Day: April 15, 2015

IMPHAL, April 15: The BJP Manipur Pradesh will lodge a complaint with the High Court of Manipur against the State Minor Irrigation minister for allegedly misusing a huge fund amounting to crores of rupees from 2005 till 2012, claimed said its president Th Chaoba today.

He was speaking at a press meet held today at the party`™s Nityaipat Chuthek office.

The party will soon file a PIL before the High Court against all those accused of involvement in the misuse and mismanagement of funds in Minor Irrigation, he said before adding that his party will also move the Supreme Court if the need arise.

The water scarcity problem faced by the State farmers`™ today is due to misuse of funds sanctioned by the Centre, he alleged.

The BJP has, in its possession, several relevant documents regarding misuse and malpractices in the construction of irrigation facilities in the State, Chaoba claimed further.

As per records available, he said the Centre had sanctioned several crores of rupees for minor irrigation during the 2005-2011 period. However, the funds were all used up in vague works, he alleged.

The department and the concerned minister has misused a huge amount of fund without actually completing any proper work, he said demanding a proper inquiry on his allegation of malpractice and mismanagement of funds in the department.

The BJP cannot remain as mute spectators to all these malpractices, and the party will soon launch agitations and demonstrate, he said.

He said persons involved in misusing public money should be booked under criminal cases and investigated by independent bodies like the CBI.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/bjp-will-move-high-court-against-fund-misuse-in-mi-chaoba/

KANGPOKPI, April 15: An inferno which broke out suddenly at around 12 noon yesterday at Paspati in Tujang Area Sadar Hills has razed down two residential houses and properties worth approximately Rs. 5 lacs.

The incident happened when Nav Varsodsav (New Year) celebration of the Nepali community has been in full swing at Ngahmun Playground where every family members of the Nepali community participated in the grand occasion to receive the New Year blessing.

Both the two houses belonged to one Homnath Bdr. Bista,46, son of (L). Rudra Bdr. Bista of Paspati in Tujang Area in Sadar Hills. The Nav Varsodsav participants rushed to the spot and struggled to put off the fire but the intensity of the fire was too strong that it burnt down the houses within a span of 20 minute.

Homnath, eldest son who cheerfully chip in Nav Varsodsav celebration said his father went to graze cows while his other mother along with his younger brother and sister participated in the New Year celebration when the incident occurred. He continued that more than 2 lacs in cash have been kept inside the house including gold ornaments and other properties has been burnt to ashes.

Nav Varsodsav celebrators donated an amount of Rs. 24,870/- to Homnath and his family which was handover to his eldest son at the function.

The local MLA Nemcha Kipgen also contributed in cash to the family and assured to donate GCI sheet too.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/inferno-razes-two-houses/

IMPHAL, Apr 15: In a fateful incident, an elderly woman who came to get her share of old age pension at the Parade Ground of 1st MR, Imphal West today died after vomiting blood while waiting her turn to get the pension amount being distributed under Social Welfare Department.

The deceased has been identified as Irengbam Purnimashi Devi, 75 wife of Late I Kulachand Singh of Khagempalli Pankha Ningom Leikai under Keishamthong Constituency, Imphal West.

According to reports, Purnimashi along with her granddaughter came to get the pension amount as usual. There were only two tables arranged by officials of Social Welfare Department for verifying beneficiary pensioners.

Unable to bear heat of the sun for long time, the elderly woman who was already unwell suddenly vomited blood while waiting for her turn at around 12 pm. She was rushed to RIMS Hospital but declared brought dead by doctors.

On hearing the news, MLA of Keishamthong Constituency, L Ibomcha arrived at the hospital to enquire the incident.

The MLA expressed unhappiness over the Social Welfare Department for not making proper arrangement for beneficiaries of old age pension at the venue of the pension distribution.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/woman-dies-after-vomiting-blood-while-waiting-to-get-old-age-pension/

IMPHAL, April 14: The demands of the VDF personnel will be discussed soon, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today assured while appealing to all against calling bandhs and blockades considering the interest of the general public.

He was speaking at the 124 birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Dr B R Ambedkar on Tuesday at the Congress Bhavan here under the aegis of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).

The Chief Minister`™s appeal came in reaction to a question on the All Manipur VDF Welfare Association (AMVWA)`™s 24-hour State wide general strike beginning midnight of April 14 which ended this mid-night.

