Tag: kanglaonline

IMPHAL, February 11: The schedule of the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh`™s two-day visit to the State has been officially confirmed. The tour will begin on February 13. In this connection, an advanced security team of the Union Home Minister is likely to arrive today, a highly placed source said.

As per the schedule of the Union Home Minister`™s visit, he will land at the Tulihal Airport at around 12.15 pm on a Special BSF aircraft. After landing at the Airport, he will take off for Moreh directly by a helicopter to inspect the border town.

The source added that he will be there at Moreh till 2.15 pm and will later meet Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh at the Chief Minister`™s official chamber after which he will attend a joint meeting with Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of all the districts in Manipur.

Another meeting with top officials such as the State`™s Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Home), DGP, GOC IG, CRPF, and DIG, BSF to discuss the law and order situation of the State will also be held.

After the meeting with top officials of security forces and bureaucrats of the State, the Home Minister will again hold a meeting with the Chief Minister which will conclude by 6 pm. Then, he will leave for Raj Bhawan to refresh for 20 minutes.

The source further said that he will meet various representatives of state political parties and selected public leaders which have been invited already from 6:30 pm to 7 pm at the Raj Bhawan.

During his visit, he might meet the State BJP unit leaders at the Raj Bhawan or at the Office of BJP Manipur Pradesh and will later have a traditional State dinner.

The source said that during this visit, the Union Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju may accompany him but it hasn`™t been confirmed officially. On February 14, the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will leaved Imphal for Delhi at around 9 am by a special BSF aircraft.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/advanced-security-team-ahead-of-union-home-ministers-state-visit-likely-to-arrive-today/

CHURACHANDPUR, February 11: A look at the Accredited Social Health Activists working in Churachandpur would reveal a lot is still left to be desired, proven by the fact that the number of deliveries with the aid of ASHAs in the maternity ward of the district hospital have dropped considerably, and many expectant mothers in the town are not aware of ASHAs who are there to help facilitate their deliveries by providing information and helping them avail the benefits of different government schemes.

Even though the staffs in the maternity ward maintain that it`™s not a season for deliveries, many would not agree with such assumptions as there are also some active ASHAs like Mrs Niang Tonsing who perform their job with perfection by looking after pregnant women till the time of delivery. She is even reported to go out of her way to `hunt out expectant mothers`™ and help them.

A resident of Khominthang, Mrs.Sangboi who is expecting a baby next month and Mrs Vungliamching, also expecting her first child the same month, told IFP that they were not aware about the government helping delivery through the ASHAs and that they had never been approached by such workers in their locality at Bethel Veng .

It may be recalled here that ASHAs are expected to find out pregnant women in their areas and take them to hospitals for check-ups, beginning from the first three months of pregnancy till the ninth month.

Pregnant women are entitled to get monetary compensation at the tune of Rs, 600 or more depending on the kind of delivery, and the government is to facilitate their transportation while also providing them nutritious food supplements and medicines at subsidised prices and avail free pregnancy related tests.

Other women who talked to IFP informed that they would very much want to avail the benefits of the schemes but were helpless as they were not even aware there were ASHAs in their area while also admitting that came to know about the scheme only after being asked by this IFP correspondent.

Talking to IFP, DFWO Churachandpur Dr VC Pau Tonsing said that there were more than 627 ASHAs in Churachandpur and admitted that the majority of them were not doing a good job, which was due to political interference. He also added that the main problem was also due to the absence of ASHAs from the area of operation, and proxy deployment of untrained ASHAs in some areas.

He also stressed on the problem of opening a bank account that was the norm for any expectant mother, because when it comes to people in the villages where there is no bank, they have to open an account at Churachandpur town for which they have to spend more than they are entitled to get.

He also informed that in Parbung, Singat and Thanlon areas, the ASHAs were doing their jobs well while expressing his reservations on some other areas.

