Month: August 2015

IMPHAL, Augst 3: The Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh spoke to the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel and the Chief Minister of Manipur, Okram Ibobi Singh and enquired about the rescue and relief operations going on in the wake of floods and landslides respectively. He assured of full Central support to overcome the disaster situation, informed a PIB press release.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is regularly monitoring the flood situation in various parts of the country and extending necessary assistance in this regard, it said.

In Gujarat, 14 Districts and population of about 40 lakhs have been affected in recent floods due to heavy rainfall in the last few days. More than ten lakhs food packets have been airdropped/ distributed to the flood victims. Temporary relief camps have been set up in affected areas and peoples are accommodated on need basis. A total of 17 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed for rescue and relief operations in Gujarat, it continued.

The statement added the Minister of State for Home Affairs, ShriHaribhaiParathibhaiChaudhary has visited the state for two days to assess the situation and oversee the rescue and relief operations.

In Rajasthan, so far 28 deaths have been reported, out of which 12 people lost their lives during past few days owing to very heavy rainfall and flood like situation in many parts of the state. Rajasthan has experienced excessive rainfall in most of its districts. Some of the districts are facing flood situation due to extremely heavy rainfall. The situation is grim particularly in districts of Jalore, Jhalawar, Baran, Sirohi, Barmer and Dungarpur, accordingto the statement.

It added, apart from State Disaster Response Force, Police, RAC etc., at present 08 teams of NDRF are deployed for rescue and relief operations. So far more than 630 peoples have been rescued from various districts in Rajasthan. Relief materials have been distributed to the affected population.

Further according to the statement, in West Bengal, 48 deaths have been reported from various parts of the state during the floods owing to lightening, wall collapse, electrocution, snake bite and drowning. As reported by State government due to cyclone KOMEN, heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places in almost all South West Bengal districts. So far 12 districts consisting of 210 blocks and 9691 villages have been affected due to floods. A population of 36,90,627 are affected. State Govt has deployed 121 boats for rescue and relief operations. A total of 5672 cattle is also lost in the floods. Due to floods, State Govt. has established 1537 relief camps and 214306 peoples have been accommodated. 204 medical teams have also been deployed. So far 402600 water pouches have also been distributed.

The PIB statement also said that in Odisha, 07 districts of Odisha namely Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jharsuguda and Deogarh are affected. A total of 05 people lost their lives and 644 villages and population `“ 480399 are affected. ODRAF units are carrying out relief and rescue operations. So far 1574 peoples have been evacuated to safer places. 7 relief camps have been opened and 55 peoples have been accommodated. 132 boats have been deployed for rescue operations.

In Manipur, about 20 villagers of Joumol Village in District Chandel have been swept away by landslide on 01/08/2015 at about 0630 hours including 12 houses. This village is located about 96 KMs from Tengnoupal HQ of which 83 Kms track/road is motorable. Rescue operations are going on. Reportedly one villager has been rescued, it said.

Two teams of NDRF have been earmarked for rescue and relief operations in Village Joumol. Of these one team comprising of 22 rescuers have been airlifted in the morning while the other team is likely to reach by late evening, it added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/mha-monitors-flood-situation-in-various-parts-of-the-country/

IMPHAL, August 3: Altogether 11 students were injured six of them said to be seriously as students protested the opening of schools before the government implemented the Inner Line Permit System or a similar legislation in the State.

A group of students from several schools stormed the Old Secretariat Building threatening to submit their textbooks to the State Education minister Moirangthem Okendro, which resulted in a fierce confrontation between the agitating students and the security forces manning the building. The incident occurred around noon.

Two students were arrested by the police during the confrontation but were reportedly released in the evening.

It may be mentioned that educational institutes in the Greater Imphal areas were re-opened from today after being left closed since July 9 in the wake of the death of class XI student Sapam Robinhood on July 8.

Meanwhile, as news of the confrontation spread, people came out to the streets immediately and imposed road blocks at several places in the State capital.

The protesting students condemned the government`™s inaction to take action against the police personnel involved in the death of Ananda Higher Secondary School student Sapam Robinhood and the delay in introduction of the ILPS or a similar Act in the State.

