Manipur News

Mail News Service
Imphal, June 25 : The Red Shield Division has strongly condemned the statement by the UNC published in leading newspapers on 25 June alleging that the operation conducted in area Shonglung was a fake encounter. PIB(DW) today said, “security forces of the Red Shield Division had been working on reliable intelligence reports from various quarters about the presence of 15-20 heavily armed NSCN (K) terrorists in the area of Kangchup Reserve Forest, Haochang and Nonei. These terrorists belong to the Mobile Group No 8 of NSCN (K) and have been supplied with sophisticated arms and ammunition from Myanmar. The group was operating in the areas astride the NH-37 and had chalked out a detailed plan to strike at Security Forces and government officials in the area of Tamei.
Based on these inputs, the Nonei Battalion of the Red Shield Division had busted a camp of the group in the area of Leimatek River and recovered large quantities of arms and ammunition on 18 June 2013. This was followed by a well planned and coordinated operation in the area of Shonglung. During the intense cordon and combing cum search operation in the dense jungles, a heavily armed UG group opened fire on the troops deployed in the cordon. After fierce exchange of fire for more than two hours and operation throughout the night, six dreaded terrorists of NSCN (K) were killed. Subsequently on 24 Jun 13, the battalion also located and dismantled another temporary hideout of this group in the area of Old Nonei and recovered a large quantity of ammunition, war like stores and rations. The remaining members of the Mobile NSCN (K) Group are still at large and intensive operations are in progress to neutralise these terrorists.
The allegation that the terrorists had been invited for a cup of tea with the Commanding Officer of Nonei Battalion is ridiculous and defies logic. The Security Forces are operating against the terrorist groups and do not indulge in fraternising with such elements. Moreover, the operation at Shonglung was launched on 21 Jun 13 and neither Col Ajay Sharma nor Major Gagan were present in Nonei on 22 Jun 13 as alleged by the UNC. Shonglung is approximately 10 hours of travelling time from Nonei. Therefore, the cadres could not possibly have travelled from Nonei to Shonglung on the same day after having tea with the Commanding Officer as alleged.
There are numerous other gaps and inconsistencies in the statement issued by UN which do not merit any comment. Such hysterical outcry by organizations who enjoy the patronage of terrorist groups is a common practice and the Security Forces will not be diverted by such ridiculous propaganda from their main focus of acting decisively against all elements inimical to the cause of peace in Manipur.”

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/red-shield-division-clarifies-on-nscn-k-killings/

IMPHAL, June 25 MNS NNN: Terming the recent killing of six NSCN-K cadres by personnel of 10 Assam Rifles in an alleged fake encounter as ‘unfortunate,’ MLAs in Manipur assembly on Tuesday called for appropriate action against the security personnel involved in the incident.
Heingang constituency MLA N Biren and Chandel constituency MLA Nunghlung Victor raising the issue in the Zero Hour in the House, said the killing of six NSCN-K cadres by troops of 10 AR on June 22 as reported by the media was unfortunate and asked for suitable action against the Assam Rifles personnel.
Saying that the Government cannot take this incident lightly, they urged that proper investigation into the incident must be carried out by the concerned authorities as the NSCN-K is a militant group now in peace talks with the Centre.
N.Biren further said that reports were received recently that a Kuki National Front (KNF) militant who was undertaking treatment in the Kuki Christian Hospital at Dewlaland here after suffering bullet injuries had been taken away by an MLA from the private hospital.
This incident has created a wrong impression in the eyes of the public on being politicians so the Home Department should find out this MLA and take action against him, Biren urged while drawing the attention of the Chief Minister in this regard.
Meanwhile a total amount of Rs 120,87,41,000 for different Government Departments for the year 2013-14 was passed in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Manipur Assembly on Tuesday.
Rs. 61,32,63,000 for Panchayat, Rs.33,96,18,000 for Horticulture and Soil Conservation and Rs. 25,58,60,000 for Economics and Statistics were cleared by the House.
MLAs DR I Ibohalbi and Th Shyamkumar moved a policy cut motion on the Panchayat and mentioned about the alleged failure in the devolution of power to the Panchayats and the failure to demarcate overlapping of areas under Autonomous District Council and Panchayat.
MLAs P Brojen, Shyamkumar, Dikho Samuel Risom, Kh Joykishan and Ibohalbi raised a policy cut motion on the Horticulture and Soil Conservation.
Opposition leader Ibohalbi further raised a policy cut motion on the Economics and Statistics.
Panchayat/Economics and Statistics minister Fransis Ngajokpa and Horticulture and Soil Conservation minister Gaikhangam made clarifications on the above motions and assured that all the suggestions by the MLAs would be taken into consideration.
Later, the House passed the amount of the three Government Departments.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/members-express-concern-over-fake-encounter/