A first-hand study on the performance of ASHAs at Khominthang and Hebron veng etc of Churachnadpur has revealed that they have been very negligent in discharging their duties. Some people informed that many ASHAs were unhappy about certain things like their working hours, salary etc but that didn`t compensate for the hardships that the people in general and the poor expectant mothers in particular have to endure on account of their dereliction of duty.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/negligence-by-ashas-a-big-concern-in-churachandpur/

IMPHAL, February 11: The Imphal Urban Co-operative Bank Employees Association will launch a strike from today for violating Supervisory Action Framework instructions to curtail expenses including administration and operating expenses by absorbing or regularising 17 contractual staffs which were appointed in June, 2013, stated the president of the Association, Loitongbam Indrakumar at a press meet at the Manipur Press club today.

He further stated that the association held an immediate general body meeting and submitted to the general manager an ultimatum on February 6 against the untimely service or regularization of the 17 contractual staffs that were regularised on February 5 under order no. IUCB/7(c)/ 2014-15 demanding to revoke or review their regularization within five days, a demand which remains unfulfilled.

The Association will submit another ultimatum again, giving the authorities a 10 days ultimatum to revoke the order. Even after the three-day bank strike and the 10 days ultimatum, if the authorities doesn`™t change its stance and revoke the order, the association then will hold an indefinite strike, he said.

He also added that the association will not tolerate such negligence of SAF instructions and will struggle against those who violate the instructions.

Loitongbam Indrakumar said seven out of the 17 contractual staffs are relatives of the Board of Directors, with one being the son of the general manager of Imphal Urban Co-operative Bank. The Board of Directors is going to retire in June and hence this sudden regularization orders in violation of SAF instructions, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/iucb-employees-launch-strike-to-protest-against-regularisation-of-contractual-staffs/

IMPHAL, February 11: At least four persons including two minors were injured when a bomb accidentally went off this morning at Yumnam Khunou Makha Leikai, Imphal East.

Yumnam Khunou is about 15 km from Imphal and falls under the jurisdiction of Sagolmang police station .

The injured have been identified as one Laishram Pilot Singh, 20, son of L Shyam Singh of Yumnam Khunou Makha Leikai and his wife Laishram ongbi Jina Devi, 18, belly.

The two minor boys are identified as Laishram Ishorchandra Singh, 14, son of Laishram Nanao and Tourem Suresh Singh, 15, son of T Binoi Singh, chest and hands.

Of all the injured, the condition of Jina and Ishorchandra are said to be serious. Jina sustained injury at her belly, thigh while Ishorchand sustained injury below his chest, abdomen and right thigh.

All the injured have been evacuated at the JNIMS hospital.

Reports said that the incident occurred 11.45 am when Pilot along with the two injured minors hammered a rusted metal ball not knowing it was a grenade.

The rusted object covered with dirt was reportedly dug up by Shyama Devi, Pilot`™s aunt, while digging up her backyard.

Curious to find what the rusted ball was Pilot today tried to break open it by hammering it which resulted in the explosion. The explosion taken place at Pilot`™s courtyard.

Soon a team of police commandos and Assam Rifles from the nearby post also rushed at the spot.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/four-including-two-minors-injured-in-accidental-bomb-blast/

IMPHAL, February 11: The High Court of Manipur has today directed the Assam Rifles authority to appear before the court on February 17 to explain the reason of detaining a Cabinet Minister of the State, even after a statement has been made by the Joint Secretary (Home) and DGP that there is free movement now with the restriction timings having been withdrawn, and also to explain the viable security measures that could be taken up without troubling passengers.

This was stated by Advocate Khaidem Mani during a press conference at his office today.

He further stated that the counsel of the respondents (Union Defence Secretary, Union Home Secretary, CO 9 AR, CO 24, AR, CO 26 AR), assistant solicitor general, Salam Rupchandra appealed the court to complete the proceedings of WP (PIL) 2/2015 stating that AR is not continuing its restrictions and there is a free movement of people and vehicles now.

The restriction imposed along the Imphal-Moreh highway was due to an order by former DGP, Yumnam Joykumar during his tenure that the movement of vehicles from Pallel to Moreh and vice-versa will be limited from 8 am to 12 am for heavy vehicles, and from 8 am to 2 pm for light vehicles, which means that no heavy vehicles would be allowed to proceed from Pallel towards Moreh and from Moreh to Pallel after 12 am, and no light vehicles would be allowed to proceed from Pallel to Moreh and from Moreh to Pallel after 2 pm, Khaidem Mani quoted the counsel of the respondents as arguing in the court.

