Manipur News

Mail News Service
New Delhi, June 23 : The Central Bureau Of Investigation has arrested an Assistant Drug Controller, Air Cargo Complex, Sahar International Airport, Mumbai and an employ of Custom House Agent for demanding & accepting a bribe of Rs.50,000/-from a complainant (An Importer).
A case was registered against an Assistant Drug Controller, Sahar Air Cargo Complex , Sahar
\International Airport , Mumbai under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.
CBI laid a trap and the accused was caught red-handed at Sahar Air Cargo complex, Mumbai while demanding and accepting a bribe amount of Rs 50,000/- from an Importer for issuing No Objection
Certificate on a consignment of life saving drug imported from Sweden.CBI has also arrested the official of Custom House Agent who was collecting bribe on behalf of Assistant Drug Controller.
During searches conducted at the residential premises of Assistant Drug Controller at Mumbai and New Delhi, a cash of around Rs 20 lakhs was recovered. Besides, cash deposit in his bank accounts to Rs 30.50 lakhs(approx) was also found.A cash of Rs 6,64,500/-(approx) was also recovered at the residence of other accused.
Both the arrested accused were produced in the court of Special Judge for CBI cases, Mumbai and were remanded police custody upto 25.06.2012

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cbi-arrests-drug-controller/

Mail News Service
Chennai, June 23 : Large numbers of students today staged a protest at Merina beach , Chennai in loving memory of Okram Laaba on 22 June 2011 who was killed at his hostel room.
According to Santosh, Organising committee the students from north east are repeatedly harassed and students were also killed. In spite of repeated requests to Tamil Nadu government no action has yet been taken up on the matter.
Okram Laaba of Yaiskul Yumnam Leikai was found dead in his hostel room no- 111, Padur, Kellambakam, Tamil Nadu in a suspicious manner covering his face with plastic carry bag on his face . He was studying BCA in the Hindustan College of Arts and Science, Rajiv Gandhi Salai (MOR) Padur Kellambakham, Chennai- 600 020 .
Okram Indramani father of Okram Laaba post mortem report reveals cause of death as suffocation and viscera negative of drug and poisoning.
He denied the theory of suicide due to some reasons which included among other things the deceased left for Imphal for joining his hostel for the then forth coming second year BCA course at HCAS on 12/6/2011 and he had about Rs. 25000 on his person in cash however by the time of death only Rs 20 was found. The right arm of the body was found completely dislocated at the shoulder joint at the time of preparing the body for performing the last rites.
He received the post mortem report only in the month of December last year and the report revealed that the deceased would appear to have died of suffocation and viscera negative for drug or other poison and it may be reasonably assumed that this nature of injury could definitely not have been self inflicted.
The deceased as well as his room mate one Mr. Ayappam did not stay in their A/C fitted rooms on the previous night of his demise i.e. on 22.6.2011. Okram Indramani also informed that his roommate Mr. Ayappan and hostel warden K. Balasubramaniam are the two suspects in connection with the death of his son and he appealed all including the students organization to extend co-operation in connection with the death of the student.
Students bodies from Manipur, family members had repeatedly requested Tamil Nadu government to take up appropriate action. The students who protested today shouted slogans demanding arrest of those involved in the incident.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/o-laaba-fondly-remembered-during-first-death-anniversary/