He further stated that as there are resource constraints in the State the demands need to be considered and discussed first.

AMVMA`™s demands are reasonable considering the prices of essential commodities in the present day, but there are also many others who would come up with similar demands, he said.

On the closing down of missionary schools in the State, the Chief Minister said it is a great loss for the State and the students will have to face gaps in their academic career if the schools continue to remain shut.

Whoever is responsible for the closing down of the schools can solve the issue with the government, but they should not meddle with the lives and careers of the young students, he said.

Replying to a media query about the upcoming ADC election, he said each and every party has high hopes but the reality will be known only on the Election Day.

Meanwhile, in his interaction with media persons, MPCC president Gaikhangam who is also the State deputy Chief Minister said that the formal observation of the yearlong celebration of Dr BR Ambedkar`™s birth anniversary will be held on April 16.

On being asked by the media on the ban on national projects in the State, Gaikhangam who is also the State Home minister said it is alright in the essence of democracy for any organisation to demand and express agony but taking up agitation such as bandhs, blockades, ban on national projects will only cause much effect on the people of the State.

He continued that issues can be settled through dialogue and negotiations.

Dy CM Gaikhangam also appealed the people to resist from imposing frequent bandh and blockade in the State.

He also further appealed the people to follow the principles of Babasahed Dr BR Ambedkar and bring peace and tranquillity in the State.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/chief-minister-assures-to-discuss-vdfs-demands-soon/

By Alex Guite

LAMKA, April 15: The state-wide bandh called by the Village Defence Force had been a success in Churachandpur town with most shops along the busy Tiddim Road remaining closed for the day and only few vehicles plying.

Meanwhile, leaders of the VDF Welfare Association have also informed that the bandh will end this midnight but will be immediately followed by a 48-hour economic blockade.

Vehicles seen plying were those few which had been exempted from the purview of the bandh including medical transportation, school vans and water supply.

It is also evident that the public`™s sympathy was with the bandh as the area which is usually against any such bandh diktats remained closed for the day.

At the same time, the district police under SP Mangkhogin Haokip were seen patrolling along the roads. CCpur OC inspector Thangzamuan and his team was also seen dousing fire set on by the bandh supporters and clearing the road of any debris.

The VDF personnel have been demanding pay increase among other demands from the government and had resorted to the bandh after the government failed to meet their demands.

Bandh supporters had burned tyres on the roads at five different spots in the town and were also seen blocking roads using sand bags and woods at many places.

They also locked the SDO and the ZEO offices among other government offices and stamped placards which read `fulfil our demands- VDF.`

However, there were no reports of violence or untoward incidents during the bandh. Bandh supporters had been known to use brute force to enforce their diktats in the past using stones and sticks, however all such actions were missing today.

A volunteer on conditions of anonymity said they had seek co-operation and help from all organisations for the bandh called.

The VDF will continue to launch other forms of agitations in case the government fail to meet our demands, he said adding that the personnel have been serving the State with dedication for almost a decade now.

A father of a VDF personnel who wanted not to be named said, his son is being paid less than Rs 5000 and after deducting all other expenses like the mess fee, he brings home only about a quarter of the same.

The family is unable to meet their expenses with the meagre amount, he added.

He also said that since the VDF personnel are mostly from poor families, their demands are justifiable.

Meanwhile, not all were in favour of the VDF`™s bandh call as many shopkeepers and other daily wage earners were heard grumbling that the VDF`™s have no right to trample on their rights to earn their livelihood by calling the bandh for their own interest.

Many lamented that calling such bandh will not benefit the people.

On the other hand, the 600 or so VDF personnel in CCpur joining their state-wide cease-work strike call has badly affected policing in the district, which has been admitted by the district`™s SP. He had said that he was handicapped by the absence of the VDF and their service.

Meanwhile, the general secretary and the president of the VDF Welfare Association in a statement has said that they have submitted a memorandum to the Speaker of the State Assembly demanding that their salary be increased to Rs 10000 or be treated as a skill labourers.

The leaders of the association has also informed that the bandh will end by 12 of this night but will be immediately followed by economic a 48-hour blockade.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/bandh-affects-life-in-ccpur-blockade-to-follow/

IMPHAL, April 15: The Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) has said that the High Court of Manipur has issued notice to the CBI on the question of its non- committal act in pursuant to the Government of Manipur`™s request for taking up investigation into the recovery of large number of human skeletons from the erstwhile Tombisana High School at Imphal on April 15.