However, presenting a copy of IFP which contained a report about the Cabinet minister and his entourage having been detained at Khudengthabi, before the division bench of Laxmikanta Mahapatra and Justice N Koteshwor, , he drew their attention pleading to not complete the hearing on the PIL before the AR authorities give valid reason for detaining the Cabinet minister even as a notification of withdrawal of the restriction has been made by State government authorities, Khaidem Mani told media persons.

Khaidem Mani stated that a restriction order was in place earlier but after the bandh imposed at Tengnoupal, the controversial order has been withdrawn. In this regard, a high ranking official must clarify on February 17, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/high-court-seeks-explanations-from-ar-officials-for-detaining-cabinet-minister/

IMPHAL, February 9: Naoriya Pakhanglakpa A/C MLA RK Anand has demanded a Rs 20 crores economic package from the government for the resettlement of displaced villagers of Ningomabam at Langthabal Maning Leikai.

RK Anand visited the places where the villagers who were displaced for expanding the Tulihal Airport have been resettled. He interacted with the displaced people at the resettlement sites to hear their grievances.

The villagers have demanded proper road connectivity, electricity, water supply, proper drainage etc. The MLA in his reply has assured them that all their grievances will be looked into very soon informing that the government has sanctioned the funds for blacktopping the Langthabal Maning Leikai Road that leads to the resettled villages and for installing a transformer. He also told them that other material for providing electricity will also be delivered soon.

He said that regular potable drinking water will also be provided from the soon to be inaugurated water supply scheme to the villages, and if needed, he added that he will urge the government to provide two more tube wells within a short period. For that matter, the MLA said, he has already submitted an application to the government for providing support to the displaced families who have sacrificed their lands.

He said as a sitting MLA of the constituency, he was obliged to get acquainted with public grievances and to provide additional support to the displaced people by interacting with them and hear their opinions. The State government have taken a stand to support the displaced people, he said, and he has also repeatedly urged the government to acknowledge their sacrifices.

After learning about the grievances of the people, he said, he has pressurised the Chief Minister to provide water supply pipes, to dig a local pond and set up a community hall within a short period which is a must for holding ritual ceremonies. A crematory for the village will also be constructed at a suitable area soon, he said.

The resettlement sites at Langthabal Maning Leikai Ching Makhong, Malom Tulihal Makha Leikai, Kondompokpi Meitram etc are going through an economic crisis, he informed.

The Naoriya Pakhanglakpa MLA stated that once the settlement is completed after the land demarcation and the allotment of pattas, of which 90 percent has been completed, the problem will be solved permanently.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/rk-anand-demands-economic-package-of-rs-20-crores-for-resettling-displaced-villagers/

IMPHAL, February 9: Human Rights Alert executive director Babloo Loitongbam has refused to apologise in connection to a notice of alleged breach of privilege and contempt of the Assembly regarding a comment he had made during a TV show.

Speaking to media persons after appearing before the Committee of Privilege and Ethics of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Babloo said he was summoned to attend the meeting of the committee regarding a privilege motion moved by parliamentary secretary Vungzagin Valte and AITC MLA Dr I Ibohalbi.

He said the motion was moved against him for his comment aired on July 22, 2014 in a private TV channel during which he had used the word `Mithibong Mitambal` while speaking on the Inner Line Permit System.

He said while clarifying his stance before the committee, he had told the committee that he had never said all 60 MLAs are mithibong mitambal, as alleged.

`I was only referring to a specific behaviour pattern of abdicating responsibility and beating up of innocent children who are come out on the streets because of their irresponsibility as Mithibong Mitambal.`

`Rightly or wrongly, the people seem to have sensed a divergence of priorities between themselves and their elected representatives on the core issue facing the State. As a citizen of the State, I too feel burdened by this sense of unwholesome divergence. I submit that my used of the term, Mithibong Mitambal should be understood in this light,` he had said before the committee.