Mail News Service
Imphal, June 23 : The Sainik School Imphal Alumni Association (SSIAA) expressed deep anguish and concerns over the leaking of news in connection with a court of inquiry ordered against Brig L I Singh by some Army officials, which is unethical and with malafide intentions. Former students of the School hailing from Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh felt that leaking of such sensitive information by some army officials to the media is amount to character assassination of Brig LI Singh before he has been given an opportunity to explain his position.
Brig LI Singh is the first Army Officer among the alumni of the School to reach the rank of Brigadier.
Based on his clean track record, he was appointed recently as the Deputy Director General, Discipline and Vigilance (DDG, DV) at the Army Headquarters in New Delhi after his tenure as the Cdr of the Watershed Brigade in Sikkim. Brig LI Singh’s old school mates expressed surprise how an officer who was chosen for his clean track record in May this year, has been charged of corruption in June. The news report said that only officers with unimpeachable integrity and spoken reputation are posted to the DV directorate, which is responsible for keeping a hawk eye on army’s internal health and integrity.
“How can an officer become suddenly corrupt in one month? If there were charges against the Brig, why was he picked up for a branch which requires officers of high integrity?
Is there any hidden agenda in leaking such news?” asked an ex-student of SSI. Brig LI Singh joined the Indian Army after clearing the NDA examinations. The Alumni Association feels that the actions initiated against Brig LI Singh is a clear example of victimization of the clash of TOP BRASS of the Indian Army, which is unbecoming of the country’s most respected institutions.
Brig LI Singh had excelled in Staff College and Higher Command Course. For excellent, commendable performance and exemplary leadership while commanding his battalion in Drass, Brig LI Singh was awarded Yudh Sewa Medal after Operation Parakram. The present action initiated against such an officer with impeccable record and integrity and who has served the nation smacks of a serious rethinking.
The entire fraternity of the ex students of Sainik School Imphal strongly felt that the charges levelled against him and branding him as guilty by the media before an official inquiry seems to be an already pre-determined move of the India Army to implicate him somehow, irrespective of the outcome of the said inquiry.
The Indian Army TOP BRASSES has belittled its image with this act of witch hunting to settle scores and find a sacrificial lamb to prove otherwise. Brig LI Singh must be, on the other hand, rewarded and honoured, which a true soldier deserves.
The Indian Army must not forget that Brig LI Singh continues to be source of inspiration and he motivates thousands of youths in the region to join the uniformed services to participate in building a stronger nation.
The Alumni Assn strongly felt that better sense should prevail and close this case once and for all said a press hand out issued by President of the association, N Ibungochoubi.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ssiaa-concerned-over-victimisation-of-brig-li-singh/

New Delhi , June 24 (ANI): Over four hundred Air India pilots on Sunday began an indefinite hunger strike to highlight their demands, as their agitation entered the forty -eighth day.
The striking pilots said the management had refused to have a dialogue with them, and therefore, felt that a hunger strike was one of the ways of seeking attention.
“We are asking them to talk to us but only dictatorship is happening. They can take away my career and my life but not my voice. This is my voice and I will speak up that injustice is being done to us,” Hari Shankar, a protesting pilot, said. Further, he appealed to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to end the impasse.
“Through the media we want to appeal the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi that they would pay heed to our appeals and we have full faith in them. Our management and the minister in charge (Ajit Singh) have not cleared their stand,” he added.
Pilots said they want to go back to work and start discussions with the unions to restore normalcy. However, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh earlier slammed the pilots and called their strike ‘illegal and unlawful’, for violating the High Court’s order, which had directed them to return to work.
About 500 Air India pilots who fly international routes have been demanding their colleagues from former state-owned partner Indian Airlines should not be trained to fly Dreamliners, as it may mar the career prospects of original Air India flight crew.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/air-india-pilots-begin-indefinite-hunger-strike-in-new-delhi/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, June 24 : The Central Bureau Of Investigation has arrested a Staff Officer(A Colonel rank officer) & another employee, both of National Defence Academy, Pune and four private persons in an alleged bribery case for appointment of subordinate staff in NDA.
A case was registered against Staff Officer to the Commandant, National Defence Academy, Pune; two private persons and other unknown accused persons U/s 120-B, 420, 468 & 471 of IPC and Section 13(2) r/w Sec. 13(1)(d) of P.C. Act, 1988 in the matter of appointment of subordinate staff, such as, Mali, Cook, LDC, Cadet Orderly, Lab Attendant, Library Attendant, etc in NDA in the month of May & June, 2012.
It has been alleged that the Staff Officer in conspiracy with some private persons & some employees of NDA had indulged into corrupt practices and obtained illegal gratification of Rs.Three lakh to Rs.Four lakh from each prospective candidate to give them appointment . The accused persons had allegedly taken signature of such candidates on blank answer sheets and subsequently filled them with correct answers by fraudulent means. Thus, the actual deserving candidates were cheated.
After registration of the case, searches were conducted at 14 places in Pune and one place each in Mumbai; Gurgaon & Sonepat (Haryana). A cash of Rs.Four lakh from the Staff Officer & a cash of Rs.82 lakh (approx) from his associates’ place; a cash of Rs.18 lakh (approx) from the employee of NDA; a cash of Rs. 50 lakh (approx) from one private person (owner of juice/fast food restaurant near NDA) & Rs.16 lakh(approx) from his brothers & a cash of Rs.3.20 lakh from his employ(a private person) and a cash of Rs.Three lakh from another private person have been recovered. Thus, total cash amounting to Rs.1.76 Crore(approx) have been seized from the residence of said accused persons besides many incriminating documents. List of certain candidates, who had allegedly paid bribe for appointment and copies of interview letters to some candidates, have also been recovered from the residence of accused. The arrested accused persons are being produced today before the Special Judge for CBI Cases, Pune .

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cbi-arrests-staff-officer-of-national-defence-academy/