Around 40 students from several higher secondary schools of the State had gathered at the Nupi Lal memorial Complex and tried to storm the secretariat building.

They came shouting slogans that they do not want education if the situation in the State was improved, and tried to storm the Secretariat building with the design of submitting their textbooks to the Education minister.

However, noticing the student protestors the security personnel manning the gate of the secretariat building closed the gate.

Nevertheless, the students tried to force their way in resulting in the police-student confrontation.

In their effort to control the students, the police resorted to lathi-charging. The students also tore their text-books and threw them at the gate.

Meanwhile, women-folk who were staging sit in protest supporting the present ILPS movement in the State, on hearing of the incident imposed road blocks at different places.

At Palace Gate, womenfolk blocked the Wangkhei-Palace Gate road by sitting across the road.

Road blocks were also witnessed at Uripok and Naoremthong area.

According to the NNN, immediately on hearing the news of the agitation and attack on the students, womenfolk who were staging sit-in-protests at Uripok and Naoremthong area came out to the street and started agitating in a stronger form.

They blocked all kind traffic movement in the Uripok-Kangchup Road. Also, large number of women and members of youth club, Nongmeibung also started agitating by blocking the road at Konung Mamang and Old Checkon crossings, an NNN report said.

Locals of Wangkhei Angom Leikai and Andro Parking formed human chains and shouted slogans demanding the implementation of ILP system and seeking justice for the killing Sapam Robinhood, the report continued.

The NNN report also said that a student of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School identified as Surjit was severely hurt during the police-student clash as he was kicked in the chest by police personnel.

He is currently under medical intervention at JNIMS Hospital, the report continued.

Two girl students, Thokchom Monika of TG School and Heisnam Roshni of Ibotonsana Girls`™ School, were also injured due to lathi attack from the police, it said.

The two students are currently hospitalised at RIMS Hospital. Some other students were also injured, and they were discharged from the hospital after being provided with first aid, it continued.

The NNN report also said that students of Ananda Singh School locked the entrance gate of the school condemning the forced re-opening of the school.

Later, locals of Nongmeibung, where the school is situated came in and guarded the school to avoid any unwanted incidents, the report continued.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/students-injured-in-police-action-fresh-agitations-erupt/

Imphal, August 3 (NNN): Manipur Legislative Assembly has today notified that ex-Wangoi MLA O Lukhoi, who was disqualified, will be regarded as an MLA again. It may be mentioned that he along with Thongju MLA Th Bishorjit and Thangmeiband MLA Kh Joykishan were disqualified by the Tribunal Court of the Assembly for their alleged misconduct to their party, Trinamool Congress.

After that, O Lukhoi had filed an appeal to the Manipur High Court showing dissatisfaction over his disqualification. And only few days back, the Manipur High Court had given a `stay`™ to his appeal giving some relief and a ray of hope to him. The next hearing of the case is scheduled on August 19.

Bihsorjit and Joykishan, however did not file such similar appeals.

Today`™s notification was issued in the Assembly Bulletin by the Secretary in-charge of the Assembly, K Meghajit.

With this new relief provided by the Assembly to the disqualified MLA, Lukhoi will re-claim his position as an MLA until further notice. He will take part in all the Assembly proceedings and will enjoy every privilege that is entitled to any MLA. However, he will not be able to exercise his voting rights on important roles such as discussion of Bills and will not be able to vote in MP elections etc.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/manipur-assembly-to-regard-lukhoi-as-mla-again/

IMPHAL, August 3: In pursuance of its demands served to the government and in condemnation of the excesses meted out to students by police today, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) Students`™ Wing has imposed a 48-hour state-wide general strike with effect from 6 pm of August 4.

Declaring the call of the strike during a press meet at the office of Manipur Students`™ Federation (MSF) here today, leader of JCILPS Students`™ Wing O Nandababu strongly condemned the excesses committed by police against the students who were protesting outside the office of Education Minister at New Secretariat today demanding introduction of Inner Line Permit System in the State.

The police action against the student protestors came at a time when the State is on boil over the collective demand for implementation of ILPS which is legitimate, he said.

He appealed to clubs, associations and women`™s organizations to extend full support to the proposed general strike.