Babloo also said that he stands by his words and is firm in his conviction that the members of the Manipur State Assembly have not lived up to the expectations of the peoples.

`The public protests are pointers towards the same.`

`I also wish to categorically state that, the issue of lowering the dignity of the House does not arise at all, as we respect the long historical tradition of Manipur Legislative Assembly and the dignity of all its Members and are only anxious that they are not only upheld but also continued in practice,` he had told the committee according to the statement.

The committee had asked him to apologies following which the allegations against him will be withdrawn, said Babloo.

He however steadfastly declined to do this.

Babloo Loitongbam also informed the media that the Privilege and Ethics committee will hold another meeting without him following which its report will be presented before the Assembly and appropriate action will be taken.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/babloo-refuses-to-apologise-before-privilege-committee-for-mithibong-mitambal-comment-on-tv/

By Alex Guite

LAMKA, February 9: Parliamentary secretary Vungzagin Valte today hosts a meeting at his residence with a team of BRTF/ BRO officials led by chief engineer (P) Sewak Dimapur JK Adhvaraya and OC/ 80-RCC Ravi and discussed the condition of the pathetic conditions of the Guite Road connecting Thanlon and Singhat.

The deputy commissioner, Churachandpur Lunminthang Haokip also attended the function.

The BRTF/ BRO official team informed the local MLA that there is a need for a joint team of the district administration and the BRTF/ BRO to conduct an inspection of the road.

The parliamentary secretary was informed that the joint team needs to determine the compensation amount under the Engineering Procurement Contract (EPC) for the people affected by any road widening process along the road stretch.

The officials had also informed that they cannot just take a decision without the factual details.

Valte had informed the official team that the people affected by the construction of the road and bridges along the route should be compensated.

The BRTF/ BRO chief engineer had also informed the MLA that if the fund was made available to them in time, they will soon take up the work.

He had also agreed to a proposal from the DC to go on the spot visit before February 14 and to start the inspection tour from Tuilaphai Village Bridge.

Meanwhile, sources have informed the IFP that the proposal for now is to have the road black topped.

In the meantime, the Mission Veng Youth Club (MYC) president Muanthang Guite and his secretary expressed immense gratitude to the sitting MLA of Thanlon A/c Vungzagin Valte, for his initiative and private involvement in providing a transformer to the locality at Hiangtam Lamka village.

The president said that they also lauded other supporters including the Hiangtam Lamka chief Thangkhosuanmung Guite who provided financial help.

They have also assured to strictly deal with anyone making illegal connection.

It is also interesting that almost all the transformers in Ccpur are procured by the villagers who will be using them through contribution of huge amount of money. This has today become a norm and a must to the people who meekly accept the contributions so as to get light.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/thanlon-mla-discusses-guite-road-development-with-brtf-bro/

IMPHAL, February 9: The Pangal Students`™ Organisation must know that 90 percent of the students in Moirangpurel Government High School are minorities, clarified Andro A/C MLA Thounaojam Shyamkumar.

Further clarifying against the allegation the Moirangpurel Government High School is wrongly constructed under the Imphal East District CD block-2 Multi Sectarian Development Programme (MSDP) at a press meet in his official quarter, he said 90 percent of the students studying in Moirangpurel Government High School are mostly from the minority communities such as Meitei Christians, Muslims, Tribals etc.

The school located in a backward village near the hillocks at a junction of the Phungyar A/C and Saikul A/C is about 37 Kms away from Imphal, he added.

The PSO has charged the school as having been constructed wrongly and thereby has revealed its narrow mindedness without even knowing the definition of Minority communities under section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, he said. Presuming Muslims are the only minority community, and demanding development only in Muslim areas without considering about other minorities is unfortunate, he added.

In Andro, there have been no case of discrimination on grounds of religion, community, caste etc till date. In Changantabi area, a primary school for minority students is now under construction under the MSDP. The constructions of rooms with standard furniture have been completed and now minority students are studying there. It is the opinion of people in Andro that one should not be look down only for being a minority, he added.

The PSO should make allegations after knowing the ground reality of the Moriangpurel Government High School which is in great demand by the people, Shyamkumar said.

