The roadside dwellers also must understand the problems facing the vehicle drivers on this road so they should not stand near the road. There is likelihood of vehicles knocking them down while negotiating the narrow road. It happens at Lilong area almost all the people come out from home and stand near the road. What they are doing on the roadside. This question is raised by vehicle drivers. At some areas near Khumbong on the NH 37 connecting Imphal and Jirbam local people sit on the roadside unmindful of the fast moving running just behind them? Are they not afraid of dying? Then youngsters in town areas move stretching horizontally. They almost block the fast moving vehicles. They wait for the vehicles to give blaring sound and move sideways in the same manner cows running away when they are beaten with stick. Such unruly youngsters need to be thrashed because they have no respect for the fast moving vehicle. But the duty of the Government is to focus on the area where there is problem. All these national highway roads have become a problem, they need immediate attention.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/national-highway-roads-too-narrow/

HPCD signs SOO

AIZAWL, Jan 31 NNN: After several months in suspense, the Hmar militant outfit Hmar People’s Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) and the government of Mizoram have signed the Suspension of Operation (SoO) today in Aizawl.
“The government of Mizoram and Hmar People’s Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) held talk today at 10 am under a peaceful atmosphere at State Guest House, Aizawl”.
Mizoram government team was led by Lalbiakzama, Joint Secretary, Home department, while the HPC-D delegation was led by Lalbeisei, the outfit’s vice chairman.
The two teams in their talk today prepared ‘ground rules and then signed an agreement for Suspension of Operation (SoO) for 6 months duration.
The two teams also agreed to hold another talk at the earliest possible.
For the first time on February 9, 2011 the SoO was signed betwen the two parties for six months. However, after signing the earlier SoO, the relation between the HPC-D and the Mizoram government experienced a rough weather. In view of that, the SoO was never extended again even after the lapse of the six month period.
Since 1986, the Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) has been demanding for the creation of Hmar Autonomous District in Mizoram. In spite of the Peace Accord that was inked between the Government of Mizoram and the HPC, there was no concrete solution to address and redress the rights of the Hmar People. “As a result, the HPC (D) has been continuous the same demand in Mizoram to redress the historical and political injustices. Acknowledging the matter, the Centre (Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India) has been pressurising the Government of Mizoram to settle the political issues of the Hmars immediately. Following this and to pursue the unfinished agenda, the Government of Mizoram and the HPC (D) signed the Suspension of Operation (SoO) on November 11, 2010 for a period of six months. The SoO document was signed by Lalropui, Army Chief HPC (D) and the Home Secretary Shri. Lalmalsawma, Government of Mizoram,” HPC-D leader L Sangma Hmar had stated sometime in last October.
The Hmar outfit leader had then alleged that the Government of Mizoram had failed to nurture the peace process with seriousness, which resulted in derailing the hard earned peace process. Taking note of this, the Centre (Ministry of Home Affairs) continued to pressurise the Government of Mizoram to settle the Hmar political problems. The government of Mizoram digressed from peaceful approach and acted untowardly when the HPC (D) on the other hand, is made to engage in finding the channels for political dialogue with All Party Leaders of Mizoram, he stated. While handing out the carrot, the Government of Mizoram arrested the HPC (D) Army Chief Lalropui and Deputy Army Chief Lalbiaknung from Silchar airport on June 16, 2012 by the Mizoram police. Similarly HPC (D) Chairman Zosangber was again arrested from Delhi Airport by the Mizoram police when he was on his way to meet officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Government of Mizoram has severely failed to respect the peace process that has seemingly built, the HPC-D had rued.
In the context of Manipur, the HPC (D) political interest is collectively shared with the United People’s Front (UPF), currently under SoO with the Government of India and the Government of Manipur. The UPF demands for an Autonomous Hill States within the state of Manipur. The HPC (D) did not sign the SoO documents in Manipur alone but as UPF, the document is collectively shared and signed along with the UPF members: KNF, KRA (U), UKLF, ZDV and ZRA. The HPC (D) has its designated Camp in Ankhasuo with ninety four (94) cadres enlisted. In Manipur, the HPC (D) will continue to abide by the goals shared within the UPF.
“The HPC (D)’s goals and objectives are independent in all its respective context and is free from the other. The SoO terms and conditions in Manipur, has no validity in other States. Therefore, the HPC (D) Manipur Region is not answerable for the HPC (D) of other regions/States as the HPC (D) Manipur Region is particularly confined in Manipur under UPF,” L Sanga Hmar had also stated.
For all time to come, the HPC (D) Manipur Region as signatory of SoO in Manipur cannot be made responsible or related to any acts of the HPC (D) of other regions, L Sanga Hmar had added.
According to HPC-D leader, after India gained independence, the Hmar peoples are fragmented by different political boundaries, without their consent, and are compelled to negotiate political marginalisation in their respective states – Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura. This historical and political subjugation have severely reduced our political entity, distancing us from securing our constitutional rights, stated L Sanga Hmar who is one of the members, Joint Monitoring Group of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) Agreement between the Government of Manipur and the Government of India Hmar People’s Convention-Democratic (HPC -D).
HPC-D leader L Sanga Hmar had also said last year that the urgent need to realise ‘our constitutional rights to redress our dignity’ as peoples has been the driving force behind the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) objective to demand for ‘Autonomous District Council’ for the Hmar peoples in Assam, Manipur and Mizoram under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
In the pursuit of securing this end, the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) – Assam Region, has also initiated a political dialogue involving the Government of India and the Government of Assam after laying down arms by 56 cadres of HPC (D) which was hosted by the Government of Assam in the presence of the then Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram at Guwahati on January 24, 2012. The first round of talks of the HPC (D) delegates – Government of Assam – the Central Government was held on September 27, 2012, Sanga Hmar had disclosed.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/hpcd-signs-soo/