Mail News Service
Imphal, June 25 : All India National Level NSS Mega Summer Camp -2013 is going to hold at the premises of the Bangalore University during 29th June, 2013 to 10th July, 2013. At least 400 NSS Volunteers (200 girls and 200 boys) and 40 team and contingent leaders representing 28 states and 7 union territories of the country are participating in the camp. The same sponsored by the Ministry of YAS, Government of India will be of colourful event comprising of talks on various issues and social dimensions on which our youth can exercise their moral responsibility, youth conventions, life skills training, exchange of ideas and thoughts, visit to the various historical monuments and educational institutions in and around Bangalore. Besides there would be colourful cultural programmes to bring new insights into the minds of the youth blood to understand the multilingual, multicultural diversity and unity, in the country. In the said camp a team of 12 NSS volunteers under the NSS Cell Manipur University are going to take part. These selected NSS volunteers are from the University Departments and different colleges affiliated to the University. The team led by K.Kiranjit Singh, Programme Officer NSS Unit-I of Moirang College as Contingent leader has been flag off by Dr. Ch. Ibohal Singh, Programme Coordinator, NSS Cell, Manipur University from North AOC today.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/nss-summer-camp/

Imphal Jun 25 UNA : Students of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU, regional campus Tuesday locked down the main entrance of the university which is currently located at Imphal’s Adhimjati Ashram complex demanding immediate implementation of approved ordinances for regional Campus & regional director and a separate budget allocation of the institution.
The student union of the university has been pressing the authority of the Central tribal university to reserve 99% seat for tribal with immediate effect and termination of the incompetent Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. CD Singh immediately.
Speaking to media president of the IGNTU Students’ Union L Italakpe, said that they were compelled to take up the extreme step of locking down the main gate as the authority failed to give a written assurance to fulfill all their demands in days to come, asserting that they were well aware of admission process and many other official works were going on at present.
He said ordinances of both regional campus & regional director (RC & RD) have never been approved though the university authority has said it was being approved by the pertinent authority at the Centre.
He said that the basic infrastructures of the university remained in an abhorrent condition and staff for both teaching and non-teaching hardly meet the needs of the varsity.
He reminded the memorandum of understanding which was signed on October 24 2011 between Th Oliver OSD, RCM, VC Prof CD Singh and students representatives to implement their demands at the earliest.
The president further appeals to all the members of the Manipur Assembly both from hills and valley to discuss the issues of the only tribal university in the state during the ongoing assembly session and extend their supports in the interest of the students, especially for the tribal students.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/tribal-university-locked-down/

IMPHAL, June 25 MNS/Agencies: A court in Imphal today sentenced four men including two India Reserved Battalion (IRB) personnel to life imprisonment for gang-raping a woman chilli trader.
This has become the first ever case in the history of Manipur to give such a rigorous punishment to rapists in the state.
L Rojit, 28, IRB Haviladar Ch Ibomcha, 37, S Bijen, 34, and IRB riflemen Ksh Kenedy, 33, were sentenced to life in prison under section 376 (2) G of the IPC by the court of Session Judge, Imphal West, Salam Imocha Singh for kidnapping, robbing and gang-raping of a woman from Tamenglong district of Manipur last year.
The Court of District and Sessions Judge, Manipur West here found them guilty on June 12. The woman was gang-raped by the four on the intervening night of March 21 and 22 last year near Kakyai Primary School in Irom Meijrao.
Meanwhile, Women Action for Development (WAD) has congratulated the woman, her family and community in successfully completing her case against the four rapists. We appreciate your courage in fighting for your right and totally deserve it. You have become a rare example among all the survivors of different forms of violence against women who stand against all odds of such heinous crime.
“We also congratulates the Kabui Mothers Association, Rongmei Louphum, Meira paibi and others individuals and association for their tired less hard work standing for Jamthaliu, giving her support in terms of moral, physical and financial and guiding her in struggle for her rights and justice,” WAD said.
“We further appreciate the judiciary and the police department for their timely intervention and carrying out proper investigation for providing justice the woman and giving life time imprisonment as punishment to the accused for their deeds. We strongly believed that our police department will continue such intervention in the near future and all those pending cases will be thoroughly intervened for providing justice to the victims. We now believes that rule of law exist in our state,” it added.
The court further ordered to compensate the victim woman.
The judgment which delivered justice to a rape victim by completing the trial within a span of around eight months was lauded by the women activists who were present in the court room during the hearing by shouting various slogans inside the premises of the court appreciating the judge, public prosecutor and counsel of the rape victim.
Praising them, the women activists said that this landmark order of the court would be the milestone to check rape of women in the soil of Manipur.
Earlier, the court had already pronounced the four accused as under sections 328, 392 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 3(1) (11) (12) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities) Act after charging them of kidnapping, robbery, armed act and gang rape under section 376 (2) G of the Indian Penal Code.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/four-involved-in-gang-rape-given-life-sentence/