As an MLA, Shyamkumar said, he has never tried to take away the rights of minorities in Andro A/C and has instead only delivered his service equally to all the people. He said he was elected as the representative of the Andro A/C and would never try to discriminate against any minorities, appealing the PSO to go through the guidelines for minorities to understand the reality.

On the other hand, he said, the issue of an order by the Ukhrul DC on February 5 that a mosque should be demolished for the construction of a District and Session Court in Ukhrul within a short period is unfortunate. The area where the mosque stands was allotted to the Muslims for performing their rituals since September 28, 1995 by the State government, he added.

Surprisingly, the Ukhrul DC Harisheekesh Modak has issued an order on February 5 that the area must be vacated for the construction of the Court within two day which suggest that the State government looks down on the Minority Muslims, he opined.

`The Ukhrul DC should know what type of a country India is?` he asked, instructing the DC to know that India is a secular country and the building or mosque was allotted to whom by what for which purpose.

He should not act randomly on his own and act against the law, he stressed.

The Chief Minister who is expected to lay the foundation stone on February 12 must cancel his visit in the interest of minority communities to stop creating communal tension in the State, he said, adding such act is against humanity and the rights of minorities.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/shyamkumar-urges-pso-to-know-the-ground-reality-of-moirangpurel-high-school/

IMPHAL, February 9: The ninth phase of the PMGSY, the proposal programmes of which includes the development of around six inter village roads in Naoriya Pakhanglakpa constituency is targeted to be completed before schedule, said the MLA of the constituency, RK Anand.

During a spot inspection today, he visited the sites of the road development at Ningombam village, Konjeng Leikai, Langpoklakpam Leikai etc

During his visit to Kongjeng Leikai, RK Anand asked the government officials and the Executive Engineer, PIU of the PWD to complete the construction of the 900 meter long road along with the culverts and slabs in the area.

He later visited the site of the Ngairangbam road construction and told the media that his visit today was to check the progress made in the area. He said that it has come to his notice that there was some complaint about a communication gap between the people and the contractor about the construction. He has visited the site to solve the problem by bringing about an understanding between the two, he said, adding that there was however no such problem when he visited the site.

Further stating that he would like to see the work completed within the official schedule, he said he wanted a clear-cut maintenance of the standard specification so that the people cooperate with the contractors.

Meanwhile, the engineering department has also given instructions to maintain the norms properly during the road development.

A layer of the road has been laid till today with the other layer yet to be laid, he said, adding that in his view, people are satisfied with the work completed so far and the department can`t go beyond a budget which should be acknowledged by the people.

Appealing some adjustment from the contractors to fulfil the demands of the public in the construction, he said people know that road development under PMGSY is taken up in various places of the state but he was urging the contractors to give first priority to Ningombam road.

On the other hand, Executive engineer Sanatomba of PUI, Public Works Department the Ningombam road is 2.5 km long and he has instructed the contractors to give first priority on constructing the culverts and slabs rather than on road development for the time being. The levelling of the road by maintaining slopes have been completed and the water bound macadam of two layers will be laid, he informed.

Now, the first layer has been completed and so has the work on some consolidation area, he said, adding the schedule of constructing a road is one year and the work started in September 2014 but as compared to other works, the road development of this particular road has progressed a lot. We are trying to complete the road development before the schedule, he stressed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/road-development-under-pmgsy-in-naoriya-pakhanglakpa-to-be-completed-before-schedule-claims-rk-anand/

IMPHAL, February 9: Villagers of Kasom sub-division in Ukhrul today took out a protest rally against the February 5 blast in the sub division which killed a civilian while injuring another.

The 15-km long rally started from Nambashi Khullen and after passing through several villages concluded at the Khunthak ground. The rally which was organised by the Dardouy Phungren Shanao long (Leimashen Chingshang Women Union) and other civil organisations. The rally was attended mostly by women.

The bomb blast was followed by a fierce gun-fight between UG groups the next day at Nambashi during which one of the UGs died. The sudden worsening of the law and order situation has put a fear psychosis among the people, asserted a villager during the rally.