Meanwhile, the Joint Students`™ Union, a conglomerate of Higher Secondary Schools based in Greater Imphal has decided to boycott government offices, tuition centres and private firms from tomorrow.

Speaking to media persons, Secretary (Games & Sports) of Ram Lal Paul Higher Secondary School Students`™ Union Ashis Hijam representing the Joint Students`™ Union announced that the union has also decided to boycott Independence Day celebration on August 15.

Students who suffered injuries in police action today were also present while making the announcements by the students`™ body.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/48hr-gen-strike-from-6pm-today-govt-offices-boycotted/

IMPHAL, August 3: Taking strong exception to the government`™s attempt to suppress the ongoing mass movement by using excessive police forces mainly against student protestors who are demanding enforcement of ILPS or similar law, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has pointed out that the government`™s habit of realising outstanding issues pertaining to the State only after witnessing public outrage is not a new thing.

In a statement issued to the press today, the JCILPS reiterated that the ongoing mass agitation demanding enactment of a new bill to safeguard the indigenous people by passing an acceptable bill is due to the inaction of the government to do so for a long time despite launching different forms of intense agitation by many sections.

The fact that it is the people not the government who are safeguarding the territorial integrity and its identity by launching various movements is clearly evident from the past unforgettable incidents, it asserted.

Alleging that the government is in the mood to suppress the ongoing mass movement by using excessive power and police forces, the statement said education has fallen prey to the hands of the government as closure and re-opening of educational institutions are decided by the government itself.

To order re-opening of all the education institutions which were shut down by the government for a long time, before performing last rites of Sapam Robinhood who was killed in police action in an ILPS agitation and delivering justice to the death is like inviting more untoward incidents, it said.

Instead of passing an acceptable bill which is the collective wishes of the people and letting the last rites of Robinhood to perform after doing so, the government has been engaging in political game and delaying tactics of which the people well understood, the statement said.

Pledging that the committee will not remain as a mere spectator to the excesses of police with some male personnel beating and kicking girl students who are just demanding ILPS implementation or similar law, the committee in the statement asked the government to shun dictatorship type of rule at once. It then appealed to the people to continue with the civil disobedience movement against the government till a new bill acceptable to the people is passed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/will-not-remain-mere-spectator-to-police-excesses-against-students-jcilps/

IMPHAL, August 3: Although the rains have ceased bringing some respite, Uchiwa Wangmataba remains flooded much to the despair of the residents.

A team of media persons took a boat trip around the locality inspecting the families affected by the flood.

As the water level had risen, many shifted their homes for some safer places. Some moved in with their relatives in other places while many others displaced by the flood are camping on their own at the Uchiwa Punshi Keithel market shed.

People who decided to stay back in their homes have to use rafts to come out till the road.

More than 100 houses have been flooded.

Uchiwa Wangmataba lies under Wabagai constituency and is a low-lying area and as a result attracted water from the Tentha Wangjing River, Sekmaijin River and Imphal River.

The locality is connected to Mayang Imphal by the Litan Suspension Bridge.

A local who identified himself as Nilachandra Ningthoujam said most of the displaced families are taking shelter at the market shed.

Our local MLA Md Fajur Rahim has totally neglected and ignored the area during this tiring time, he continued.

He continued he has a fish farm and now due to the flood he has incurred a huge loss.

He was also joined by other locals in lauding the Works minister Dr Ratan Kumar for the timely repair of the suspension bridge.

The locals also said that they would be happier if the minister could convert the bridge to an RCC one as it is the only connectivity of the area with Mayang Imphal.

A volunteer from across the constituency, Tiken who is also the sports secretary of the All Uchiwa Development Association said he is extending all possible help to the affected people.

He said the area which has around 750 voters has been badly affected by the flood.

Later in the day, sources also informed that the Works minister Dr Kh Ratankumar who is the local MLA of Mayang Imphal distributed aid to the affected people of his constituency including at Chirai Chabung Company, Konchak Mamang Leikai, Uchiwa Komlakhong, Phabakchao, Laphupat Tera.

The MLA had also deployed an Excavator and a Tipper and helped the locals to check the flood water.

It is also learnt that Dr Ratan distributed rice, dal, oil, candles and other essential items to affected houses.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/uchiwa-wangmataba-still-in-knee-deep-water/