Month: December 2012

Two hunters were found killed by unidentified persons in Ukhrul district bordering Myanmar today.
Reports said four persons had gone for a hunting trip at Kongkan village but the bodies of one K. Kumo (48) and one Ramshang (40), both from Kongkan village were found shod dead by unidentified people. The other two are still missing.
Reports said the four were returning from a hunting trip when unknown persons fired at them killing two on the spots.
The dead bodies were found between Kamjong and Kongkan village at around 3 pm.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/two-killed/

UNA: Tension was brewing up in Manipur’s Thoubal district Friday following alleged raped of an 18-year old housewife by a 44-year old man last night. Police source said that the 18-year old housewife was raped by one Soibam Somorjit (44) son of late Nimai of Wangjing Hodamba Leikai, same locality with the victim housewife late yesterday evening, around 8.30 pm. Somojit allegedly raped the housewife in her own house taking advantage of absent of other members of the house.
When the news spread across the locality, a large number of people stormed at the house of the alleged rapist and attempted to ransack the house. However, timely intervention of the police had prevented the mob from indulging in violent activities. With tension running high in the area, authority has detailed armed police personnel to protect the house, the report added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/housewife-raped/

New Delhi, Dec 28: Indigenous Democratic Front (IDF) has said that the administrative vacuum in the hill areas of Manipur has led to the present situation in Manipur.
IDF leaders who are now camping in New Delhi seeking appointments with the President of India and the Union Home minister, said they will apprise the prevailing situation of Manipur to the central leaders.
“There has been a complete administrative vacuum especially in the districts as there are no local self governments in these districts,” said the IDF leaders while talking to Newmai News Network this evening. They said had there been effective local self governments in the hill districts, the incident like that of the December 18 incident of Chandel would not have occurred.
IDF while strongly condemning the Chandel and Napet Palli incidents, said, “Crime against women is condemnable anywhere whether at Chandel or at Napet Palli,” said the IDF leaders.
The IDF leaders then rued that after two years of the having had held elections to the Manipur Autonomous District Council (ADC) the state government could not even make it functional till today.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/idf-on-administrative-vacuum-in-hill-areas/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Dec 28 : Naga Women’s Union, Manipur (NWUM) and Tangkhul Shanao Long, Imphal (TSLI) said in a joint statement that they condemned the Assault, Molestation and Attempt to Rape of a 15 years old Naga school girl at Napet Palli in the outskirt of Imphal on 24 December 2012 by three men who claimed themselves as cadres of KCP coming to enforce the bandh imposed by the Film Forum Manipur and Manipur State Sumang Leela Council. The incident occurred when the girl was travelling to her village, Risophung with twelve other students.
They were verbally abuse, physically assaulted and robbed before the mentioned girl was single out, slapped, tore her cloth, molested and attempt to rape.
The incident occurred in the backdrop of a series of agitations in Imphal valley against the reported assault of Momoko on December 18, 2012 at Chandel and this incident can be construed as a revenge act on an innocent girl by the culprits who are now arrested and under police custody.
The incident of Chandel is highly despicable and we have vehemently condemned it and demanded justice to be dispensed as per the law of the land. We are extremely sadden by the recent incidents that occurred as a fallout of the Chandel incident and would like to conclude that it is very difficult to have meaningful and good relationship if other community could not do away its chauvinistic attitude that is at its worse when many hill people were verbally abused and physically assaulted during the agitation.
It demanded that the three culprits should be given befitting punishment and would urge the Authority to compensate the victims, particularly the young Naga girl for the physical hardships and mental Trauma she went through.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/napet-palli-incident-condemned/

IMPHAL, Dec 28 UNA: At least three passenger service vehicles were torched as normal life in Naga inhabited hill areas of Manipur continued to paralyze life on Friday, the second day of the 72-hour bandh called by the United Naga Council (UNC).
An official source said that the three vehicles on passenger service on the IT-road were set afire by suspected bandh supporters today, around 2 pm at Chawangkini village under Kangpokpi police station of Senapati district.
The burnt down vehicles included one jeep (Marshal), a mini 407 truck, and an auto-rickshaw. The vehicles were set afire after the passengers were allowed to step out of the vehicles. Most of the vehicles were damaged, the report added.
With the three vehicles, so far suspected supporters UNC sponsored bandh had burnt down five vehicles since it was commenced from December 26 midnight.
The bandh called to register a strong protest against alleged harassment meted out to the Nagas in valley area during the indefinite bandh before the Christmas festival continued to paralyze normal life in Naga inhabited hill areas of the state, particularly in Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel and Ukhrul districts.
Reports from headquarters of these four districts said that streets were empty and no inter-state district buses from Imphal arrived at the district headquarters for the second consecutive days.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/three-vehicles-torched-as-unc-sponsored-bandh-underway/