A social worker, Julia Shanglai who also participated in the rally expressed that the safety of the villagers must be top priority. She said the civil societies of the hills must link up with those from the valley and agitate against such violence.

The civil societies should also unite in demanding compensation and ex-gratia to the dead and the injured, she said before demanding the State government to strengthen the presence of State police in the area to protect the people and to improve the health care facilities in the area.

President of the Nambashi area women union Shimreila Keishing said the sub-division lies in the border area with Myanmar and is adorned by small villages.

The death of two persons in two days have shocked the people of the area, she said and further appealed to all concerned not to repeat such violence in the area.

She further sought clarification from those concerned at the earliest.

Stating that all her repeated attempts to contact the local MLA Victor Keishing have been futile without any response from the side of the MLA, she continued that there are several voices of unity between the hills and the valley people, however, whenever the hill people are in agony there is no one to take care of them.

Concerned with the incidents, she said the villagers had informed the nearby Assam Rifles post, however, they have also failed to act positively to the appeal.

Shimreila further lamented the State Chief Minister and the MLAs for failing to take stock of the situation and said the area has been neglected like there is no government.

Meanwhile, in an astounding development, while the protestors were gathering at the Khunthak ground after the rally, a man shouted that another bomb was found inside a pressure cooker from along road which the protestors had taken a few moments ago. The bomb was covered by the pressure cooker and was connected to a set of batteries by a wire.

Soon enough the police present in the vicinity barricaded the area and then contacted the State bomb squad, however, till the filling of this report there were no news of the bomb squad arriving.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/kasom-khullen-rally-lambasts-recent-upsurge-in-violence-in-subdivision/

AR Major demanded details of minister`™s convoy

IMPHAL, February 9: An official team of the Rural Develop and Panchayati Raj (RD&PR) Department led by Minister Francis Ngajokpa, was detained for several minutes by the 24 Assam Rifles Khudengthabi post along Indo Myanmar road this morning.

The incident comes in the wake of the alleged high handedness meted out to commuters by the 24 Assam Rifles Tengnoupal post which led to the imposition of indefinite bandh along the Imphal-Myanmar road.

The Ministerial team was on official tour to inspect roads constructed in Chandel district under PMGSY. He was accompanied by Tengnoupal MLA, DK Korungthang, Chief Engineer Manipur State Rural Roads Development Agency (MSRRDA), other officials of the RD&PR and media personnel.

The Minister`™s convoy reached the Khudengthabi post around 10.15 am only to find the gate closed.

The escort commander of the convoy approached AR personnel who were deployed at the area asking them to open the gate after explaining about the Minister`™s official visit.

In response the AR personnel asked the escort commander to approach their superior officer, a major name Rocky.

Despite having explained about the official tour, the Major responded that he doubted if the man they were escorting was a real Minister.

Frustrated over the detention, the Tengnoupal MLA, DK Korungthang stepped down from the vehicle and demanded why the Minister`™s convoy was not allowed to pass.

In response the Major demanded details of the tour and numbers of security personnel and officials.

Later, the convoy was allowed to pass after detention for about 10 minutes.

Soon after crossing the gate the Minister called up the deputy Chief Minister who also holds the home portfolio, and inform him about the unfortunate incident.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/minister-on-official-tour-detained-by-24-assam-rifles-at-khudengthabi/

IMPHAL, February 9: Two premier Catholic run schools of the State namely St Joseph and Little Flower School, closed down today following threat notes left by miscreant.

Speaking to IFP, a father of St Joseph school informed that they found a white paper written in red ink sticking at the front gate of the school saying `school matam kaktana thingjille-Manipur Maoist` in the wee hour today.

A similar note was also reportedly found at the gate of the Little Flower School.

Following the incident the school authorities decided to close down the school to avoid panick amongst students, said the father adding that they will resume normal classes tomorrow.

The school session commenced from February 5.

He further asserted that the schools did not complain about the incident to the police.

When enquired whether there was any threat from militant groups, the father responded that there has been no threat of any sort from any militant groups in recent times.