Swu, Muivah unhappy with cadres

DIMAPUR, Jan 31 NNN: NSCN-IM leaders Isak Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah today expressed sadness over the way the outfit’s cadres are behaving.
“God will never be happy with NSCN if its members keep on doing their own pleasure of works without doing the will of God,” said NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah while the outfit’s chairman Isak Chsi Swu said, “If we do not do the will of God, we will be doomed, and the NSCN will be responsible for it. Because this is the era of NSCN. NSCN’s name sells both at home and abroad. We cannot afford to fail this time. We don’t have to blame heaven and earth if we fail. History says the Romans themselves brought about the downfall of the Roman Empire. NSCN will also be pulled down by the NSCN themselves. NSCN will fall when the spirit of ‘NSCN-ism’ runs out in its members; it will fall when it is not political; it will fall when the policy of its leadership is not people-based; it will fall when its approach to the world is not objective; it will fall when its members are rebellious; it will fall when there is moral degeneration in the set-up. Above all, it will fall when its members flee from the Lord”.
Swu and Muivah were delivering speeches at the ’34th NSCN Day’ celebration at Hebron, off Dimapur today.
NSCN was formed on this day in 1980 after spitting from Naga National Council (NNC).
During the course of his speech today, Thuingaleng Muivah became exortation while reminding the cadres that God will never be happy with NSCN-IM if its members keep on doing their own pleasure of works without doing the will of God.
“He made a direct reference to the present situation where it demands the members to take the right decision in order to save the Naga nation,” said the press comunique issued by the NSCN-IM this evening.
“The world has not stopped, it keeps changing. But when the people fail to understand the process of change they will be lost because they fail to take the right decision. NSCN should not fail,” Muivah pointedly asked the members to realise where they stand. The NSCN-IM general secretary then fervently appeals to all the members to take the right decision before God–to forgive their waywardness and mistakes and take steps to save the ‘Naga nation’. “We have to change by taking the right decision to ask God for forgiveness, and there is no other way to save the nation”, Muivah stated.
Meanwhile, NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chisi Swu recalled the sequences that led to the formation of the NSCN.
He said after the failure of NNC, the NSCN was formed in the national workers’ meeting at Nokpa, where the historic decision to uphold the national principle of divine right to self determination was taken. It was finally, approved by the ‘national assembly’ held at Tonu on this day, the 31st January 1980.
According to Swu, the NSCN put up an undaunted resistance against the aggression of the colossal forces of the enemies who adopted ruthless means to crush the Nagas. “Guided by their avowed neo-colonial policy, they used one Naga to fight another Naga. Instigated one group to fight another group and incited communalism between the Nagas and others with a view to keeping the Nagas divided and suppressed perpetually. But that could not dampen the spirit of the Nagas. In fact, the Naga people under the banner of NSCN stood the ground in the face of those horrible situations,” Isal Swu stated.
But sadly, some of us have run away and joined forces with the enemies to fight against their own people. The preacher says, ‘They killed God, the Son in the name of God.” Likewise, those traitors killed their people in the name of people and pulled back the wheels of history in the name of revolution.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/swu-muivah-unhappy-with-cadres/

