Month: August 2013

DIMAPUR, Aug 11 NNN: Bifurcating of Tamenglong district to create new districts will be opposed tooth and nail, says an NSCN-IM leader today.
Talking to NNN this evening, L Golmei, who is incharge of the ‘home affairs’ of the outfit of the ‘Zeliangrong Region’ (deputy kilonser of Kilo affairs) warned that no one should ever harbour a thought to touch Tamenglong district to upgrade Jiribam sub-division into a full-fledged district. The NSCN-IM leader further warned that anyone recommending or assisting for the creation of Jiribam district by carving out certain parts of Tamenglong district will be sternly dealth with. “We will not tolerate on such activity,” asserted L Golmei.
Today’s NSCN-IM leader’s warning came few days after Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had assured the Jiribam District Demand Committee (JDDC) that the state Cabinet would take decision soon on making the Barak circle a separate sub-division but rejected the key demand of the Committee saying it was not the right time to declare Jiribam as a full-fledged revenue district considering the present state of affairs in the state.
Representatives of JDDC had met the Chief Minister at his office on August 7 and discussed about the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the state Government and the Committee. That meeting had deliberated on granting of Jiribam as a full-fledged revenue district, according to JDDC convenor Mutum Meipaksana who had informed the media that day.
JDDC and the state Government had signed an 11-point MoU on November 9, 2011. One of the key demands mentioned in the MoU is to declare Jiribam as a seperate district. Jiribam is a sub-division of Imphal East district located in the Manipur-Assam border.
Meanwhile, NSCN-IM leader L Golmei said since Tamenglong is the most backward district in Manipur, the concerned authorities should focus more on addressing the problems instead of creating problems by making divisions of the existing district.
While pointing out alleged misutilisation of development funds meant for Tamenglong district, L Golmei said, “It is very unfortunate to learn that the funds implemented especially for Tamenglong district by the government of Manipur for the year 2012-2013 under various projects such as BRGF amounting to Rs 10 crores, MSDP-Rs 27 crores and few lakhs could not be utilised due to non-issuing of utilisation certificates on time.” The NSCN-IM leader then added by alleging,” Those money had been diverted and misutilised by certain unscrupulous and vested interest individuals and organisations.” L Golmei further pointed out that funds under MDS (Manipur Development Society) amounting to Rs 100 crores meant for the districts of Tamenglong, Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel and Churachandpur have not been released by the Director of MDS till date and “even repeated persuasions and requests to by concerned parties wwere have not borne any result.”

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/nscn-opposes-bifurcation-of-tamenglong-district/

Imphal Aug 11 UNA: The ongoing work of Indo-Myanmar border fencing should be stopped immediately by the government, owning to this if any untoward incident occurs due to protest by the public, the responsible will be owned by the government, said United Committee Manipur (UCM) on Sunday.
UCM president, Y. Nabachandra speaking to the media person in a press conference at its office located at Lamphelpat said that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) clarification on the ongoing work of fencing is just an eye wash to the public of Manipur.
A village called N. Molphei in the border of Manipur and Myanmar which are having 29 MGNREGS card holder and electoral identity card but it will be in the territory of Myanmar completely if the border fencing work continue like this, not only this a villages like Govajang, Jangnoi, Kwatha Khunou, B. Bongjang, Muslim Nagar, T. Minou, Kotlenphai, Tamil Sangam, half of their village will be in the side of Myanmar was come across by the UCM members during their three day tour in the affected area from Aug 8 at Moreh.
The said villages are mostly near and under the pillar number 66, 71, 79, 74, 75, 78, 76, and 81 etc. from the actual territory of Manipur some 100 to 150 meters come forwards inside Manipur territory for the fencing added the UCM president. The border fencing is put up only for the security purpose posted at the border area for the Indian Army, not in the interest of public in save guarding the territory of Manipur alleged UCM president.
The UCM also asked why the central government and ministry of home affairs started the work of fencing without taking the concern of the public.
If the fencing work is continue like this huge of Manipur land will be lost to Myanmar added Nabachandra. Regarding the issue UCM will organize a seminar in the state with an expert and intellectual to save the land of Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ucm-ask-to-stop-the-fencing-work-at-moreh-immediately/

IMPHAL, August 11 MNS/ NNN: Protests were held today in two separate places in Imphal demanding the release of the two abducted officials.
Two officials of Manipur Government’s Horticulture Department were abducted by suspected militants near Kanglatongbi bazaar under Sekmai Police Station on August 8 night.
Horticulture Department officials have been identified as Assistant AO Maibam Priyokumar, 56, a resident of Yaiskul Janmasthan in Imphal West district, currently posted as manager at Regional Progeny Orchard, Maram, and Wangkheirakpam Ibopishak, 50, a resident of Nongmeibung in Imphal East district. They have been reportedly abducted by suspected Kuki militants, according to police sources.
On Sunday, demanding the release of the two officials, the protestors said for the sake of money the people should not give hardship to others.
A group of people carried out sit-in-protest at Yaiskul area in Imphal while another group of people protested at Nongmeibung in Imphal East district today.
It can be noted here that the kidnapping took place around 10 pm of Thursday when the duo was about to reach Kanglatombi bazaar. An unspecified number of unknown militants who were heavily armed whisked them away from the spot.
The two officials were travelling in a Chevrolet car heading  Imphal when the incident happened, the reports added.
The police reports suggested that an underground group carried out the kidnapping in connection with a monetary demand of Rs 50,000.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/officials-of-horticulture-deptt-untraceable/

IMPHAL, Aug 11 NNN: Manipur is still going through the impact of massive landslide near Kohima but another round of a jolt is in the making in the form of series of bandhs to aggravate the already grim situation.
When a litre of petrol in grey market is sold at anything from Rs 120 to Rs 140 and prices of other essential commodities are fast sky-rocketing due to the July 12 landslide near Kohima choking the main supply line of Manipur NH-2, further blocking of this supply line for several days would mean that the people of the state both in the hills and the valley should be ready for tremendous hardship.
The United Naga Council (UNC) sponsored 48 hours ‘total bandh in Naga areas’ in Manipur followed another 48 hours bandh to be imposed by Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC). Both the tribal organisations are engaging in intense movements to part with the Manipur government.
The Naga body is demanding for a separate administration from Manipur, the ‘Alternative Arrangement’ while the Kuki body is pressing for a separate Kuki statehood to be carved out from Manipur.
Meanwhile, the UNC is all set to impose the bandh from midnight of Sunday (tonight) while that of the KSDC will start immediately after the Naga body’s bandh gets over. In that case, the main supply line of Manipur i.e. NH-2 will be choked for the straight four days.
After the 48-hour UNC ‘total bandh’, there are series of agitation in different forms of the Naga body including the banning of the ongoing works of national projects such as the construction of railway tracks in Manipur. The KSDC, however is yet to announce its further course of agitatio after its 48 hours bandh.
A KSDC leader informed NNN this evening that either during the bandh or immediately after its 48 hours bandh, it will announce its line of action.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/prices-of-goods-shoot-up/