Claiming that he had never heard of any group called Manipur Maoist, the father assumed that it might be carried out by individuals out of frustration when they were unable to have their wards admitted into the schools.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/catholic-schools-close-down-after-coming-under-threat/

IMPHAL, February 4: The All Manipur United Club Organisation has extended its support to the Tengnoupal villagers, even as the 12 hour long bandh called by the United Committee Manipur in support of the Imphal-Moreh highway bandh affected normal life in the State today.

The AMUCO has urged the State government to bring a solution without delay, failing which it has warned to intensify the agitation against the government with the help of civil bodies and the people. Speaking to the media at a press briefing at its office today, AMUCO president Dr Mani Khuman said the civil body has remained silent till date because it was awaiting positive actions from the state government but no possible steps has been taken up. The civil body has decided to support the bandh in future also, he added.

The inhumane harassment in the name of security checking without exceptions to aged people, pregnant women, sick people by 24 AR to passengers has continued for many years back, he said, adding the government has never realized that it`™s only going to lose from these incessant troubles along the Imphal-Moreh road in the long run.

Stressing that the inhumane torture given by the Assam Rifles to the normal people in the name of security checks must stop at the earliest, he said various kinds of highly sophisticated machines can be utilised for detecting any suspicious objects without manually checking the passengers of each passing vehicle in the present era.

However, he said, the AR is unfortunately avoiding the use of these instruments and harassing the people by compelling them to unload and load the heavy goods on every occasion.

He also demanded the removal of the 24 AR and warned to launch strong agitations if the government didn`™t remove them.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/amuco-shows-support-to-tengnoupal-villagers/

IMPHAL, February 4: The BJP Manipur Pradesh would never subscribed to the term `immigrants` used in the party`™s Vision Document for the Delhi Assembly Election, said the party`™s State spokesperson in a press release.

The BJP Headquarter has sincerely clarified that it has no bad intention towards the people of North East and that the people of the region are as good as the people of Delhi, he said.

`The word `immigrants`™ was mistakenly used and is being removed,` he said adding that this was made public through the national spokesperson MJ Akbar.

Minister of State of Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju has also clarified that the word was wrongly typed and that he regretted the error which had sparked off a national controversy and hurt the sentiments of the people of the region, he said in the statement.

Stating that the BJP Manipur Pradesh president had a telephonic communique with the central leadership of the party on the issue this morning, he said the Centre had also reassured the love and care of the people of the region.

The BJP Manipur strongly stands to uphold the spirit of Manipur and it would continue to serve the purpose in the coming days too, he said.

The word has been removed and the people are appealed to be on guard from other political trouble mongers and mud slingers, he said calling the use of the word in the vision document a `human error.`™

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/state-bjp-clarifies-use-of-immigrants-was-an-error/

IMPHAL, February 4: State chief secretary PC Lawmkunga has received a written appeal to recheck the implementation of 99 new schemes of the Minor Irrigation department.

According to sources, the chief secretary officially received the appeal from a social worker identified as SK Joseph Lamkang of Chandel District headquarters yesterday.

The written appeal which is with the IFP said the Central government has released a major portion of the fund under its AIBP scheme for the implementation of 99 new schemes during the current financial year 2014-15. The total amount sanctioned is said to be Rs 21.0755 crore.

Sources said the funds are specially meant to implement schemes to improve the water scarcity problem faced by farmers in the hills.

It is also learnt that in response to the Government of India`™s fund sanction, the Minor Irrigation department of the Manipur government had also issued an order No 20/11/2010 MID (Pt) notifying the sanction of the Rs 21.0755 crore.

The appeal further said that in implementing the schemes several discrepancies like inconsistent assembly constituency wise fund distribution, overlapping of schemes/ projects by occasional slight name change from the same work to which fund has already been invested and investment in non-existent works are found.

At the same time, the appeal has implored the chief secretary to recheck the Sl No 142, 143 and 146 of Ukhrul district, Sl no 159 of Senapati district and Sl no 48 and 49 of Chandel district in the General Abstract List of 165 schemes.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/chief-secretary-urged-to-look-into-schemes-implementation-under-minor-irrigation/