IMPHAL, Dec 28 NNN: The 21st Imphal Book Fair 2012 was cut short owing to the recent indefinite Manipur bandh and that participants representing many book firms from outside just had to pack up their things and leave the state in frustration.
This year’s edition of the Imphal Book Fair was organized at Hapta Kangjeibung, Palace Compound in Imphal from December 15 under the joined sponsorship of Raja Ram Mohon Roy Foundation, Kolkata, Manipur state Central Library Department and Art & Culture Department, Manipur.
Yet, the book fair that was actually to be concluded on December 24, had to cut short the number of days owing to the recent indefinite Manipur bandh, S Tampakleima Devi, Chief Librarian, State Central Library told NNN Friday.
The book fair was closed for three uninterrupted days—December 21-23—as the Film Forum Manipur and Manipur State Shumang Leela Council in teaming up with various social organisations in the state enforced the bandh from December 21 midnight to protest the Chandel incident wherein film artiste Kh Momoko was reportedly molested by a self-styled Lt Col of NSCN-IM.
Many stalls from outside had to leave the fair when proceeds turned out to be recorded good as the strike hit the state, Tampakleima lamented. Director, Art & Culture Department ended the fair with a simple closing function on December 24 after it was being closed for three days in straight, she said.
In all, 48 book firms including 23 from outside participated at the fair. The total number of book stalls opened by these farms at the fair was 105. These stalls deposited Rs 3,000 each to the Government. Some firms had claimed for return of their deposited money but the concerned department rejected the claim terming it as unreasonable, she said.
However, some book firm owners from outside are still in Imphal. SK Tiwari, business executive, Sunmarg Book Firm, New Delhi while talking to our reporter said the firm had arranged a lot of books costing a total of Rs 56,000 for the fair.
He said the firm had sold books for Rs 20,000 only at the 21st Imphal Book Fair while the firm recorded proceeds of Rs 3 lakh in the previous edition of the fair making a huge profit.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/unhappy-ending-for-imphal-book-fair/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Dec 28 : The Kuki Army(United Kuki Liberation Front)celebrated the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ at its GHQ, Nazareth Muvanphoi camp, Chandel District, Manipur from the 24 to 26 Dec. 2012 with pomp and show where all the rank and files of the cadres took part. This year the celebration was attended by not only the cadres but all the family members which was the first of its kind in the history of Kuki revolutionary movement where civilians including fathers, mothers, girls and children of all ages of the cadres celebrated the Christmas festival together in the camp.
Nazareth Muvanphoi camp is the designated camp and also the general HQ of the UKLF which was constructed and inaugurated in 2010 after the organization signed Suspension of Operation(SoO) agreement with the govt of India and the Manipur govt in 2008.
Apart from church services in every morning and evening, other items like song competition among the mothers and wives of the cadres, Bible recitation competition among the UKLF cadres, Volley ball competition between mothers and girls and also between officers and non-officers of the cadres were added to make the festival more interesting and enjoyable. Handsome prizes like cash and mobile handsets were given away to winners/winning teams by SS.Haokip, Commander in Chief of the organization and his wife Smt. Vahneilhing respectively. Consolation prizes were given away to all participants in the competition items by the C-in-C and his better half.
Inspiring gospel messages were delivered by the two speakers viz. David Haokip, Gen. Secy. of the organization and Pastor Songkholal Haokip. The Christmas festival was organized under the leadership of Capt. Jacob Thadou, Maj. Max Baite and Maj. H. Daniel Mangboi Thadou as committee chairman, Secy. and treasurer respectively.
The UKLF felt very upset for the current turmoil arising out of a small incident thereby disturbing the peaceful celebration of Christmas to many people and appeal to all communities to shun violent and strive for peace and communal harmony so that real and lasting peace and prosperity prevail in our society. This is the sole purpose of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to this world.
Apart from christmas celebration, the organization also conducted its annual general assembly on the 27th Dec. 2012 and resolved to make changes in some posts and portfolios of some officers as under for general information to the public :
(1). JM. Thadou, Info. & Publicity Secy, (2) Maj. Joshua, External Affairs Secy.(EAS), (3). Lt. Col. Kennedy, Defence Secy., (4). Lt. George Zou, Dy. EAS, (5) Anthony Thadou, Cabinet active member, (6). Capt. Jacob Thadou, Spokeman of UKLF, (7). DS. Mate, Intelligence officer, (8). Maj. NC Baite, Home Secy., (9). Medical Officers, (1) Shongam (2) Ngamson Mate.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/christmas-celebration-at-nazareth-muvanphoi-camp/