Gangmumei joins BJP

Gangmumei Kamei founder President Federal Party and former Cabinet Minister joined BJP today. He was welcomed by party President Th Chaoba and appointed him as State Executive member.

Gangmumei Kamei who joined BJP With BJP Chief Th Chaoba at BJP office

Gangmumei Kamei founder President Federal Party and former Cabinet Minister joined BJP today. He was welcomed by party President Th Chaoba and appointed him as State Executive member.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/gangmumei-joins-bjp/

Canoe sprint champ begins in Manipur – Times of India

Canoe sprint champ begins in ManipurTimes of IndiaThough canoeing and kayaking is a fairly new sport in Manipur, the All Manipur Canoeing and Kayaking Association, formed in 1995, has been able to produce about 33 international paddlers besides five na…

Canoe sprint champ begins in Manipur
Times of India
Though canoeing and kayaking is a fairly new sport in Manipur, the All Manipur Canoeing and Kayaking Association, formed in 1995, has been able to produce about 33 international paddlers besides five national coaches during the short period, the …

and more »

MHCBA (Manipur High Court Bar Association) – E-Pao.net

MHCBA (Manipur High Court Bar Association)E-Pao.netMHCBA (Manipur High Court Bar Association) Source: The Sangai Express. Imphal, January 31 2013: A total of 159 practising Advocates have floated the Manipur High Court Bar Association with six office b…

MHCBA (Manipur High Court Bar Association)
E-Pao.net
MHCBA (Manipur High Court Bar Association) Source: The Sangai Express. Imphal, January 31 2013: A total of 159 practising Advocates have floated the Manipur High Court Bar Association with six office bearers and two executive members.

Manipur High Court Bar Association formed – E-Pao.net

Manipur High Court Bar Association formedE-Pao.netManipur High Court Bar Association formed. Source: Hueiyen News Service. Imphal, January 31 2013: With the main objective of ensuring smooth functioning of Manipur High Court and Subordinate Courts, Man…

Manipur High Court Bar Association formed
E-Pao.net
Manipur High Court Bar Association formed. Source: Hueiyen News Service. Imphal, January 31 2013: With the main objective of ensuring smooth functioning of Manipur High Court and Subordinate Courts, Manipur High Court Bar Association has been …

and more »

Manipur in 5th position in tobacco usage in India – E-Pao.net

E-Pao.netManipur in 5th position in tobacco usage in IndiaE-Pao.netManipur in 5th position in tobacco usage in India Source: Hueiyen News Service. Imphal, January 31 2013: Global Adult Tobacco Survey Gates Manipur Factsheet 2009-10 was released today b…

E-Pao.net

Manipur in 5th position in tobacco usage in India
E-Pao.net
Manipur in 5th position in tobacco usage in India Source: Hueiyen News Service. Imphal, January 31 2013: Global Adult Tobacco Survey Gates Manipur Factsheet 2009-10 was released today by Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Minister Francis …
Manipur to ban smokeless tobacco productsAssam Tribune

all 4 news articles »