According to a release of the HRLN, a division bench comprising of Chief Justice, Laxmi Kanta Mohopatra and Justice Kh. Nobin Singh has issued the notice in response to a Public Interest Litigation filed by the Families of the Involuntarily Disappeared Association, Manipur (FIDAM) and Human Rights Alert (HRA).

Advocate, Meihoubam Rakesh on behalf of the Petitioners contended that after recovery of human skulls and skeletons in the month December 2014 from the erstwhile Tombisana High School, the Government of Manipur has requested the Central Government as well as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate into the matter by issuing necessary notification on December 29, 2014, it said.

According to the existing norms, the State Government can make a request for CBI investigation in a criminal case registered by the State Police. Then the CBI can initiate the investigation only after the Central Government agrees to the request made by the State Government. It is also a fact that Central Government generally seek comment of CBI before deciding upon the request of the State, it said.

However, the CBI is non-committal till date for the want of notification to be issued by the Central Government under Section 5 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, it said.

The High Court has issued notices to all the respondents listed in the PIL i.e., the State of Manipur through the Principal Secretary (Home), Government of Manipur, the Director General of Police, Manipur, the Union of India through the secretary, Ministry of Personal, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India and the Director, CBI. The present Writ Petition is being filed at the active initiation of Human Rights Law Network (Manipur), it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/hc-notice-to-cbi-on-skeletons-recovery-case/

IMPHAL, April 15: A man, who went out of his house to take part in Thabal Chongba on the eve of Cheiraoba on April 14, was found dead in suspicious manner at the premises of his friend at Khongman under Irilbung Police Station, Imphal East this morning around 4.30.

The deceased has been identified as RK Diamond Singh, 24 son of RK Gambhir Singh of Singjamei Wangma Kshetri Leikai, Imphal West. He was found dead at the premises of his friend identified as Hidangmayum Rocky son of H Amujao Sharma.

Meanwhile, suspecting foul play over the death, locals of Singjamei Wangma Kshetri Leikai staged a sit-in-protest at the locality today demanding to nab the culprit (s) involved in the killing at the earliest.

According to the deceased`™s family members, the death of Diamond is highly suspicious as there were injury marks on the neck of the dead body. Moreover, the manner in which members of the family where the dead body was found came to pass the information to the deceased`™s family instead of admitting Diamond to a nearby hospital is also not justified.

They pledged that the dead body will not be accepted till the concerned authorities nab the culprit (s) involved in the killing.

Police have registered a case in connection with the incident .The dead body has been preserved at JNIMS morgue.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/man-found-dead-family-smells-foul-play/

BISHNUPUR, April 15: Altogether 10, 448 VDF personnel posted in the nine districts of the State have decided to resign from their job and return home in case the government fails to fulfil their demands within 48 hours with effect from April 14 midnight.

Announcing the call to this IFP correspondent, L Deban, president of All Manipur VDF Welfare Association said that the association was compelled to call a 24-hour general strike from yesterday midnight, as the government has utterly failed to address their demands despite repeated request made.

He questioned the government as to how VDF personnel with monthly pay of Rs 4000 could sustain livelihood of their families.

Cautioning that the association will also resort to launch indefinite economic blockade along the National Highways if the government fails to give a positive response to their genuine demands within the set deadline, he made it clear that the government should held sole responsibility if any untoward incident arises thereof.

He expressed gratitude to those civil society organizations which extended co-operation to the association in pursuit of its demands.

Regretting that 24 vehicles in Senapati, 12 in Kangpokpi and 15 in Ukhrul were damaged during the course of the strike imposed by the association, he admitted that a heated scuffle broke out between supporters of the strike and IRB personnel at Nungba Bazar after which two VDF personnel were held captive.

Business establishments in Moreh were downed shutter during the strike. Private including inter-city passenger service also came to a grinding halt. There were reports of damage of many vehicles in different parts of the state, he said.

Referring to a programme aired in ISTV Network yesterday wherein it stated that the legitimate demands of the VDF could not be fulfilled for the time being, the president of the VDF association said that the government should take up necessary steps to fulfil the demands at the earliest instead of without waiting patience of the VDF personnel to run out.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/10448-vdf-personnel-threaten-to-resign/