Month: January 2014

CHANDEL, Jan 31: The father of a minor girl allegedly raped on January 20 at Kangbung, a village under Chakpikarong sub division of Chandel, has expressed shock over the incident and appealed all civil societies and the police to nab and punish the rapist according to the law of the land.

The victim’s father, shocked and upset, narrated the scene of how her daughter was found shivering and weeping in a dark chilly night as the rapist after committing the crime abandoned her alerted by the loud call made by all the panic stricken people and him.

Disclosing that her daughter was tortured and raped, he stated that the victim is scared of the night and also informed that the Chiefs’ Association of Chakpikarong is putting in all their efforts to trace the rapist.

The police are also investigating the crime in connection with an FIR lodged at Chakpikarong Police station without much success so far.

With regard to the incidenct, he appealed to all including the police authorities to book and punished the rapist as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, villagers of Lamphoupasna, including the women and youths, have strongly condemned the incident and urged the concerned authorities to nab the rapist and punish him according to the law of the land.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/man-appeals-for-quick-justice-in-daughters-rape-case/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=man-appeals-for-quick-justice-in-daughters-rape-case

IMPHAL, January 31: An annual plan review for the fiscal year 2013-14 was held at the Chief Minister Bungalaw this evening chaired by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.  

Briefing media persons in this regards at the office chamber, government’s spokespersons M Okendra, divulged that the meeting was attended by heads of the entire department of the government of Manipur including the chief secretary of the state.

The meeting deliberately reviewed on the progress of all the departments, he said adding that the progress of some departments are doing exceptionally well, he said.

For those who failed to keep up with the pace, the chief minister have instructed all the departments heads present during the meeting to submit their detail explanation of their loopholes and bottlenecks by February 10 next month, continued the Spokesperson.  

He further informed that the state is able to utilised only 60 percent of the total Rs 1515 crore released so far by the union government of the total plan outlay of Rs 3650 crore.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also instructed all the department heads to prepare their plan proposal for next fiscal year only on need base.

Meanwhile, the expenditure of the annual plan upto January 31, 2014 will be reviewed by the additional chief secretary, RR Rashmi. A meeting is to be held in the regard at the conference hall of Old Secretariat on February 5, informed a source.

An official intimation has been given to the concerned principal secretaries, head of departments to submit the plan expenditure till January 31 to take stock of the plan expenditure for 2013-2014. The information is also to be submitted to the Planning Commission and Ministry of Finance to facilitate release of the final instalment of funds from the Centre. The last date of submission falls on February 3, 2014. The departments involved in implementation of earmarked programs are also directed to indicate the realistic fund availability from the concerned ministries to avoid any cut of plan fund in the next financial year.

The meeting will also discuss the status of preparation of annual plan for 2014-2015.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/govt-wants-answers-from-depts-lacking-progress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=govt-wants-answers-from-depts-lacking-progress

IMPHAL, January 31: The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur, organised a consultation on “Land Grabbing in Manipur” at Manipur Press Club on Friday.

The consultation, attended by communities affected by Mapithel Dam, Loktak Project, Heirok Canal Branch, Lamphel Yaipha Leikai, Tipaimukh Dam and the oil exploration plan in Manipur, was moderated by Dr RK Ranjan, senior environment.

Y Mani Khuman, president All Manipur United Clubs Organization,  Nganbi, JAC Against the eviction of Lamphel Yaipha Leikai attended as presidium members of the consultation.

Jiten Yumnam, secretary, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur, provided the keynote address on the trend of land grabbing in Manipur and the challenges.

The consultation, organized to assess the existing and emerging pattern of land grabbing in Manipur was also attended by representatives of Asian Peasant Coalition, AGRA, MONLAR from countries such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines and Nepal, who shared their experiences on some of the key process of land grabbing and its impact on agriculture in their respective countries.

The consultation assessed the ongoing process of land grabbing caused by mega development projects, urbanisation, expansion of infrastructure projects, militarisation and possible threats and impacts on the food sovereignty of indigenous communities ofManipur.

Oinam Deben of All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen Union expressed apprehension on the proposed Loktak ring road on the fishing and farming communities dependent on the  lake.

He appealed to repeal the Manipur Loktak Lake Protection Act, 2006.

Thanmi Kashung of the Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organization expressed concern saying that the mega dam will submerge more than 1000 hectares of prime agriculture land along the Thoubal River and another 595 acres of forest land due to Mapithel Dam and the various impacts on their livelihood and ecology.

Laishram Mandir, spoke on the impacts of Mapithel Dam, proposed Heirok Canal branch, especially their access to water resources for agriculture.

Tongbram Gunadhor also spoke on the hardship inflicted by the forced eviction at Lamphel Yaipha Leikai.

Pangambam Tomba, president, Committee on Protection of Agriculture Land, Heingang also spoke on how agricultural land are targeted for forcible acquisition without consulting the land tillers.

Rajesh of Sekmai Protection Committee spoke on impact of sand mining along Sekmai River, the loss of farm land due to creation of Qllts Bottling Plant and militarization etc. The representatives from the Asian peasant Coalition, Roda, Budi, Lakpriya, and  Poudel drew similarities of experiences of land grabbing and impacts between the people in other parts of Asia and Manipur.

They expressed their reservation on the promotion of neo liberal policies in the increasing globalized world which has caused loss of means of production of the small scale Farmers, fishing communities, indigenous peoples etc across the world.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/threats-of-land-grabbing-discussed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=threats-of-land-grabbing-discussed

IMPHAL, January 31: The womenfolk of the Sayang Kuroa Makhong today staged a sit in protest decrying the bomb threat at the residence of Imphal Municipal Council ward number 10 Councillor Salam Tiken Singh at Kourao Makhong waiting shed.

Speaking to the media persons at the side line of the protest, a woman protestor said that two Chinese hand grenades were found at the residential compound of IMC Councillor Salam Tiken Singh, 53, son of Gourachandra of Sagolband Sayang Kurao Makhong under Imphal police station at around 7 am today.

She further continued that one hand grenade was found by Shusila Devi, wife of the councillor Tiken while she was cleaning the back side of her residence at around 7 am and after that another Chinese hand grenade was also found by Suchitra Devi, wife of the councillor’s cousin brother Inao from the nearby under-construction house adding that soon after the bombs were found, they informed the police about the presence of bomb at their residence compound, she said.

Soon after, a team of state bomb expert of Manipur police arrived and picked up the bomb adding that they strongly condemned the two bombs threat at the crowded residential area and further appealed not to carry out bomb threat at such crowded residential area.

She further appealed to clarify whoever responsible behind the bomb attack.

In the mean time, the councillor Tiken said that he did not receive any threat and monetary demand from any underground groups, adding that the bomb threat might be related with the demand served by some underground elements to Imphal Municipal Council.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/womenfolk-stage-protest-against-bomb-threat/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=womenfolk-stage-protest-against-bomb-threat