Rhythms of Manipur – E-Pao.net

E-Pao.netRhythms of ManipurE-Pao.netImphal, January 31 2013: A team of 12 artistes of Rhythms of Manipur would leave the State tomorrow for a week-long tour to Hongkong and Singapore under the sponsorship of Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The a…

E-Pao.net

Rhythms of Manipur
E-Pao.net
Imphal, January 31 2013: A team of 12 artistes of Rhythms of Manipur would leave the State tomorrow for a week-long tour to Hongkong and Singapore under the sponsorship of Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The artistes would perform Manipuri …

Elderly woman killed in accident

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IMPHAL, Jan 31: A 70 year old woman was killed in a road accident this morning at around 10:15 am at Wabagai Tera Pisak under Kakching police station, after she was hit by a Honda Activa. The victim has been … Continue reading →

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IMPHAL, Jan 31: A 70 year old woman was killed in a road accident this morning at around 10:15 am at Wabagai Tera Pisak under Kakching police station, after she was hit by a Honda Activa.

The victim has been identified as Huidrom Yaimabi of Tera Pisak. She succumbed to her injuries on the way to RIMS. She was hit by a Honda active while she was waiting for a bus, said a source. The dead body has been deposited at JNIMS morgue and the post mortem of her body will be conducted tomorrow.

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BJP welcomes Gangmumei Kamei

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IMPHAL, Jan 31: In a press release, the Bharitya Janata Party, Manipur Pradesh, said that Prof. Gangumei Kamei has joined BJP, Manipur Pradesh. He was felicitated at a function held at BJP party office located at Nityaipak Chuthek according to … Continue reading →

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Dead person identified

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IMPHAL, January 31: The identity of a person whose skeleton remains was found yesterday afternoon at a gorge in Chullouphai village under Saikul police station has been ascertained by the police today. The deceased has been identified as Akoijam Kunjamohon … Continue reading →

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The deceased has been identified as Akoijam Kunjamohon (58) son of (L) Nilamani of Kongpal Mutum Leikai.

According to a source, he went missing since he left home on October 6 last at around 7 am and is also said to be mentally unsound.

His family members had lodged a missing report with the Porompat police station on October 13 last. His body remains were handed over to his family members today after a post mortem was conducted at RIMS.

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MU Ph.D. admission test

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IMPHAL, Jan 31: The Department of Physics, Manipur University has informed in a notification to all the candidates that the admission test for Ph.D. Programme in Physics will be held on Monday, the February 11 at 9 am . Candidates … Continue reading →

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Diaspora applauds Maj General

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IMPHAL, Jan 31: Manipuri Diaspora Association, Delhi expresses its profound joy and happiness on the conferment of Ati Vishist Seva Medal by the President of India to Major General Konsam Himalaya Singh, YSM, in recognition of his distinguished service in … Continue reading →

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Sh.Himalay is an active member of the Manipuri Diaspora who always inspire the other members, said a press release of the association.

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Youth convention encourages youth against drugs

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IMPHAL, Jan 31: The District Youth Convention 2012-13 was held today at B Vengnom Community Hall, Tuiboung Block, Churachandpur attended by Demmang Haokip, Vice Chairman, ADC/Churachandpur as chief guest; David Piaklian, MPS, SDPO, Churachandpur as guest of honour in place of L Mangkhogin Haokip, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Churachandpur; Paokholal Haokip (Ex. NSV), Member, ADC/Churachandpur as special guest and Jakie Ruivah, Zonal Director, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Manipur Zone as functional president, said a DIPR release.

Demmang Haokip speaking as chief guest of the programme encouraged the youth to refrain from Drugs use and distributed Outstanding Youth Club Award -2012, said the release.

The programme ended with vote of thanks from D Khuala Vaiphei, Project Manager NRHM (Member DACYP).

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Families of `fake encounter` victims hope for justice

The post Families of `fake encounter` victims hope for justice appeared first on KanglaOnline.com.

By Yambem Laba
On 4 January the Supreme Court ordered the setting up of a commission to be headed by Justice (retd) Santosh Hedge of the Supreme Court and compromising JM Lyngdoh, the no-nonsense former Chief Election Commissioner, and AK Singh, former Karnataka police chief, as members, to investigate the circumstances under which six persons, including 12-year-old student Azad Khan, were summarily executed by state forces, notably the infamous and dreaded Manipur police commandos and personnel of the Assam Rifles, which operate alone and sometimes in tandem as a joint force in the name of counter-insurgency.

The six, however, comprise just the tip of the iceberg, for named in a writ petition, praying for a special investigation team to probe into the killings in fake encounters, are not only one or two, as in the Gujarat case, but a total of 1,528 who were allegedly slain extra-judiciously from May 1979 to May 2012.

Work towards this historic move began about two years ago when various human rights and civil liberty activists got together and formed the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the UN. The members gathered information and documents relating to the killings in an extra-judicial manner by the police, the Army and para-military forces, including the Assam Rifles, the CRPF and the BSF. Most of the victims were in their 20s and 30s.

The report was ready by mid-March. Two busloads of victims’ families, armed with photographs of their slain sons or brothers, went to Guwahati to meet Christof Heyns, the UN’s special rapporteur on extra-judicial summary or arbitary executions. Also present at that historic meeting on 29 March 2012 were Justice WA Shishak, former chairperson of the Manipur Human Rights Commission, C Upendra, retired district and sessions judge of Manipur (he had headed many an inquiry commission to probe such deaths), Laifungbam Debabrata “Bobby” Roy, convenor of the coalition, Babloo Loitongbam of the Human Rights Alert and one of the petitioners in the present case before the Supreme Court, Meihoubam Rakesh of the Human Rights Law Network and myself in my capacity as a former member of the State Human Rights Commission.

Heyns got a first-hand impression of the trauma the surviving relatives of the victims had to go through, hoping against hope for justice which never seemed to come. A memorandum, giving details of the 1,528 persons, was presented to him. Within two days of receiving it, he said in New Delhi that “the impunity for extra-judicial executions is the central problem. This gives perpetrators a free rein and leaves victims in a situation where they are either left helpless or have to retaliate. And it is this impunity which the Supreme Court now aims to remove to some extent, if not to eradicate fully”.

On 1 October 2012, a division bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justice Aftab Alam and Justice Ranjana Desai, admitted a writ petition filed by the Extra-judicial Execution Victims’ Families’ Association, Manipur and the Human Rights Alert, Manipur, praying for a special investigation team to probe the deaths in fake encounters. The court also appointed Menaka Gurusamy the amicus curiae of the case.

According to Neena Ningombam, secretary of the EEVFAM, her journey began on 4 November 2008 when after lunch her husband Michael left home to assist a friend with some chores. Then she got a call from him informing her that he had been apprehended by police commandos and that she should initiate steps to secure his release. When she called back there was no answer, The 9 pm news bulletin of the local cable TV network showed the slain body of her husband with a grenade in hand and the verdict was that he was killed in an encounter. When she did not get any response to her petitions to the chief minister and the director-general of police, she approached Gauhati High Court and the subsequent probe revealed that Michael was shot dead by police commandos, and not in an exchange of fire in an encounter.

Shunned by the public as young widows and denied all facilities by the state for being families of supposed “terrorists”, the EEVFAM first started as a support group, meeting every second Saturday to keep each other informed about developments in their cases. It had also included the father of 12-year-old Azad Khan. “Azad was a Class VII student when personnel of the 23 Assam Rifles and state police commandos swooped down on his village at Phabakchao Mayai Leikai, dragged him for some 30 metres and shot him dead, branding him an insurgent.” How can a 12-year-old be a terrorist, thundered the Supreme Court, and asked the state government if its contention that “they are killing us so that we are killing them means that we are in a state of war. Do it quickly, the people are dying there” were the directives to the state government which had failed to submit its counter-affidavit in time.

Welcoming the Supreme Court’s move in establishing the high-powered commission, Amnesty International has urged the Manipur government to cooperate in the probe.

(The writer is The Statesman’s Imphal-based Special Correspondent. Source: The Statesman)

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